According to This Old House magazine, charcoal from the backyard grill can have myriad detoxifying uses around the house. When arranging flowers, place a few briquettes in the bottom of the vase to help keep the water fresh and clean. If you have smelly kitchen cabinets, place a piece in the back of the cabinet so it can absorb both odors and excess moisture to keep it smelling fresh. And lay a few pieces on top of a household orchid plant to help it thrive; the flowers love the alkalinity of the charcoal.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Skip packaged produce! Do you purchase produce like three peppers in a cellophane bag or pre-rinsed salad mixes in a plastic tub? It may seem convenient that some produce is pre-washed, but pound for pound, it costs way more. And given the recent news that pre-washed mixes aren't necessarily clean, you may find yourself washing it again anyway. Investing in a simple salad spinner can help you save money in the long run, plus you'll feel better knowing it's truly clean, because you did it yourself.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Pastry chefs say the best surface to roll dough, make chocolates and do other types of baking prep work on is a marble countertop, since it stays cool to the touch. If you don't have a marble countertop and don't want to invest in one, think scrap heap instead. Countertop fabricators often have square slabs of marble waste leftover from the holes they cut to fit sinks when installing new countertops. Those slabs can be purchased for a few dollars or are free if you become friendly with your local fabricator.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION