12/9/10

If you're making a donation to a charity, be sure to tell them that you would like to opt out in receiving any free gift (a T-shirt, tote bag, etc) or regular newsletter/magazine. These items are used as incentives to help raise money for the charity, but cost money to make and ship. By opting out of receiving something that you probably didn't want anyway, you can make sure the full value of your donation is going toward good works.

12/8/10

When lighting candles or starting a fire in the fireplace, it's easy to stock up on the plastic wand fire starters that are pre-filled with lighter fluid and create a flame with the flick of a switch. The problem with these convenient starters is that most of them are not refillable and are thrown away -- plastic components and all. Stick with regular matches or stock up on free matches whenever you eat out instead.

12/7/10

An old green tip to place a brick into the tank of your toilet to help displace water and cut back on water usage each time you flush should be recalled. Over time, the brick can break down and clog up parts in the toilet, making it inefficient -- if not unusable. The best idea is to invest in a dual-flush toilet when you do need a new one; these toilets give you two options: a full flush when you need it and a half flush for everything else.