Do you know who one of the biggest sellers of names and addresses is, that results in your mailbox being flooded with junk mail? It's your credit card company. If you're tired of the 5 million tons of junk mail that is sent to Americans every year (typically ending up in landfills), you can help significantly decrease that amount by simply contacting your credit card company. Ask them to opt you out of any third-party mailing lists. And while you're at it, sign up at OptOutPreScreen.com to exclude yourself from receiving new credit card offers in the mail for five years.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When carving real pumpkins, one of the insider tricks to prevent the cut edges from deteriorating quickly is to smear them with petroleum jelly. This technique works because the jelly creates a barrier between the cut pumpkin and air, which can speed up the decomposition process. But petroleum jelly is not edible, and it's not biodegradable. Leaving pumpkins outdoors can invite critters to nibble at them, and that can lead to animals accidentally ingesting petroleum jelly. Instead of carving, opt for intact pumpkins, which will last longer and remain edible far after the Halloween holiday.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know that when the temperatures get cooler outside, butterflies will seek out warmth and often end up inside our homes? While the daytime temperatures indoors may be ideal, when the central heating turns on at night, it can become problematic for butterflies. They'll fly around the house to seek out cooler conditions and end up expending all of their energy to total exhaustion. If you do find a butterfly, don't kill it: Instead, use an empty shoebox to capture it and take it outdoors to shelter, such as a storage shed, or even your garage.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION