If you're shopping for gifts in stores during the holiday season, one thing you can do to reduce waste is bring your own reusable bags. In the past, retailers often discouraged customers from bringing in their own bags due to the potential for theft. But times have changed, and almost every retailer now accepts and even encourages the use of reusable bags. Not only are they a convenient way for you to consolidate items and carry them throughout the store with ease, but you'll also help cut back on waste.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Instead of investing in a humidifier to help combat dry air in your home, all you need is a bowl of water. Placing a bowl of water in a dry room will be slower than a humidifier, but it does add moisture to the air. To amplify the effects of the water, place the bowl near heating vents or even near a window that gets sunlight; the warmth will help the water evaporate more quickly. And shallow bowls are better than deep, since more surface water has contact with air (making a Pyrex baking dish a good option).

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

What's one way to save $150 and 4,600 gallons of water a year? All you have to do is shut off the shower when you are shampooing and conditioning your hair. A typical shower accounts for around 17% of the average household use of water (second-biggest water hog in the home), so turning off the shower when shampooing for just one minute can cut down on both energy and water use, saving you money and water. And the best upside? You'll see the real benefit of deep conditioning when you let it do its job for the full 60 seconds, too.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION