If you live in a colder climate with harsh winters, now is a good time to consider investing in thermal curtains. These fabric curtains look just like regular window dressing, but they are made with much heavier and thicker fabrics designed to help prevent cold air from getting into your home through your windows. They also work as blackout shades to keep rooms dark, so they make a great choice for bedrooms.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

With nearly 146 billion cups of coffee sold every year in the United States, we produce a lot of single-use waste every single day. One of the easiest ways to reduce waste is to bring your own reusable thermos, but you also can reduce your use of items like sugar packets and stirrers (wooden or plastic). Instead, pre-load your thermos at home with items you normally stir in (like sweeteners, powders and creamers), then fill with coffee. The coffee and add-ins will mix inside the container and make your coffee shop visit completely waste-free.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

Shiny paper often is considered nonrecyclable, but some glossy paper materials, like magazines and catalogs, are recyclable -- the paper stock is coated with a white clay that makes the pages appear more brilliant, but that shiny surface does not interfere with the recycling process. According to Waste Management, about 45% of all magazines/catalogs are recycled today, which means more than half are still being tossed into the trash. Recycle away!

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION