Do Just One Thing

The Buy Nothing Project is aptly named: It is a community dedicated to the simple idea that it's great to "buy less and share more." The community believes that buying less stuff can help "make us all richer and the planet cleaner." It's also a network where people can connect to find things they need being offered up by those who have it and want to give it away. You can ask, share or borrow and post. And because it's the Buy Nothing Project, of course nothing offered in the community is ever for sale. Use the new app on your phone and learn more at buynothingproject.org.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

If you're planning to travel to see family during the holiday season, be sure to pick a time to drive that's likely to have less congestion to help cut back on fuel waste (and personal aggravation!). Driving in stop-and-go traffic on the highway can significantly lower your fuel efficiency -- often by as much as 30%. And using real-time GPS apps on your phone (which suggest routes to your destination by factoring in up-to-the-minute traffic conditions) can save you another 10% in gas mileage.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Do this one thing: Choose unbleached paper products to use for cooking and baking in your kitchen. Many white paper kitchen materials are bleached using chlorine, which means chemicals can leach into your food. Instead of taking the safety risk with bleached products, opt for unbleached ones. Products like parchment paper, coffee filters and paper towels all have unbleached alternatives you can find easily at almost any supermarket -- just look for brown-colored products. The cost is comparable, and the unbleached products are just as effective as the bleached ones.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION