Dewalt DCK211S2 Combo Kit

Hurricane Irene struck a few days ago and some people in the Northeast are still without power and other basic services. This got me thinking about some basic emergency preparedness and how sometime the old solutions are still the best. You may get all your news on your iPhone via The HuffPo, or eat only microwave organic food normally--but most likely that's not gonna cut it after an earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster.

Here are ten items you are going to want stashed away somewhere in case of emergency. Read More …

Photo courtesy of AndyRobertsPhotos at Flickr. 

The only new piece of furniture I own in my house is my mattress. Everything else is a hand-me-down. Not only have I furnished my entire house for less than $1,000, I'm saving the environment by reclaiming furniture that would have otherwise ended up in the trash. To make everything match and look nice, I have repurposed many of the pieces. I'm no handyman, but there are several ways you can repurpose furniture with little experience and without spending a ton of money. 

1. Paint

A fresh coat of paint gives life to an old piece of wood furniture. You can paint the furniture to match the original wood or in any color you like, (I have a blue desk.) The major hardware chains sell samples of low-VOC paint for about $3.50 and its enough paint to finish most jobs. Read More …

Photo courtesy of Gregory Han at Flickr

Whether you work from home full time or find yourself bringing your work home with you on the weekends, having a dedicated office space with all the gadgets and tools you need makes life easier. Unfortunately, it also adds to your electricity bill and household waste. Follow these four tips to cut down on your energy consumption and waste levels. 


1. Upgrade to CFLs

If you're still using traditional light bulbs in your home office, its time to upgrade to compact fluorescent light bulbs. CLFs cost a bit more than standard light bulbs - about $3.00 to $6.00 a piece - but they'll reduce your electricity usage as well as the heat output from the light. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that a CFL uses 75 percent less energy on average. Read More …