One of the easiest ways to find a new home for things you no longer need is to have a yard sale. But a single-residence yard sale is less effective than when many homes have a sale together, so coordinate with your neighbors to designate a special day when all of you can have yard sales. The more homes offering yard sales, the more likely you’ll draw a steady flow of bargain hunters ready to purchase your used wares. And when your sales are done, work together with your neighbors to collect and donate the unsold items to charities like Goodwill.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

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