12/25/10

Here's a tip that many of us heard as children to help animals, but it's worth repeating: Cut up plastic six-pack rings of soda or beer. Many animals can get caught inside the plastic rings, so one simple thing is to be sure to cut them up with scissors before throwing them away. Better yet: Buy your beverages in cardboard boxes instead of six packs to eliminate the need altogether.

12/24/10

Many road warriors rack up loyalty points with airlines, hotels and credit card companies that can be redeemed for free stays, flights and perks in lieu of cash. This holiday season, take a look at all of your program points and donate some of them to charities that are tied to different businesses. Starwood Preferred Guest allows you to donate points to the American Red Cross; Marriott is partnered with the Children's Miracle Network; and American Express has a variety of charities you can choose from to donate Membership Reward Points.

12/23/10

Do you have a large jar of spare change in your home? Collecting coins to be eventually counted and converted into paper cash can actually have a negative impact on the environment. When you amass a collection of hundreds -- if not thousands -- of coins, it pulls them out of circulation and forces the U.S. Mint to manufacture more spare change. This change uses metal, mined out of the Earth, which translates to valuable resources and energy being used to make pennies, nickels and dimes.