Do Just One Thing

Do you use Apple AirPods? These wireless buds use a small rechargeable battery, and when the battery dies, it can be nearly impossible to replace. (Apple currently does not offer a service to replace the battery.) Instead of recycling your dead AirPods, you can save money by simply using a service that installs a brand-new battery. For a fraction of the price of buying new, services like PodSwap do the work for you. They also sell lightly used, fully refurbished AirPods (they call them "Extra Loved") for a third of the price of new.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

They may look pretty, but outdoor lights for holiday decorating or for simple illumination are considered "light pollution" by the international citizen-science campaign Globe at Night. According to the nonprofit, holiday lighting is often so bright that it can be seen from space. It also can obscure the stars in the sky, which nocturnal animals and birds use to navigate. It's also a big waste of energy. If you must have holiday lighting, the best thing you can do is to minimize it and turn the lights off before you go to bed.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

The National Wildlife Federation estimates as many as 4 billion birds are killed every year by household cats. While hunting birds is instinctual behavior for cats, it takes a heavy toll on bird populations. One classic solution that definitely doesn't work is a brightly colored collar with a bell on it. The NWF says this old trick is ineffective because bells aren't "something that wildlife associates with predators or danger," and most birds don't see color anyway. The best preventative measure? Keep your cats indoors, or keep a watchful eye on them if they are outdoors.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION