If you support your local food bank, you can also ask if they are looking for non-food-related items to help the people that they serve. Often, personal hygiene products are an in-demand item that aren't in stock to give. These items include toilet paper, soap (shampoo and body wash), diapers, toothpaste and laundry detergent. The reason they are in demand is that these items often are not covered by government assistance programs. If your local food bank needs these, be sure to buy them new and leave the seal intact; anything opened or used will be tossed away.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When flying, it's not only quicker to fly nonstop, it's also greener. Choosing flights that have connections means you're contributing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere with your travel choice. A tremendous amount of fuel is consumed for takeoff and landing, which can mean you're doubling or tripling your fuel usage, depending on the number of connections you make. Another bonus of flying nonstop: You won't get stuck in a connecting city if your flight is late.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Using cloth dish towels is an economical and ecological way to quickly clean up spills and keep your kitchen tidy. But over time, they can get smelly and dirty, and actually spread germs and bacteria in the kitchen. The solution is not to bleach the towels. Instead, soak the towels in the sink in a mixture of hot water and white vinegar for 20 minutes. When the towels cool, ring out the excess water and wash in the washing machine. The towels will be deodorized, disinfected and ready to use in the kitchen again.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION