According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky pipe can waste about 10,000 gallons of water per year, which is enough to fill a large swimming pool. In the cooler months, take the time to inspect your outdoor faucets for any leaks. Better yet, turn off the water valves to the outdoor faucets and unhook the garden hose so there's no water whatsoever in those pipes. This will also help prevent them from bursting in case they freeze, preventing a costly repair come springtime.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Ever do some "extreme couponing" at the store? It's when you combine coupons with store sales, making the total price of your items next to nothing. If you are able to procure a small stockpile of brand-new personal care items like toothbrushes, deodorant and soap through clever couponing, why not donate to your local food pantry? Food pantries are often in need of things besides food and would gladly take brand-new personal care items. Put your bargain-hunting skills to work for a worthwhile cause!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's no surprise one of the easiest ways to go green is to skip plastic-bottled water. But here's another reason to say no to single-use H2O: You might be drinking microplastics, too. A study by the State University of New York in Fredonia found that 250 bottles from 11 different brands had microplastics in over 90% of the samples tested. These microplastics are invisible to the naked eye, but could contribute to an unhealthy way to stay hydrated.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION