If you’re having a celebratory event that normally involves guests bringing presents (like a birthday party) and you really don’t want any gifts, ask your invitees to bring items for a charity instead. Choose a local charity like a food bank, animal shelter or family services organization and ask what items they desperately need. Then ask everyone to bring those items as a way to facilitate gift-giving and charitable giving at the same time. Do the math: Twenty guests who each bring a large bag of pet food can be a big help for a small animal welfare organization.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Here’s a decorating trick that helps a room look great with less light. Instead of placing lamps in the middle of the room (on top of tables or by a sofa), place them in corners instead. This allows the light to illuminate with maximum exposure because it reflects off two walls instead of just one surface. More reflection means more usable light, and it also means less lighting needs to be turned on. For homes that are particularly dark, this can be an incredibly energy-efficient way to illuminate a room.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Before your next journey abroad, be sure to check out the website packforapurpose.org. By "donating" a little extra space in your luggage, you can bring needed items to the communities you visit, like 400 pencils for a school, five deflated soccer balls with an inflation device for a youth sports program, or a stethoscope, blood-pressure cuff and 500 adhesive bandages for a local hospital. When you arrive at your destination, just find the local hotel or lodging facility that participates in the program and drop off your goods. It's that simple!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION