10/22/11

Buying presents for particularly picky friends and family members can be tough. It's especially bad if the recipient doesn't have a need for the gift, and it just ends up stashed in the closet or thrown away. So make a pledge to give experiential gifts instead, like dinners or concert tickets. Everybody wins and there's no waste.

10/21/11

If you live in an apartment building, post a "free swap" sheet in a communal area like the laundry room. Apartment dwellers can list items they want to get rid of and try to connect with someone in the building who might want them. This way, Apt 3A can get the extra table fan that Apt 1B no longer needs with no hassle.

10/20/11

Empty your desk, purse and car of those little condiment packets that you get when you order takeout and organize them in one place. Use the salad dressing, ketchup and soy sauce packets in your packed lunches and picnic baskets, or use them anytime you're carrying your own food.