Filling up the gas tank all the way each time you visit the gas station is the most fuel-efficient way to fill up, since it means you'll make fewer trips to the gas station over time. But avoid the temptation to "top off" after the pump automatically stops. The reason is simple: Adding more gas wastes money. Gasoline tanks have something called a vapor recovery system, which prevents gas from escaping. Adding more gas means you add some gas into your tank after it's full, but you also send gas back into the tank. That's money down the drain!

It's tempting: You see a seashell on the beach and want to bring it home as a souvenir. What harm could taking one shell do? If you multiply that by the millions of people who visit our shores during the summer months, it can lead to massive destruction. When shells disappear from the beaches and oceans, it leads to increased beach erosion. When shells are on the beach, they help stabilize the sand, which lessens erosion. When the shells are gone, beaches go away, too. To help, admire the shells and leave them alone.

While aluminum cans, glass jars and bottles have residual food waste on them and can still be recycled, one recyclable material that needs to be clean in order for it to be recycled is plastic. If a plastic container is covered in thick sauces or sticky melted cheese, it can contaminate an entire load of recyclables. Simply rinse recyclable plastics before putting them in the recycling bin. It will also help wildlife: If animals don't detect food, they won't rummage through your bin at night.