Did you know after 400 charges, the battery life of your smartphone begins to degrade by about 20%? That doesn't mean your battery won't charge; it just won't hold onto a charge as long as the first time you used your phone. One way to extend and protect the life of your battery is to avoid chargers that do "fast charging." These devices charge phones quickly, but they also stress the battery. If you can, do a slow charge, like using a USB cord to charge your phone from your computer. The slower charge rate can extend the life of your battery.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Reed diffusers are an easy way to add natural scent to a room without burning candles or spraying artificial fragrances. But buying new diffusers -- the vial of oil, the container and reeds, in addition to all the packaging -- can be wasteful and expensive. Use this hack instead: Purchase a bottle of refill oil and use an old glass jar or small vase as the container. Then raid your junk drawer for Chinese food takeout chopsticks. They are made from bamboo and are porous enough to soak up the oil and gently dissipate the fragrance into the air.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Did you know one of the top reasons household paint is "wasted" is because the color we chose is the wrong shade? It can be hard to choose the perfect shade from a myriad of paint chips, and often when we pick something we like, it appears to be too bright, too dark or just wrong on our walls. To help avoid this financial and material waste, look to other homes and spaces for color inspiration. When you find a wall color you like, you can use a number of apps to immediately color match it on your phone. Then order that exact shade so you have the perfect color in your soon-to-be perfect home.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION