Heloise

Dear Heloise: I’ve been reading your (and previously your mother’s) column since I was in grade school. I’m 77 now, and I currently read it in the Abilene Reporter-News.

I am short and often have trouble reaching things on the top shelf or at the back of the freezer shelf when grocery shopping. I often look around for a taller person to ask for help, but I found a solution by bringing my collapsible back scratcher with me. It’s small enough to easily fit in my purse, and I expand it and just pull the item I want forward.

Hope this helps another short person! — Marjorie R., in Abilene, Texas

RECYCLING PLASTIC BAGS

Dear Heloise: I found out recently that Walmart will recycle any collapsible plastic. My question is, are the bags in cereal boxes considered plastic? — Rich M., in St.Louis

Rich, as far as we know, yes, cereal boxes contain plastic bags. — Heloise

COLORFUL GIFT WRAPPING

Dear Heloise: Often I will use the comic strip pages from the newspaper to wrap gifts, particularly children’s gifts. It is very colorful and cheap! I save all the comic strip pages from the Sunday newspapers for this purpose and any other purpose that might arise!

I enjoy your column, which is full of such good advice, in the Lincoln Journal Star. — Marian P. in Lincoln, Nebraska

GREEK YOGURT

Dear Heloise: My daughter and I have been using full-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream for years. The trick is to find the right brand. Yogurt is so much more nutritious and delicious. — Petra H., in Richmond, Virginia

Petra, I like to use greek yogurt as a dressing for my fruit salads. It cuts the sweetness and provides calcium and other friendly bacteria for the gut. — Heloise

TRAVEL TIP

Dear Heloise: I’ve traveled all over the world. When I arrive back home, after wiping my suitcase inside and out with a disinfectant, I leave a small bar of soap in the suitcase so that it will smell fresh the next time I use the suitcase. — Heidi N., New Orleans

Heidi, I’ve done a lot of traveling, too, and I would often use the perfume inserts in magazines to keep my luggage smelling nice. Or I would spray a ball of cotton with my favorite perfume and toss it in my suitcase. — Heloise

CARD MIX-UP

Dear Heloise: My brother went to a couple of restaurants while visiting friends in another state. When he was at the second restaurant, the waitress asked his group who Randy was. No one had this name. It turned out the waitperson at the first restaurant gave him someone else’s card (Randy’s). The cards were both from the same bank, so they had the same look and color.

On this occasion, he was able to track down the other cardholder (who had no idea that he had the wrong card in his wallet), and they exchanged their cards. I have since placed a small heart sticker on my card to be sure that I get my card back when making charges in restaurants, coffee shops, etc. I certainly feel safer. His story could have gone so much worse.

I love your columns and miss them in the Sunday Oregonian but read them during the week. — Joan W., in Oregon

Joan, placing a sticker on your card is a great idea and the perfect hint for all of us who use credit cards. — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com