Many of us are avoiding the chemical BPA -- or bisphenol A -- which has been linked to heart disease and liver problems. The most common source of BPA is (and was) found in plastics like reusable water bottles and food storage containers. The good news? Many manufacturers have eliminated BPA from their products, and buying BPA-free containers is pretty easy. But did you know thermal receipts, like the kind you get at the supermarket or the gas station, have BPA in them? It's needed to create an impression in the paper so ink isn't needed. Whenever possible, opt for an email receipt, which is paper-free. But if you need a receipt, be cautious not to put the receipt in your mouth, and always wash your hands after you handle a thermal receipt.

While the previous winter's chill has many of us dreaming of hot, steamy days, the summer months are near and quite possibly might have us dreaming of cold, wintery days. To keep your home cool during the summer without turning on the air conditioner, open the right windows in your home. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, open low windows just a little bit on the windy side of the house, and open the window wide on the opposite side. This will draw cool air through the home with a tunnel effect, creating a cooling breeze. But during the hottest times of the day, close windows to trap the cool air inside.

Do you have old, lightly used furniture you would like to donate instead of sending to a landfill? The Furniture Bank Association is a nonprofit that helps families who are in need of furniture get it at little or zero cost. The families work with a number of organizations across the country where Furniture Bank connects people who have pieces to give with people who need them. All you have to do is visit furniturebanks.org and find what organizations within a 15- to 20-mile radius of you accept furniture. Many of them will come to you to pick up everything from lightly used beds to tables, sofas and more.