If you’ve baked a casserole and covered the dish with aluminum foil, save it to help give your dull scissors a little sharpening. Just take your old aluminum foil and fold it over at least seven times (make sure the foil is clean and dry when doing this). Then cut right into the foil with your dull scissors; each snip is re-sharpening the blades. Snip away several times until your scissors can cut cleanly through a sheet of paper. And don’t forget: You can wad up that used foil and toss it into the recycling bin when you’re done!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Fresh flowers are a nice and easy way to keep your home cheery. But when the flowers begin to wilt, what do you do with them? Whether you grew them yourself or brought them in from the store, all flowers are fully compostable. But one thing isn’t: The water used in the vase. That little packet of flower feed that came with your store-bought flowers is actually a biocide that kills bacteria in water, and that chemical can kill the good bacteria in your compost. It’s best to pour that water mixture down the drain.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Buying organic and natural personal care products is the right step toward living a greener life, but it can also cost a little more. Before going to the store to stock up, check out sites like RetailMeNot.com, RedPlum.com and SundaySaver.com, all of which can help you find the best deals at national chain stores and offer coupons that can be redeemed at over 100,000 stores. Combine coupons with retail chains' customer loyalty programs and you can save big on your favorite eco brands.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION