Do Just One Thing

Many of us donate money to charities during this time of year, which is a great thing to do! But do one more thing when you open your wallet: Be sure to tell the charity that you would like to opt out of receiving any free gift (a T-shirt, tote bag, etc.) or regular newsletter/magazine. These items are used as incentives to help raise money, but they cost money to make and ship. By opting out of receiving something you probably didn’t want anyway, you can make sure the full value of your donation is going toward the charity’s good works.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

When you’re shipping presents this holiday season, opt for ground shipping or the U.S. Postal Service for your shipping needs. Sending gifts via overnight or two-day service may get the package to your destination quicker, but it uses gas-guzzling planes and will drain your wallet as well. By planning ahead, you can pay for ground shipping, and the U.S. Postal Service will deliver your gifts using their existing fleet of trucks, at a lower price and with less fuel waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

There is so much organic food in the marketplace now that finding your favorite food items on sale or at warehouse clubs is easy to do. But how can you stock up on a sale without buying too much? If it’s something you use on a regular basis and you know you’re saving money, stock up on about 12 weeks’ worth of product. This is the average length of time between sales cycles for most items found in a supermarket. So if you eat one jar of organic pasta sauce a week on average, buy 12 jars. Shelf-stable items are your best bets to save big on organics when they’re on sale.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION