If you are an animal lover with pieces of jewelry you wouldn’t mind donating to a worthy cause, consider the nonprofit organization Indigo Rescue. Since 1999, Indigo Rescue has been accepting jewelry -- whether it’s fine or costume quality –- and reselling it through a variety of events to raise money to help homeless cats and dogs. You can mail your jewelry to the organization, and you’ll receive a tax receipt for your donation. To learn more, visit their website at indigorescue.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Have leftover red or white wine? Why not pour the extra in ice cube trays so you have small cubes of wine to add to stock, sauces or even to blender drinks in the future? Or use white wine as a kitchen countertop disinfectant (but not on granite). The natural disinfecting properties of wine and the residual alcohol do a great job in cleaning, and it doesn’t stain, either. You can also use it to clean up grease stains on the floor, kitchen cabinets or appliances. The combination of alcohol and acidity is a powerful way to break up grease stains so they’re a cinch to wipe up.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Coffee bags are nearly impossible to recycle, so it’s a good idea to find a new way to upcycle them around the house. One great attribute of waxy or foil-lined coffee bags is that they are the perfect container to start seedlings in for your garden. All you have to do is trim them down to the desired size and fill with organic matter (including old coffee grinds!). Then grow whatever seeds you want inside. If you need a lot of bags to get your garden growing, this is a great thing to ask local coffee shops or your friends to save for you, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION