On your next journey abroad, be sure to check out the website packforapurpose.org, which encourages international travelers to save a little extra space in their luggage to bring along donation items for schools and hospitals. Shipping these goods halfway around the world can be expensive, so tossing things like packages of pencils or Band-Aids, deflated sports balls, etc. into your checked luggage can do a lot of good. When you arrive at your destination, just find the local hotel or lodging facility that participates in the program and drop off your goods. It's that simple!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If there are water restrictions where you live, don't worry if your lush green lawn turns brown. A brown lawn is not a dead lawn; an underground crown of grass will survive and will re-emerge when the weather cools off, returning your lawn to its lush green splendor. And keep in mind that watering your lawn less in the summer months can be one of the best ways to save water; on average, more than 67,000 gallons of water are used to water lawns in the hot summer months.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Yes, ice can go bad. It is technically a food, and like most foods, over time ice can harbor everything from bacteria to viruses that can cause illness, according to the International Packaged Ice Association. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli can live in ice, because freezing does not kill these contaminants. Ice that's left in the freezer for a long time can harbor odors, too. Keep fresh ice in your freezer, and turn off the ice maker when you don't need it (you'll save water and energy with the flip of a switch). And dispose of old ice outdoors, where it can melt and water plants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION