12/4/10

Junk mail can be a pain and still show up even if you sign up to be opted out. Make the most of it by using the free envelopes inside for your own personal mailing needs. Simply cover the pre-printed address on the label with your own white label and use your own stamps to reuse them.

12/3/10

Newspaper is a great fire starter for the fireplace, but it can burn up in a flash if you just crumple it up. Take a section of the newspaper and soak it in a sink full of water. Squish the whole paper with your hands and roll it into a "log" and squeeze out the excess water. Let it dry in a warm spot -- near a radiator for example -- until it's completely dry. Light it in the fireplace and it will burn very slowly to help get your fire roaring in no time.

12/2/10

If you see an organic food item or eco-friendly cleaning supply on sale, how many should you buy without buying too many? If it's something you use on a regular basis and you know you're saving money, then stock up on about 12 weeks' worth of product. This is the average length of time in between sales cycles for most items found in a supermarket. So if you eat one jar of organic pasta sauce a week, then on average, you should buy 12 jars.