I dislike waste and hate to throw anything away that might be repurposed. I've been frugal and resourceful all my life and there is no stopping me now.

So, when I closed on a foreclosure last week, the living room had a floating (laminate) floor in excellent condition, but not to my liking. It had a natural oak finish and appeared to be a high-end product, but it would have clashed with my decor. The price of the house justified my desire to remove and replace the floor with hardwood planks.

Not wanting to toss the floor in a landfill, the laminate was removed and stacked neatly in a spare room. Luckily the boards were not glued and came apart with minimum breakage.

Two days later, the floor looked great in my son's home. It was a win-win situation for all of us. I didn't contribute unnecessary waste to the landfill, nor did I have to pay a dumping fee. The only cost involved was in the removal and reinstallation of the floor.

The next time you are involved in a renovation project, think about how you might donate unwanted items or use them in a different way.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle...don't just think about it. Do it!