If you find yourself buying batteries by the dozen for your MP3 players, digital cameras and children's toys, you can save money and reduce your impact on the environment with a battery charger and rechargeable batteries.

While this does require an initial investment, you can recharge the batteries hundreds of times. According to Consumer Reports magazine, a rechargeable AA nickel-metal hydride battery will last as long as 140 disposable lithium batteries or 500 alkaline batteries and over time will cost about 10 percent of the cost of using disposable batteries.

The main drawback of rechargeable batteries is that they lose their charge much faster than disposable batteries, so they're not the right battery for rarely used items such as flashlights. New technology is producing batteries that hold their charge longer and battery chargers that are more efficient.

Over time, using rechargeable batteries can not only save money, but also reduce the number of batteries that end up in landfills.