Eco

Eco

10 Crib Mattress Makeovers You Have to See to Believe

Once your kiddos have transitioned into full-size beds, and your family's baby days are officially over, every mom faces the question of what to do with their very first sleep space.

Once your kiddos have transitioned into full-size beds, and your family's baby days are officially over, every mom faces the question of what to do with their very first sleep space. You may have seen our gallery of the best ways to repurpose your crib, but then there's the question of what to do with that miniature mattress. Here, we've rounded up 10 clever ways to give your crib mattress a new life — from a dog bed to a reading nook, and beyond!

Eco

How to Remove Red-Wine Stains From Carpet

It always seems to happen — friends come over, and at some point, a glass of red wine tips over onto your carpet.

It always seems to happen — friends come over, and at some point, a glass of red wine tips over onto your carpet. Instead of freaking out, gracefully fix the problem with a few steps that will have your rug looking like new in no time. And this quick DIY uses basics you already have on hand and is considerably cheaper than paying for a pro to come clean the mess. Read on for step-by-step directions.

budget tips

4 Places to Get Your Textbooks For Cheap

The life of a student can be an expensive one, especially when you factor in textbooks that can cost you up to hundreds of dollars.

The life of a student can be an expensive one, especially when you factor in textbooks that can cost you up to hundreds of dollars. In fact, the average student spends over a $1,200 on textbooks and course materials, according to collegboard.org.  Here's a quick cheat sheet on where to get cheap textbooks:

  • Book swaps on campus: Most book swaps entail students gathering together online or at a school location to buy and sell there books and not a literal "swap." This is beneficial for both parties because those selling their books have more control over the prices and the buyers don't have to pay third party fees for the books and might be able to haggle with the sellers.
  • Buying used: You can find new textbooks up to 30 percent off and possibly a bigger discount for used textbooks on Amazon Textbooks. The selection is wide and there's a bonus: you get to use the Amazon Prime two-day shipping free for six months if you're a student. There are also e-versions of textbooks available at half the price of its paper form. Another good website to search for used books is Half.com, a site owned by eBay. The selection there is as prolific as Amazon's.
  • Renting: Instead of buying a book that you will most likely choose to resell or never use again, pick to rent your books as an environmentally friendly option. Chegg.com is a great place to do so and renting the books will give you about half off the original price. Another one to check out is CampusBookRentals.com. I've compared prices of renting textbooks and buying used ones online and I find that the price of rentals is very hard to beat. You have to keep in mind that although you're getting these books for great prices, you won't get to keep these books.
  • Your network: Perhaps you have friends who have taken the same classes you're going to take. Ask them if they're willing to pass along their books to you or sell them to you at a cheap price. You might want to broadcast the books you want on Facebook and Twitter so you can better reach your whole network.

Although you can get books at campus bookstores, even the prices of the used books sold there can be pretty costly. However, there may be some books that you can only get at the bookstore (such as a certain professor's book that's only in print at your school bookstore), so you should check to see if you can get a cheaper price if you buy a bundle of books. Another idea is to maybe even approach your professor to see if he's willing to loan or give you a copy of the book.

Eco

Homemade Eco-Friendly Ant Killer

Keep pesky ants away with this easy DIY ant killer that's sans harsh chemicals.


Keep pesky ants away with this easy DIY ant killer that's sans harsh chemicals. This ant hitman attracts pests with its sweet flavor, keeping them away from the rest of your home, but eventually wipes out whole colonies thanks to borax. A natural mineral that is often used as a cleaning booster, borax not only smacks down ants, but it is also safe to use in your home.

Read on for the directions.

summer

Your Ultimate Summer Produce Guide

Along with Summer comes bathing suits, fireworks, and, of course, delicious produce.

Along with Summer comes bathing suits, fireworks, and, of course, delicious produce. Can't you just picture biting into juicy fruits and crisp veggies? Luckily you don't have to wait any longer! The time is here to savor sweet watermelons, avocados, peaches, and more. Take a look at what to expect this season and get ready to hit the farmers markets with more than one tote in hand.

Eco

Supercute! Easy DIY Bottle-Cap Candles

Save your bottle caps and candle ends for making these adorable minicandles.

Save your bottle caps and candle ends for making these adorable minicandles. Pick up candle wicks at your local craft store for only a few bucks, which makes this DIY just about free. Personalize the set by using tops from your favorite beverages, and you've got a unique gift that's fitting for any occasion. Perfect for lighting cozy outdoor areas or packing for camping, these bottle-cap candles burn for about an hour before running out of wick.

Read on for the directions

Eco

Homemade Drain Buster For Clogged Pipes

If your drain isn't flowing as easily as it should, then it's probably a bit clogged.

If your drain isn't flowing as easily as it should, then it's probably a bit clogged. Instead of paying big bucks for chemical-filled concoctions, try fixing the problem yourself with a homemade drain cleaner.

This eco-friendly DIY costs basically nothing to make and can be used weekly to help prevent buildup. Safe to use in the bathroom or kitchen, the drain-buster will have your sink or tub flowing freely in no time. Have a really plugged pipe? We've even found the solution for seriously stopped drains.

Keep reading for the directions.

budget tips

Budget-Friendly and Unique Flea-Market Finds

Along with finding basic home essentials at your local flea market, you might be surprised by the other unique items that you can pick up for a steal.

Along with finding basic home essentials at your local flea market, you might be surprised by the other unique items that you can pick up for a steal. We headed to our favorite local fair and couldn't believe the cool finds that were all budget-friendly. From vintage glasses frames to tailored suits, get ready to haggle for the best price around with these unique flea-market finds. Click through to find out what we were willing to pay for items!

Eco

Eco-Friendly Bug Spray For Indoor and Outdoor Plants

Keep bugs away from your favorite indoor or outdoor plants with this eco-friendly spray that won't hurt your vegetation.

Keep bugs away from your favorite indoor or outdoor plants with this eco-friendly spray that won't hurt your vegetation. Warmer weather attracts all kinds of pesky insects to fauna, which you don't want buzzing around your home. Keep your favorite flowers free of unwanted pests with simple ingredients that you have on hand. And this spray costs basically nothing to make and safely keeps cats and dogs from munching on your pretty plants too.

Read on for the directions:

Eco

Make It Shine: How to Clean Your Stainless Steel Sink

If your kitchen sink is a bit dingy, then make it look just like new with eco-friendly materials you already have in your kitchen.

If your kitchen sink is a bit dingy, then make it look just like new with eco-friendly materials you already have in your kitchen. And there's no scrubbing involved with this quick clean that basically costs nothing to make. Safely buff your way to a fresh and sparkling basin that will stay that way for weeks.

Keep reading for the easy directions.