Living Green - All about saving energy, money, and the planet

Reusing stuff

Where to start:

Get free stuff, or give away what you no longer want, through a local Freecycle group.
Shop thrift stores, yard sales, vintage clothing and antiques stores, Craigslist, and eBay for second-hand goods.
Regift useful things to friends and family who will appreciate them.
Find new books and pass along old ones on BookMooch.
Take the Wardrobe Refashion pledge to revamp your clothes without buying anything new.

More about: Reusing stuff

Reduce, reuse, recycle — most of us make a habit of recycling, while the first two "Rs" go ignored. However, we can reduce how much stuff we need to recycle by reusing what we already have. Pass along usable goods to other people instead of throwing stuff in the garbage, and people will do the same for you.

12 surprising ways to reuse aluminum foil

If your curbside recycling program doesn't take aluminum foil, you can still get a second life out of the stuff around the house.

How to regift (and get away with it)

Clever and useful last-minute gifts you can find around the house.

Four creative ways to wrap a present

Your friends and family won’t expect these (totally free) wrapping papers, and they won’t forget them either.

Set a fancy table for free

Dine on crystal and silver for the holidays without breaking the bank.

Seven things you should repair instead of replace

These days, many of us don't try even the easiest small repairs because it seems faster or more cost-effective to buy new stuff. But fixing some items can be surprisingly simple and cheap.

20 money-saving ways to reuse old pantyhose

Don't throw away those torn nylons!

12 things you didn't know you could rent

From the wacky to the practical, renting instead of buying can save you serious money, as well as benefit the environment.

How to have a green Halloween

Apply the "three R's" to Halloween for a holiday that scares the kids without killing the planet.

10 creative ways to reuse packing peanuts

Are those annoying styrofoam peanuts destined for the garbage? Not necessarily -- reuse them around the house if you can't recycle them.

Seven frightfully fun costumes made from recycled materials

These creative Halloween costumes reuse stuff from around the house.

Five homes made out of the darndest things

Green building doesn't just mean CFLs and fancy certifications. Reusing and recycling an old plane or boat into a new home is eco-friendly too (and fun!).

How to stop shopping

You don't have to exercise massive willpower and you don't need to give up getting cool goods. Borrow, barter, swap, and reuse your way into new-to-you stuff without spending a dime.

Five surprising uses for leftover oatmeal

The health-promoting cereal grain is good for your skin, pets, neutralizing odors, crafts, and other applications.

12 eggscellent things you can do with eggshells

Give these handy uses a crack and save some money around the house.

Grow your own food -- in a bag, in a truck, anywhere

People are raising crops in unusual places, without using a lot of land. Check out photos and video of unique urban farms.

10 stylish different ways to wear the same little black dress

You don't need a huge wardrobe of expensive clothes to look great every day. Just use accessories, layering, and bold colors to turn one simple dress into a new fashion statement all year long.

10 smart ways to reuse stale bread

No need to throw out bread that's past it's prime. Check out these tasty alternatives.

The many uses of duct tape

Make handy repairs, protect yourself from bugs, even create cool clothes, thanks to the wonders of this reinforced tape.

Swimming pool made from dumpsters

A creative design firm turns old dumpsters into a stylish urban swimming oasis.

Ask Umbra on paperback writers

What happens to paperback books after you're done reading them? Are they landfill-bound?