Check for Leaks

Don't pay good money just to waste water. Check periodically to make sure that there are no leaks in your sinks, tub, or toilets. One easy way to check for leaks is to take a reading of your water meter just before you go to bed. Do not use any water during the night, not even for flushing the toilet. As soon as you wake up the next morning, take a second reading. If the meter shows any increase, it means you have a leak somewhere. Call in a plumber to check all of your seals. Most of the time, if you have a leak you didn't know about, it's in the toilet.

Keep Milk Fresh

Milk stays fresh longer if you add a pinch of salt to a quart of fresh milk.

Stale Crackers?

If you've allowed a package of crackers, a box of cereal, a bag of cookies, or any other baked household food to go stale, don't throw them away! You can make those soggy snacks new again simply by popping them into the oven at 200 degrees for about 10 minutes. After that, they'll be good as new.

Create a Coupon Exchange

Never buy a product just because you have a coupon. Manufacturers count on you buying things you wouldn't normally buy just because they're offering a good deal that week. Coupons can be a great way to save on the items you most often buy, though.

Even if you don't use a certain product, clip the coupon for it anyway. You may be able to trade with friends or coworkers to get coupons for products you do use. Get together with others at your workplace, church, or social club and create coupon box where people can drop off coupons they don't want and look for ones they do.

Easy Homemade Wet Wipes

Don’t spend a fortune on name-brand wet cleaning wipes. You can make your own inexpensive, environmentally friendly household wipes right at home with a few simple ingredients. Here’s how:

1. Cut a roll of paper towels in half, crosswise. A serrated knife works well. Be sure to use select-a-size towels, so you get more sheets per roll.

2. Find a container with a lid that your half a roll of paper towels will fit into.

3. Mix 2 1/4 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo, and 1 tablespoon of baby oil.

4. Pour the solution into the container with the half-roll of paper towels.

5. After the solution has soaked into the towels for a few minutes, you can easily pull out the cardboard center.

6. Start using your wipes from the center of the roll.

More Egg-cellent Advice

The largest eggs are not always the best value for the money. Medium eggs are a good buy if priced one-eighth less than large ones. Small eggs are a good buy if priced one-fourth less than large eggs.

Eggs Expired?

If the expiration date has passed on a carton of eggs, here's an easy way to determine if they can still be used. Drop the eggs into a sacepan full of water. A fresh egg will sink in water and lie on its side. If it stands on end, it's getting old, but is still usuable, particularly in a recipe. If it floats, get rid of it.