8/20/13

Do you try to avoid buying products from companies that use genetically modified ingredients? Or maybe you want to buy products that are made in the United States only? Whatever you reason to use your dollars to support companies you believe in, there is an easier way to shop -- just use your smartphone. The free Buycott app looks up the product you want to buy and tells you about the parent company and if its work is aligned with your beliefs. Learn more at buycott.com.

8/19/13

At shopping malls all over the country, a new type of ATM is popping up -- ecoATM. It works just like a regular cash machine with one exception: It buys used consumer electronics like cellphones, smartphones and tablets from you for cash. It's simple to use: The machine examines your device and tells you the highest price it can pay you for it. You have the option to sell it and get cash on the spot or reject the offer and get your item back. To find an ecoATM near you, visit ecoatm.com.

8/18/13

Since we spend one-third of our life in bed, creating a healthy bedroom is imperative to get a good night's sleep. Bed bugs, dust mites and other living allergens that end up in our beds can lead to an unhealthy mattress. If you suspect you might have some of these critters, don't toss the mattress to the curb just yet. Instead, fill a spray bottle with a fine mist nozzle with rubbing alcohol. Strip the bed of all sheets (and wash them in hot water), and spray the rubbing alcohol all over the mattress. Upon contact, the living allergens will die. Wait a few minutes, then use the handheld attachment for your vacuum to give the bed a good cleaning.