Sure, it's money-saving, but it's also fun to regenerate vegetables from vegetable scraps. Put the end trimmings of romaine lettuce in a shallow dish with about half an inch of water and place it in a sunny spot. In a few days, the romaine stump will start to grow off shoots of new leaves that can be eaten. Even a sprig of basil can be regenerated into a whole new plant. Just place at least a 4-inch stalk in water until roots start to grow. After they are long and healthy, you can transplant it into soil to really see it thrive.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know that the kitchen sponge you use to hand-wash dishes should be replaced about every two weeks? One way to help maximize the life of a sponge is to keep it clean by disinfecting frequently in a dishwasher or microwave oven. You also can replace a traditional sponge with a slightly more expensive microfiber sponge. These sponges last for several months and also dry much more quickly than conventional sponges, which means bacteria have less time to grow and build up on them.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Give yourself glowing skin with some easy one-ingredient beauty treatments, using things in your own kitchen. Dab some apple cider vinegar on your skin with a cotton ball; the mild acid acts like an exfoliant. Wait five minutes and rinse off with water. A small amount of coarse sea salt can be used on a wet scalp to exfoliate, absorb excess oil and leave behind a beachy look; just gently rub and rinse out. And coconut oil can be a natural makeup remover when you need something in a pinch.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION