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Dear Heloise: I just read Loyal Reader’s complaint about her grandson being unprepared to handle finances or write in cursive. First, let’s talk about the cursive. It isn’t necessary anymore. If you want him to know how to sign his name, you should teach him, but most things are signed electronically now. Keybording is taught now, which was also taught to my children who are currently in their late 40s. (This isn’t new!)
And now to finances. This is also something that parents are supposed to teach their children. I wasn’t taught about finances, and neither were two of my children. One had a teacher who went beyond the curriculum, and he could’ve been fired for it.
My parents graduated school in the 1930s with an 8th grade education that prepared them for adulthood. The purpose of high school then was — and still is — to prepare students for college. The system is broken and has been for about 80 years. — Marie G., via email
Marie, I agree about finances. They should be taught at home with warnings about overspending, as well as instructions on how to make a dollar work for you with investments and savings. I see it as a parental responsibility.
And interesting perspective on the cursive of it all! Keyboarding is definitely an important skill to learn nowadays, but it’s a shame that some younger people don’t know how to sign their names or read cursive when we still use it in certain instances. — Heloise
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS
Dear Heloise: There should be a requirement that enables purchasers to turn off or disconnect appliance lights. I don’t mean the interior lights of the oven, refrigerator or dryer. The lights that I don’t need are the blue, green, white and red lights that blink at me from all corners of my home. They could be from my hearing aid charger, my phone charger, the microwave clock, the washing machine “dashboard,” the modem, tool chargers, etc. They’re everywhere!
I shouldn’t have to block the various lights in my bedroom to have darkness for sleeping. If appliance lights turned off when they were fully charged, this would help. For the sake of saving my sanity (and saving energy), turn off the lights! — Fran, via email
Fran, many people like these little light because they guide them through a room in the dark. Most of the things you mentioned let you know when an appliance is charged or needs charging. While they’re handy for some folks, other find them annoying.
If you have a handyman whom you call on for help, perhaps they can turn some of the lights off permanently. The store where you purchased the item might have someone (usually a repairman or even a salesperson) who can walk you through turning off the lights on some of these items. — Heloise
MORE ON STAINLESS STEEL
Dear Heloise: The best way I’ve found to clean stainless steel appliances is to spray WD-40 on a soft rag and wipe the appliance. I thought I learned this some time ago from your column. This method works so well that I find the process rather fulfilling.
Thanks for your helpful hints! I’m a faithful reader of your column in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. — Ellen B., via email
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.