Heloise

Dear Heloise: I started using plastic bags to freeze baked goods in. They hold up well. I now save all the food bags that contain products I buy. This includes the thin cellophane ones, which I use for short-term storage. I fold over the tops to let the air out and staple the ones for long-term storage; I use clothespins for short-term storage. I slip a dated label inside the bags as needed.

I haven’t had to buy storage bags for years since I started doing this. When the cereal bags give out, I cut off the bottom, unfold the bag, and use it in place of wax paper. These can be used in the microwave — but not in an oven as they are plastic.

I also rinse out my cardboard drink cartons, let them dry, and use them for long-term storage in the chest freezer. I cut up produce so that it is ready to use, freeze it on a cookie sheet, then put it in a labeled carton. The opened top is closed, pushed down flat, quickly taped shut, and put in the freezer. — Ann’s Thoughts, via email

SOAP SAVERS

Dear Heloise: I just read the suggestion from Ellen F., regarding the use of bar soap instead of liquid soap. My hint is to make a soap saver pouch for each member of the family in their favorite color so that everyone has their own soap pouch. This helps prevent germs being passed on to the whole family when one member is ill.

These pouches could be knitted, crocheted or sewn. There are tons of patterns on the internet. Thank you for all of your useful tips. — Sharon Collins, via email

WHY CURSIVE WRITING IS OUTDATED

Dear Heloise: My guess is that cursive writing was necessary in the old days because there were no pencils yet. And back in that day, quills dipped in inkwells were what were used for writing manually, as ballpoint pens hadn’t been made commercially viable yet, and fountain pens still suffered from leaking.

Quills required single smooth flows of the nib; printing would have caused far too many blots and smudges. However, long before pencils or ballpoint pens, there was carving in stone and Gutenberg’s printing press. The typewriter also came into being back in the late 1800s.

Nowadays with computers and printers, there is a plethora of fonts one can use, including scripts that look like cursive. And there are now legally binding e-signatures in e-documents.

As far as digital versus dial clocks, digital clocks give ostensibly exact times, but those who grew up on digital clocks won’t understand such terms as “a quarter past” or “10 until.” I prefer dial watches but use a digital watch if I’m timing something. Cheers! — Jim P., via email

PET PAL

Dear Heloise: This is my Maudie. She’s a pretty aqua-eyed Tonkinese. True to the breed, she is much like a little dog; she follows me, greets me at the door, and is so snuggly! — William Bailey, via email

Readers, to see Maudie and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. — Heloise

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.