For those of you who are thinking of taking on a home improvement project yourself instead of hiring someone, do this: Rent your tools. Sure, you can spend a lot of money and create an ultimate tool shed at your house, but there's a good chance this DIY spirit may be short-lived. To save money and reduce waste, rent your tools through apps like SpareToolz, which connects people who need to borrow items with those in their neighborhood who have signed up to rent out their tools.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If your home has its own private septic tank, you can help increase its life span by taking a few simple measures inside the home. Never flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet, and never pour flammable or toxic products (like chlorine bleach and fertilizers) or chemical cleaning products like rug cleaners and floor waxes down the drain. Also, be aware of the types of body washes and body oils you use in the shower and bath; excessive amounts can discourage the growth of natural microorganisms that are vital for breaking down organic matter in your septic tank.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If the hottest water from your shower or kitchen tap is too hot, that's an easy indicator that you need to dial down the setting on your water heater at home. Just moving it down a few degrees is not only enough to make it more energy-efficient, but it's also safer, since the members of your household won't scald themselves. The standard setting for a water heater is 140 degrees, which is very hot. Try turning it down to 120 degrees and see if that works for you and your family.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION