February signals the start of the tax season and the rush to gather documents.  It is also a great time to organize your files and clear out the clutter.   

Start by taking a few minutes to look at your documents folder in your computer.    Make a new folder labeled 2010 and archive old files.   Keep one folder labeled taxes and put any files pertaining to your taxes in that folder.    In your archive folder you can make sub folders to separate business, personal etc.     Once this is complete backup this file to external hard drive or online backup service for safe keeping.     Make sure you delete unwanted files.   Next go to your email provider Outlook etc and clean out the old emails including the sent items folder.     Finally empty out the deleted items folder.  Now that you have tackled technology, let’s work on the stacks of paper on the desk and in the file cabinet.   Go through the old bills and keep only the current month.   Scan copies of statements and items that you need to keep and store in a folder labeled archive on the computer.   Once scanned shred the originals for recycling.  ...

When most of us think of a sustainable vending machine, we think of one that sells celery sticks and carrots.    Now we have a new way to vend that does not even involve money.   Enter the world of the   Swap-O-Matic.

The Swap-O-Matic is not a regular vending machine. While a conventional vending machine helps us to buy stuff in places and times where other alternatives are out of reach, the Swap-O-Matic offers a swapping experience, enabling users to donate and receive items, instantly and for free. According to its website, the Swap-O-Matic tries to remind us that “reusing and recycling can be just as fun as buying something new.”

Here’s how it works: The machine has a touch screen with three options: swap, donate or receive. It works on a point/credit system, where you earn a credit for every item you donate and ‘pay’ a credit for every item you take. New users receive 3 credits to start after entering their email address. It’s a very easy and user-friendly...