Now is a good time to start planning a backyard vegetable garden by sketching out a plot and choosing your seeds. Not only is gardening fun, but growing food for yourself can also save you about $800 a year in produce costs. For the best success at growing vegetables, go for the easiest types to cultivate at home. These include lettuces, green beans, spinach, cucumbers, squash, radishes and tomatoes. And while you're working on your small plot of farmland, also plan for a backyard compost pile so you can feed organic matter back to your plants.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

It's no surprise that washing your car at an automated commercial center saves water. In fact, the Car Wash Association estimates automatic car washes use significantly less water than washing at home: just 45 gallons per car versus 80 to 140 gallons wasted at home. But if you must wash your car at home, do one thing: Park your car on gravel or in a grassy spot instead of on the driveway. The soapy water will then get filtered through the ground and help recharge groundwater sources.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you wash your clothing too frequently, you'll wear it down more quickly, but if you don't wash it enough, then it will just be dirty. The folks at Whirlpool have a suggested number of "wears" for items in your closet. Obviously, if something is dirty, it should be washed. For jeans, it's four or five wearings. For sweaters, it's six wearings with a shirt, one or two if worn without. Workout clothes are to be washed after every use. And dress pants can be worn two or three times before they need to be washed.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION