Robin Wilson

Eco Tip of Day: Earn Cash from renting your Tools & other Stuff

Do you need extra cash while your power tools are gathering dust?

Or is a musical instrument sitting in the corner unused? What about your tennis racket while you are on crutches? Or is your wheelbarrow just hogging a corner of your garage? Think about the car sharing systems, but plug in the word "stuff" sharing...and its eco-friendly because you aren't buying anything new...

RENT your stuff and earn extra cash by registering on SnapGoods.com

Giveaway Tip of Day: Maytag washer & dryer

Love that PARENTING magazine is doing 101 days of Giveaways - and the giveaway prizes are nothing to sneeze at...for example, the prize for today is a Maytag Maxima Washer & Dryer set (valued at over $3000) - and it is energy efficient too!

The countdown begins...register here

Shopping Tip of Day: Recycled Luxury with Pre-Owned Accessories

Ever thought you could not afford that Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Gucci or high-end watch...well, you can!!! The luxury auction site of pre-owned products is called Portero. And if you register, you can shop for the holiday/summer season and be eco-friendly with "recycled" luxury items. These products are guaranteed authentic, so don't worry about a faux-product...this is a great alternative in a tough economy and is like Christie's meets eBay...visit Portero.com

Tip of Day: 5 ways to use Baking soda

• 

  Who knew that banking soda has so many uses - from cleaning to caring for your hair/skin - and it is often one of the least expensive items in the grocery store! Baking soda can be a great way to replace harsh cleaning chemicals as well as over-fragranced personal care products.
• Here are great ways to change your lifestyle by using baking soda in a healthy way for your everyday cleaning and non-toxic activities in your home:
• Stop the Itch-for insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply  to ease the itch.
• Freshen your Hair-sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly–baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind.
• Sandal-ready Feet-dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.
• Remove crayon marks-applybaking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
• Deodorize Trashcan-sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay

Information from Care2

Eco-Tip of Day: Shoe & Watch repair

  Americans are rediscovering the fusty fix-it shops and unassuming secondhand stores on their local Main Streets. These businesses, once the left-behind nooks of gentrifying downtowns, are busier than ever amid an economic slump that's emptied out neighboring bistros, boutiques, and day spas.

On a Saturday afternoon in downtown Alameda, Calif., Gabe Morgan waits in a line of customers at The Watch Hospital to get a timepiece fixed. The economic downturn has made him think more about repairing than buying new.

"For the first time in I don't remember how long, I got some shoes repaired," says Mr. Morgan. He dug out three pairs from his closet for resoling. "I wanted to save some money."

For decades, repair and reuse have been fading ethics, upheld mainly by environmentalists and people on the economic margins. As hard times drive these values back into the mainstream, champions of reuse caution that some government policies and business practices threaten to set back the movement.

"We were a mend-and-make-do society, and we have completely changed. We don't fix anything anymore. We use, throw away, and buy more," says Bruce Buckelew, a former IBM engineer who has repaired more than 30,000 computers and put them into public schools, nonprofits, and low-income households in Oakland, Calif. "The worse the stock market gets and the bleaker the job market, the better for reuse, actually."

Some early signs:

•Sales increased year-over-year this fall at 74 percent of secondhand stores surveyed by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops (NARTS). Ninety percent of the stores saw an increase in new customers.

•Business is "booming" at the estimated 7,000 shoe repair shops in the US, according to John McLoughlin, president of the Shoe Service Institute of America. "At some shops, you have to wait three or four weeks, which ordinarily is just unheard-of," he says.

Before the economic downturn started mainstreaming the reuse trend, the reuse market tended to attract people who saw it as conserving both their money and the planet's resources, says John Lastovicka, a frugality expert at Arizona State University in Tempe. People who voluntarily try to reuse items often view the effort as an enjoyable challenge, his research has found.

"Unfortunately, part of this is probably a lost art. The 'greatest generation' that lived through the Depression, this was part of their day-to-day behavior," says Professor Lastovicha. Far fewer people have carried on that tradition because it's time-consuming and can be something that people laugh at. "It can be a tough sell, unless you have to do it – which is what's happened."

Source: Christian Science Monitor, 1/12/2009

Cleaning Tip of Day: Garbage Disposal

Yes, it is simply a small appliance that is at the base of your sink, and you never think about it until it smells like "garbage", so here is a simple tip that might prevent your nose from ever experiencing a strong stench.

Every month (or more frequently), take a stack of citrus fruit peels - lemon, orange, grapefruit - and a tray of ice. Turn on the disposal with running water. After 15 seconds, stuff the fruit peels and ice chunks down the chute. It will make a lot of noise, so don't do it at night. After the noise ceases, turn off the disposal and run the water for 30 seconds. Voila...clean, citrus scent from your sink!

Travel Tip of Day: Frequent Travel Mileage Manager

If you are like most business travelers, you accumulate a lot of miles but when you want to redeem them, it is really hard to do without using 2x as many as you want...so what do you do?

Join UsingMiles.com and input all your frequent traveler numbers - and then each time you log-in, they update info, tell you how close you are to elite status and tell you the dollar value. When you want, book travel from their site or decide to save miles for next time. Join Now

Source: Jean Chatzky

Product Tip of Day: Skin Products made of plants & fruits!

Looking for affordable skincare products for your family that is gentle enough for babies and children? Check out the new Johnson's Natural Line that takes the focus to 98% naturally derived ingredients from plants and fruits. A full line of products including lotions, shampoos, conditioners and washes are widely available at less than $5 per product - another way to save your skin and your wallet.  Learn more

Product Tip of Day: Calculator made of Recycled Ink & Toner Cartridges!

Did you think those recycled ink cartridges were simply being refilled by Staples? We did too, but we just learned that a new product from the Sustainable Line of office products takes the recycled cartridges returned with the Staples Rewards program, and they have a new calculator. What an innovative and sustainable way to upcycle a product! s from recycled ink cartridges their customers turned in.  Learn more

Idea of the Day: Trace Your Family Tree

Interested in tracing your family roots?  First step is speaking with relatives to map out details, and then review public records for birth and death records, marriage certificates, wills and immigration records.   Take thorough notes, ask open ended questions, and make photocopies of documents you uncover. And make sure to note 'health histories' so that you will know if certain health issues are common in your family.  Use Wikitree for FREE!

Product Tip of Day: Chic Sustainable Shopping

RevealShop is a way to shop while being sustainable! A great site that has chic and stylish accessories made from sustainable and recyclable goods. Who knew sustainable can truly be chic and stylish?

For the Ladies: The Nica Bag (photo, left) is the perfect size for use during the day and embellished enough for an evening out. And the shimmery Milan I-Pad sleeve is perfect for the tech savvy woman.

For the Men: check out the Bamboo earphones with noise cancellation.

Product Tip of Day: Warby Parker Eyewear

Stylish, prescription eyeglasses for only $95? You read that right! An online eyewear boutique, Warby Parker, provides an innovative experience when you want to order new eyeglasses. On their website you pick up to five frames, which are shipped to your home or office. Take a few days...wear one each day and see which ones get you the most compliments...then, return the samples and place the order! Try them on virtually too! And they do a good deed when you order by donating a pair of eyeglasses to someone in need...  Learn more

Lamp needs no Electricity and priced at $20

You might not believe it until you see it, but the Sunnan Lamp needs no electricity due to a built in solar panel. And at a price under $20, it cannot be beat! The coolest thing are the colors, its availabble at IKEA and the UNICEF charity donates one to a child for every one you purchase! Get your SUNNAN Lamp by visiting your local IKEA, or order from website

Rent Diamonds & Couture for a Special Event

Imagine a special occasion and you don't have the funds to buy something new! But you need something that is amazing - and you don't mind renting couture bags, clothing or jewelry for the night - Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and jewelry too...  (...sign up)