12/24/12

If you would love to adopt a dog as a companion animal but don't have the time or space for it, do the next best thing: Help train adoptable dogs. Volunteering to train dogs to follow basic commands like sit and stay and how to walk calmly helps make them more adoptable to potential families. You'll get your one-on-one time with a puppy, and you're helping your local animal shelter at the same time.

12/23/12

Today, many new cars contain smart glass: car windshields and windows that have integrated SPF to help block the sun's harmful rays from hurting you. But many older cars do not have this feature, which means people who spend a significant amount of time in their cars can get a sunburn or worse from the sun's rays permeating the glass. Instead of replacing it with costly new glass, you can invest in clear sheets that cling onto the inside of the window and effectively block 99 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays and help reduce glare. They're a cinch to install and nearly invisible.

12/22/12

Another reason why investing in a hybrid car is a smart choice: It gives you more free time. A recent study by Ford Motor Co. showed that investing in a fuel-efficient hybrid car significantly reduces the number of trips you need to make to the gas station to refuel. Over the course of just one year, the average hybrid car owner saved about 10 hours of time at the pump. What would you do with that extra time?