One of the biggest home expenses during the summer months is the cooling cost for your whole house. You can help save energy and stay cool by being smart about your central cooling system. Close the vents in little-used rooms like spare bedrooms or the dining room. By restricting the flow of cool air into unused rooms, you'll keep your heavily used rooms much more comfortable. And the cooler those rooms get, the more you can raise the thermostat and save money.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Flea collars for cats and dogs can contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals like carbaryl and propoxur, which are essentially dangerous insecticides your pets are forced to wear around their neck. To help your furry friends, try a few natural and preventative measures instead. Groom regularly and use a flea and tick comb to remove the pests from your pet's fur. Wash their bedding regularly and vacuum to help keep a clean sleep environment. And when looking for a flea repellent, talk to your vet about oral medications, which can do just as good a job as a collar.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do you want to help your local animal shelter? Plenty of things in your home could be useful to them. If you have a stash of plastic shopping bags, they can be used by animal shelters to clean up dog messes. If you have a working heating pad, it can help small animals stay warm and simulate a mother's warmth. And your stack of old newspapers can be used in the bottom of cages as a lining that is easily swapped out when needed. Of course, every shelter is different, so check the website or social media feeds of your local shelter to see if there's anything else they may need.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION