It is possible to have a beautiful garden or front yard without having to turn on the sprinklers and water the plants on a constant basis. If you think drought-resistant plants only include cacti and succulents, think again. There are many flowering plants, like lavender, yarrow flowers and bougainvillea, that are lush, colorful, abundant and need very little watering to thrive. When planning a garden, look for drought-resistant plants to save water and your sanity: They take very little care to look their best.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

This isn’t a groundbreaking tip, but it’s one worth repeating. When washing your clothes, opt to use the cold water setting whenever possible. The reason is simple: As much as 85% of the energy used to wash clothing is from heating water! By choosing the cold water setting, you’re significantly reducing the energy used for each load of laundry. Plus, cold water works well with modern detergents and helps reduce wear and tear on clothes, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you would love to adopt a dog as a companion animal but simply can’t offer the time or proper home for him, do the next best thing: Help train adoptable dogs. Volunteering time at a shelter to train dogs to walk calmly and obey basic commands like “sit” and “stay” helps make them more adoptable to potential families. You'll get your one-on-one time with a dog while helping your local animal shelter, too. And don’t forget: Use your social media platforms to promote adoptable dogs! If you love him, maybe one of your followers will take the leap and adopt him.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION