While placing heavy drapes over windows is a sure-fire way to keep your home cozy during the winter months, it also blocks sunlight from entering your home. An alternative idea that helps insulate and lets sunlight in is to use stick-on window film on top of your windows. This self-stick product goes directly onto your window, and it's absolutely clear. It provides an extra layer of insulation that reduces heat loss in the winter, blocks harmful UV rays and -- in the hot summer months -- blocks heat from coming in. It's inexpensive, easy to install and will pay for itself over time.

If you have a wedding gown that's fewer than five years old or a unique vintage design that you'd like to donate to someone in need, consider the nonprofit Brides Across America. The organization accepts lightly used wedding gowns in all sizes, as well as accessories like veils and tiaras, and finds military brides in need to receive them. The organization has been honored by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden for its efforts to support active military members. Learn more at bridesacrossamerica.com

Have you recently finished painting your living room and wondered what to do with your leftover paint? It's actually recyclable through a nonprofit program called PaintCare. PaintCare is available in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, D.C. These states have passed legislation called "paint stewardship laws," which requires the paint manufacturing industry to take back old paint for recycling. But the companies take back more than just interior and exterior paints, they also include deck coatings, primers, stains, undercoats, rust preventatives and shellacs, urethanes and varnishes. Paintcare.org makes it easy to find drop-off points.