When choosing between bagged lettuce and a whole head of lettuce at the supermarket, it may seem "triple washed" precut lettuce is a more convenient way to go. But the reality is that many bagged lettuces are up to two weeks old already when they reach your dinner plate, according to Mother Jones magazine. And bagged lettuce costs more: Pound for pound, the convenience of bagged greens costs about 50 percent more. But making your own salad couldn't be easier: Just cut a head of lettuce yourself, soak in a water bath and use a salad spinner to get it dinner-ready.

In the winter months, the mixture of melting snow and ice, deicing salt, dirt and mud can wreak havoc on your shoes. If your leather shoes get stained from the melting mix, the good news is you have 48 hours to clean them to make them look as good as new. After that, the discoloration and stains will set in. To clean them, just make a simple 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar, and dab the shoes clean with a soft cloth. This will remove the stain. Allow the shoes to air-dry, and they'll look good as new in about 24 hours.

When burning firewood at home, many of us turn to old newspapers as a fire starter. Black-and-white newsprint is fine to use, but never use wrapping paper, circular coupons and pages from magazines. The inks and finishes used on these papers contain metals that can emit toxic fumes when burned. Since the papers burn quickly, they can leave creosote deposits on the flue, which can create an unsafe fireplace.