Sure, it may only be a 2.125” high by 3.375” wide piece of plastic. Pretty small, right? Yes, but what is not small is the number of credit cards in circulation; an estimated 2.7 billion by the year 2015!

Unfortunately, when they expire or need to be replaced, many people just chuck ‘em. However there are some crafty ways you can bring new life to your old credit card. Here are 5 ways you can re-use them for something else.

1. Jewelry

That may sound crazy, but do a Google search for “credit card jewelry” and you will see there are tons of pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that can be made from them. But more surprising is that many of them actually look pretty cool! Many make creative use of the person’s name that was embossed on the credit card. Meanwhile, others make a pop-culture statement on status by crafting American Express Gold and Platinum cards into chic accessories.

2. Ice Scraper

Have you ever been caught in a snowstorm without an ice scraper? As someone who grew up in Michigan, trust me, it’s not fun! Thankfully the time it happened to me, I had a couple credit cards in my pocket. Obviously they aren’t the ideal tool for the job, but I was successful nonetheless in using them to scrape ice from the windshield. You never know when your spouse, relative, or friend might borrow the scraper from your car and forget to put it back. So if you live somewhere it snows, you may want to shove a couple old Visa or MasterCards into that glovebox.

3. Artwork

At the Graphic Design Museum in the Netherlands, there’s an astonishing mosaic that’s completely made of credit cards. It takes up an entire wall and the cards are arranged by color. But if you think mosaics are the only thing you can make, think again. Check out the mosaic and more to see the dozens of different ways people have incorporated these pieces of plastic into their artwork.

4. Phone Stand

I love my iPhone, but what I don’t love is the fact that there’s no built-in stand. Fortunately it’s as simple as folding a credit card in two different places and voila! You have a fully adjustable stand. Best of all, this cheap and quick iPhone stand can be assembled in a matter of seconds, wherever you may be. The author on the aforementioned link notes that it’s the perfect stand for flying, since it’s so compact and portable.

5. Construction

This is another use I can personally vouch for, because I’ve used old credit and debit cards on a number of occasions. How so? Well it’s the perfect rounded edge for caulking and a straight edge for plastering (i.e. fixing nail holes in your wall with a dash of plaster). In fact, during the last occasion, I actually found my old Bank of America debit card to work better than my $6 edging tool from Home Depot.

So there you have it… 5 ways to give your old credit card new life. It’s worth pointing out that not only will these uses work for bank cards, but also just about any plastic card you can think of. Everything from an old Walmart gift card to an expired YMCA membership card. So next time you find yourself with one that’s no longer needed, save it for later use.

Mike owns and operates CreditCardForum, which is a message board for comparing credit card deals and what people are saying about them. His most recent review was of the Walmart Money Card, which he gives a big thumbs down to. Rather than paying the high fees on it, he recommends using it for any of the five purposes above!

When you flip your light switch on you probably don’t think twice about how that light is powered, but if you trace it all the way back, you’ll probably see that it comes from a coal or gas resource used to put power all over the world. Although the convenience of simply flipping a switch is one that almost everyone enjoys now, it won’t be so convenient in the future when these power systems stop working.

Solar energy, on the other hand, is a renewable resource which means that as long as it’s replaced, it will continue to provide. For example: trees. If someone cuts down a tree and then plants a new one to take the place of the tree which was cut down, then this is a renewable resource. Unfortunately, there’s no way to replace the coal and gas that we rely on now for power. There are ten advantages to using solar energy in your home.

First and for most, solar energy is renewable so you never have to worry that the sun will not produce light. As long as the sun shines there will be a source of energy. And if it ever stops shining, well, we’ve got much bigger problems!

• Solar energy is great for the environment. It doesn’t produce any nasty byproducts; solar cells will not emit any harmful gases that pollute the air.

• You can rely on renewable resource collectors such as solar panels. A panel can produce thousands of hours of solar power with minimal maintenance. Solar power panels and other supplies can be purchased direct at www.ploughcroftsolar.co.uk,  so you can create a self-sufficient home.

•  There is no hum or noise that comes from any type of solar cell; although there is a simple little noise, it is nothing like that which comes from a power plant in your back yard.

• You are able to control your cost more effectively with solar panels. You have an initial expense when purchasing the tools and equipment to set up your solar power system, but it will pay off over time. You won’t receive a monthly bill from the sun; simply flip on your switch and enjoy.

• There are many different types of Plough Croft solar panels to choose from, and there are also different prices so you can select the one that best suits your needs. Whether you have a small one bedroom cottage or a huge multi-level business building, you can find the right size and type of solar panels to purchase. Some of these panels cost just a few hundred pounds while others could be in the thousands, but you can control your own cost.

• When you use solar energy you are self-sufficient, so you never have to link up to the main power grid. This means that you no longer have service charges or other charges associated with your home.

• Consider selling your extra energy. When your panels are large enough and generate more than enough power, your energy meter will actually spin backwards and the power company can then buy the extra from you if you’re connected to the grid.

• In some places, you can receive a tax credit at the end of the year to help when you are able to provide proof of your purchase of solar energy equipment. You can expect to get back up to 30% of your total cost. This is a big saving that will help you to enjoy using the solar power panels.

• Solar energy is always changing as more and more is being discovered. There are several solar panel kits that you can purchase at www.ploughcroftsolar.co.uk  for any size of home. So now, you can create a self-sustaining home no matter where you live.