ArcaMax

Cardboard is a highly desired and easily recyclable item that can be recycled around 5 to 7 times before the fibers lose their strength. One way to extend the life of cardboard boxes is to find a few extra-strong ones and use them over and over again when you go grocery shopping. Just put the boxes in your cart and fill them up. Use them to ...Read more

Adding landscaping to your home is a great way to increase value and also create a habitat for wild animals. But be aware that not all outdoor plants are the same. Fast-growing bushes and trees like the popular Bradford pear also have a shorter lifespan and will need to be replaced. Common plants like English ivy and bamboo actually can be too ...Read more

Do you know what a “snag” is? A snag is a dead tree left to decompose standing upright, and snag trees are vital to keeping the delicate ecosystem thriving in your backyard. According to the National Wildlife Federation, dead trees provide needed nourishment and shelter for up to 1,000 species of wildlife. It’s easy to create a snag: Just ...Read more

Did you know the shelf life of dried spices is about two years? It can be hard to remember when you bought herbs and spices, so be sure to mark the month and year on the jar when you bring home new containers. When it’s time to replace spices, don’t toss them into the trash. Old spices can be used to make all-natural aromatherapy sprays or ...Read more

If you’ve purchased a new washing machine, listen up: Don’t use DIY laundry detergent for your machine. While handmade detergents are a good all-natural alternative, they have a tendency to clog modern-day washing machines. As household appliances become more high-tech, untested detergents can cause internal havoc. Using a DIY detergent can ...Read more

Here’s one tip to save money and help save your eyes, too: Reduce the brightness on your computer, phone and TV screens. Our digital screens are often set to the highest levels of brightness; the brighter the screen, the more power is used, which raises energy costs and drains batteries more quickly. Simply reduce the screen brightness in the ...Read more

You might be surprised to know that more than $5 billion dollars loaded onto prepaid credit card gift cards never gets used. If you have a stash of gift cards with a small balance on them -- even just a penny -- you can donate the leftover balance to help make the world a better place. Many nonprofits, like the Salvation Army and the American ...Read more

If you have a credit card that has cash-back bonuses on it that give you a percentage of your charges back in the form of credit or cash, here's some good news: The bonuses are not taxable income, according to the IRS. But here's even better news: If you choose to donate your cash-back money to a nonprofit, that money is tax deductible. Save ...Read more

We all recycle, but there are ways to make it easier and more efficient. Labels on glass bottles and jars do not need to be removed; in fact, they help keep the bottles intact and prevent breakage. When glass is recycled, the labels are removed or burnt off during the melting process. If you happen to set your flattened cardboard boxes out at ...Read more