8/11/13

Donating items to charity is a great way to find a new home for your old things, get a tax deduction and help a nonprofit raise funds. But not everything can be donated to charities, so it's best to ask before you drop off. Mattresses and box springs, for example, are difficult to give, since it is illegal in most states to refurbish or resell beds. Used electronics have become difficult to donate since prices have come down and functionality is constantly evolving. It's best to bring old electronics to stores like Best Buy to have them recycled.

8/10/13

Tired of getting unsolicited offers in the mail that want you to sign up for a new credit card or insurance? One way to opt out of these mailings is to register online at the official Consumer Credit Reporting Industry website, optoutprescreen.com. At the site, you'll have the option to opt out of all mailings for either five years or permanently. Be sure to register twice if your billing address is different than your home address.

8/9/13

What should you do when your curling iron or hair dryer goes bust? First, replace it. Second, don't toss it in the trash: Recycle it. While you can't toss these broken hair care appliances in your curbside recycling, you can drop them off at a scrap metal recycling facility to be disposed of properly. Anything that is made with at least 50 percent metal -- aluminum, steel, copper or brass -- can be recycled. Scrap metal yards will sort the metal out from broken appliances and make sure it gets made into new metal products.