8/12/13

As your kids grow up, you might notice quite a bit of baby gear that you can't donate to charities, like a car seat. One thing you can do is call your waste hauler and ask if the car seat can be placed in your curbside recycling bin. While car seats are made from a variety of materials, like fabric, metal, foam and plastic, the majority of the seat is made from dense, recyclable plastic. Many waste haulers will take them and dismantle them for their recyclable parts.

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.