01/17/12

When shopping at a consignment store, high-end, designer clothes can be purchased for a fraction of their original price. Another bonus? Buying secondhand clothes at thrift stores or consignment shops isn't just good on the wallet, it is also significantly more efficient than buying new. The amount of energy used to make new clothes is much lower than the energy used to resell them. One tip: When you find tailored pieces, like pants or jackets, that fit you perfectly, ask the store to hold items from that seller. The next time he or she brings in clothes, they should fit well, too.

01/16/12

Always adopt from a shelter and never, ever buy your pets. Even if you want a purebred dog, there is a strong possibility that you'll find the breed you want at the shelter: The Humane Society of the United States estimates 25 percent of all adoptable pets in shelters are purebred. There is also a proliferation of rescue groups online for all breeds to help you find the perfect animal. Bonus tip: Shelters can always use old towels to give animals a warm place to sleep or to dry them off after bathing. So, when you replace your bath towels, give them to your local shelter.

01/15/2012

No need to spend extra on fancy liquor: There are no added health benefits in buying organic spirits like tequila or vodka. Any trace pesticides are removed in the normal distillation process. When it comes to wine, however, organic vinos do have some benefits. In organic wines, additional preservatives like sulfites cannot be added. There are naturally occurring sulfites in the winemaking process, but people with sulfite allergies may find organic wines less likely to trigger allergic reactions.