We all know that items like lighter fluid, paint and chemical insecticides are considered household hazardous waste and should never be thrown in the regular trash. But did you know there are some common personal care products that are also considered hazardous? Items like nail polish, nail polish remover and even hair care products found in aerosol cans are hazardous. The one thing these beauty products have in common is they contain ingredients that are flammable, which is what makes them hazardous waste. Dispose of these unused personal care products whenever hazardous material is collected, or use it up and look for more natural and organic brands when you restock.

Before winter takes over the country, this is the time to visit your local farm stand or farmers market and stock up on in-season, at-their-peak seasonal produce. Since fresh berries, tomatoes and other fruits and veggies aren't at their peak in the cold months, they can be expensive and not the tastiest. Buying in-season organic produce means they'll be available at lower prices, which means you can prep and freeze them, and they'll be ready to go in a few months. Corn kernels, grated tomatoes, berries (all types) and even hearty leafy greens can all be frozen.

If you think organic food is too expensive, it might be time to rethink looking at generic or store-brand items. Supermarket chains like Giant, Safeway and Whole Foods each have a version of generic branded food, or what they like to call "store brands." Unlike the generic food of the past, today's store brands are indistinguishable from national brands, and they are just as good. Nature's Own (Giant), Safeway Select and Whole Foods 365 are store brands that are more affordable for foods like certified organic frozen fruits and veggies, cereals, oils, vinegars, spices, canned beans and much more. Since they are USDA-certified organic, they follow the same strict guidelines to earn the organic mark as big-name national brands do.