Want to chop $85 off your electricity bill in one easy step? Consider designating just one room in the house for watching television and not having multiple TVs set up all over the house. On average, a flat-screen TV uses about $7 a month in electricity -- not counting the cable box or other devices like gaming consoles and DVD players. But it's more than just economic savings: According to a study by the University of Michigan, 71 percent of teenagers have their own TV in their bedroom; kids 6 to 11 watch 28 hours of TV a week. The study showed excessive TV watching affected children's sleep, weight, grades and behavior. Instead of cutting the cord, have meaningful TV watching. And save a little money on the side, too.

When mice find open bags of bread, bowls of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or cookie crumbs in cabinets, they'll come back knowing this is a source for food. But there are some not-so-obvious sources, too. Be sure to keep your dog's or cat's pet food sealed in an airtight container and not left in an open bag. Also, look at the yard around fruit-bearing trees near your home; fallen fruit can also lead mice to venture past the trees and into your house.

When it's time to give the bathroom a good cleaning, do it right after a hot, steamy shower. With a layer of steam on mirrors, faucets and countertops, you can use the moisture to your time-saving advantage by wiping it down with a microfiber towel. The microfibers will use the mist to cling onto dirt and germs, and it'll absorb right into the towel and leave a streak-free finish. Grout in shower tiles can be sprayed with white vinegar, which will work with the hot residual water to make scrubbing the shower a breeze.