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.

How to find even more free stuff

A growing number of websites are dedicated to connecting you to communities where you can swap what you no longer need, locate stuff others want to unload, and even borrow things from your neighbors.

Reinventing the pizza box

The Green Box is more convenient and greener.

From trash to treasure

Wondering what to do with all the clutter you've cleared out of your closets and drawers? There are several charities that make it easy for you to turn your trash into someone else's treasure.

Five surprising uses for ketchup

The tomato-based condiment has many uses beyond the culinary that can save you money and time.

Recycling your used coffee grinds

There are many ways you can recycle and reuse your old coffee grinds to help preserve the environment and maintain your health from removing odors to feeding your garden.

Twelve amazing shipping container houses

Would you live in a shipping container? You might want to after seeing these architectural marvels.

How to find free stuff

Want free furniture, a place to stay, or even a bike? Thanks to the Internet, it's fairly easy to find a wide variety of free products and services.

Paper or plastic? The surprising answer

The choice between paper and plastic is a toss up when you examine how they are made, but there are other things to consider.

Seven questions to ask before buying electronics

Ask these 7 questions before buying electronics, and you can be confident that you're making a wise, ethical and green decision.

Last-minute DIY gifts

Stylish and budget-friendly presents you can whip up this weekend.

Swapping: Shopping for the new economy

Money tight? Try swapping what you don't want anymore for something you do -- no cash required.

Sustainable plates for 20

Instead of loading up on disposable trash or expensive manufactured goods, add a little green to your Thanksgiving table (and I'm not talking about that casserole topped with crunchy onions).

Lean, green, and fit to scream

In the time you'd spend scrounging for parking and hunting for your child's exact size in plastic at the mall, you can make your own awesome costumes that are treats for the environment.

Old nylons, new uses

A run in your nylons doesn't mean the end to that pair of stockings' life. You can reuse it as everything from a bungee cord to a scrubber to a paint filter and more.

Sew green, save green, look fab

Add flair to your wardrobe while recycling clothes into new fashions in a home-grown version of 'Project Runway.'

Recycle, retread your toes

Shoes made from old tires were good enough for the London Marathon. Why not fix a pair for yourself?

Same thrill, no bill

If recreational shopping is your bag, consider reuse groups for finding perfectly good stuff for free.

Read all about it

Using BookMooch to find your next book is easy, saves paper -- and can get you caught up in a jiffy.