Are you more of a brown thumb than green when it comes to taking care of houseplants? Here’s an easy trick to help keep your plant alive: Use an old sponge. At the bottom of the pot, place an old kitchen sponge and pot your houseplant. The sponge will prevent excess water from spilling out of the bottom of your pot by absorbing it. As the soil dries out, the sponge will provide a slow drink to your houseplant. So if you ever forget to water your plant, the sponge may give your plant an extra day or two of life!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A crack does not mean the end of a terra cotta pot. On the contrary, it’s an easy thing to fix in two easy steps. First, scrub away excess dirt and debris and give the pot a rinse in soapy water, then let it dry completely. Then use an outdoor-safe silicone caulk to fill in the cracks from the inside of the pot; this will fill the cracks and make the pot more water-resistant. To make the seal set, wrap copper or metal wire tightly around the pot and twist it; this will create enough tension to essentially “clamp” the pot together and squeeze it until the silicone sets. Remove the wire in 48 hours and voila! New pot!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have your children outgrown their love of building things out of Lego-brand building blocks? While the bricks are technically recyclable, it can be hard to find a recycler who will take them. But why recycle when you can make cash from them? The website Decluttr (decluttr.com) will purchase bags of Legos from you. Just fill a bag and weigh it, and Decluttr will automatically calculate the value of your bricks. The site also takes old CDs, DVDs, video games and even printed books for cash. Decluttr is a great site to use to get rid of clutter and make some cold, hard cash.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION