If you're going to be away from home for a long period of time, it's a good idea to "power down" the home and cut waste to save money and energy. Go around the house and unplug major appliances like TVs, stereos, microwave ovens and even the refrigerator. Make sure the cable box, Wi-Fi and computers are completely unplugged from the wall sockets to stop trickle power, even if everything is turned off. Turn your water heater to the lowest setting possible and lower the thermostat, too. If you get a newspaper delivery, put a stop on delivery from the day you're gone to the day you're back.

Want to stay at an eco-friendly hotel when you travel? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, all you have to do is look for a certification mark on the hotel website. These third-party associations, like Green Seal or Green Leaf, certify green hotels based on their energy consumption, recycling programs, water conservation efforts and internal efforts to reduce waste at the property. It even counts the use of locally grown and organic foods for the on-site restaurants. Without these marks, it can be hard to identify if a hotel property is truly green, so either seal helps ensure you're staying somewhere eco-chic.

If you have a credit card that has cash back bonuses on it that gives you a percentage of your charges back in the form of credit or cash, some good news: It's not taxable income according to the IRS. But here's even better news: If you choose to donate your cash back money to a nonprofit, that money is tax deductible. Save money, help a cause and do it all without really trying too hard.