It's important to use only "seasoned" firewood when making a fire, since the excess moisture in "green" wood can make it burn inefficiently and not as clean. But how can you tell if the firewood you have is actually seasoned? Start by looking at the ends of the log: Are they dark in color and cracked? If so, it's dry. Then lift the wood: Is it lighter than a freshly cut piece of wood around the same size? Does it make a hollow sound when you hit two pieces of firewood together? If so, it's perfect for your fireplace or firepit.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

City dwellers who rarely use their car may want to think twice about keeping it. On average, the cost of gas, registration, insurance and payments (if the car isn't owned outright) can add up to around $10,000 a year. A car that isn't a daily necessity can be sold to save money; experts agree that when you do need a car, renting is the most economical and ecological way to go, since you only use it when you really, truly need it. Of course, you can always donate a car you own outright to charity and reap the tax deduction savings, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

This holiday season, instead of choosing between a live or an artificial Christmas tree, consider renting one instead. Live balled trees can be rented from local landscaping stores, and they will often deliver the tree and take it back after the Christmas holiday. If your local store doesn't have such a program, why not propose it and see if they'll go for it? It's a win-win for them: They get revenue for a tree they can't plant now and they also get it back. If you prefer an artificial tree, local prop houses (typically used by set designers) will often rent trees to the public at a tiny fraction of the cost. The benefit? When the holiday season is over, you can return it and not deal with storing it.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION