When traveling, it’s important to stay hydrated for health, so always remember to bring a reusable water bottle with you. At hotels, skip the overpriced bottles of water in the minibar and head to the hotel gym instead. Most hotel gyms offer free filtered water that you can use to refill your reusable bottle (even if you opt not to work out). Even the hotel bar or restaurant can refill your bottles with free filtered water. This is a great way to cut back on single-use plastic and save money.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

They may seem small, but millions of plastic hotel keycards are made and tossed away every year. Hotels are slowly replacing the hard-to-recycle plastic with biodegradables and eco-resins, but until then, try two things. First, always return the keycard to the front desk to be reused. Second, if a hotel participates in a smartphone program, download the app and use your phone to unlock your door instead. This eliminates the need for a hotel keycard altogether.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Twice a year, make it a priority to clean the inside of your fridge and freezer, and purge any food items that are past their expiration date. Wash the interior of the fridge with a solution of warm water and baking soda to loosen hard spills so they soften and can be wiped out. If possible, pull the fridge out from the wall and vacuum underneath and behind it, since dust buildup can force a fridge to work harder. And make a pledge to always toss out old food throughout the year and recycle any containers that are recyclable.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION