When dining out, simply request “no straw” with your beverage to help reduce trash. Most of us don’t use a drinking straw with our glass of water at home, so why use one when out? Over 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded every day in the United States alone — that’s 175 billion a
If you need to ship a package, don’t bother buying packing peanuts or bubble wrap. Fill the box with plastic shopping bags to cushion the item you’re sending.
Avoiding instant gratification is one of the most important rules for sticking to a budget. Try implementing the 30-Day Rule — wait 30 days before making an expensive purchase to see if you still really need or want the item. Waiting a while can give you a better handle on whether the item is really worth
Even though a can of tomato paste is small, sometimes it’s too much for a recipe. Rather than wasting an entire can for a tablespoon or two, remove the paste from the can and freeze it in ice cube trays, then transfer the cubes to a container and store in the freezer. When a recipe
Hollowed out lemon and orange peels, halved empty egg shells, and ice cream cones work well as seed starters. Simply put soil in the peels, egg shells, and cones (flat bottoms work well) and plant your seeds in them. When ready, plant the whole thing, “pot” and all!
On good days, use your outside clotheslines for drying instead of the dryer. Air-drying your clothes can reduce the average household’s carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds a year. And even if you only line dry half the time, you can save over $60 in a year!
Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of a home’s heating and cooling system by 20 percent – sometimes more.
A well-placed fan can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler a costs only 1¢ per hour to run.
Take advantage of free solar heat. Raise window shades in the day time, draw them by sundown.
