Some of the most desired and hard-to-get items for local food banks are fresh fruits. If you have fruit trees on your property with a bumper crop of produce, consider donating bushels to your local food bank. Not only will the bank appreciate the donation, but the value of the gift can also be tax-deductible. In some cities across the country where fruit trees are abundant, there are organizations that will even come to your home and harvest the excess fruit for you. Remember to harvest only what’s fresh and edible, although the fruit does not need to be perfect-looking; if it’s good enough for you to eat, it’s good enough to donate.

When it comes to buying a laptop or desktop computer, there is a big difference between "used" and "refurbished." When you buy a used computer, it basically means you’re getting it in as-is condition, with no idea how damaged or usable it really is. But when you buy a refurbished system, it means the system has been repaired (usually by the manufacturer) and even comes with a warranty and tech support. The great news about refurbished computers is that they are less expensive than new ones. Often, these systems are technically new; they often come as returns from major corporations that barely cracked opened the box.

While it may be economical and ecological to buy lightly used items online or from thrift shops, there is one item a parent should never buy used: car seats. The safety regulations for car seats are constantly changing, as crash test results reveal new ways to improve them. The designs for car seats change so frequently that they are often stamped with an expiration date, lasting only about six years after purchase. Since car seats are designed to withstand only one crash, there also is no way of telling if the seat is still usable or not. For the safety of your child, buy a new seat.