There are lots of compost bins you can buy at the store that feature tight-fitting lids, integrated carbon filters (to absorb odors) and pretty designs so they look good on your kitchen countertop. Instead of buying one, you can always repurpose an old stock pot into a compost bin. A stainless steel one works best, since it can be washed easily, but any pot with a tight lid will work and keep odors and insects away. If you don't have one, there are plenty of used pots at any thrift store that will work, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

An outdoor water leak can be very hard to detect, since drips will often simply go into the ground and not leave any trace that there's a problem. To see if your outdoor faucets are leaking, wrap a balloon around the opening of the faucet and hold it in place with a tight rubber band or zip tie. Then come back a few days later. If it contains any water, you have a leak and will need to call a local plumber to fix it, or learn how to do it yourself by visiting a home improvement site like Lowes.com.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Reed diffusers are an easy way to add natural scent to a room without burning candles or spraying artificial fragrances. But buying new diffusers -- the vial of oil, the container and reeds, in addition to all the packaging -- can be wasteful and expensive. To save money and packaging, get a refill oil and reuse a glass jar or bottle as the base. Then fill it with bamboo chopsticks from Chinese takeout food to help diffuse the scent. Bamboo is porous, so it’s a great tool to help absorb and gently release fragrance into the air.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION