Buying in bulk from wholesale clubs can be a great way to save money and reduce packaging on some of your favorite everyday items. But buying in bulk can have its perils when the item you're buying has a short shelf life. When buying perishable foods in bulk, it's best to avoid items like ketchup, mustard, mayo and other condiments. Most families will not go through the entire supply before it goes bad; dollar for dollar, it's better to buy these items in normal-sized jars. One other item to avoid? Healthy brown rice. Brown rice has a shelf life of only six months because it retains its natural oils and fatty acids; when it goes bad, it takes on a rancid taste. White rice, which is free of those fats, has a shelf life of 30 years.

If you've got a garlic press gathering dust in your kitchen, bring it out and use it for more than just garlic. You can use it to crush dried herbs to make your own custom blends. Add whole seeds like black pepper, cumin, coriander -- whatever you want! -- and place them in the device. When the herbs go through the press, you'll have a coarse blend that's fresh and ready to go. When you find a spice blend you love, save money and buy the ingredients in bulk and press away. The blends make great gifts and can be stored in airtight jars to use whenever you're ready to grill, bake, sautee ...

With the cold winter months upon us, many of us prepare by packing up our bicycles until it's warm enough to use them again. One misconception about winter bike storage is that you should deflate the tires before putting your bike away. This is damaging to the bike since the weight adds pressure to one spot on the rubber and rims all winter long. Over time, this deteriorates and distorts the bicycle. Come spring, when you reinflate the tires, the whole bike can be totally off. Instead, before storing your bicycle, fully inflate the tires so it rests on air, not the rubber and metal.