HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: It’s August, it’s hot, and electric bills are high. Is there a solution to staying cool and saving money? Yes, there is. It’s the ceiling fan.

Did you know that the direction that a ceiling fan’s blades rotate can make a difference? Leading manufacturers of ceiling fans tell us that in the summertime, the ceiling fan blades should rotate counterclockwise as you look up at it. You should be able to feel a light and cool breeze when you stand under the ceiling fan. The ceiling fan won’t lower the temperature in the room significantly, but it will feel cooler. Look for a switch on the motor, right below the fan blades.

DEAR HELOISE: I’ve found that a wider shoe heel is more comfortable for me. My weight is distributed over a broader area, so I feel more sure-footed and I have less pain in my feet and ankles. — Helen in Texas DEAR READER: How right you are. A wider heel offers more stability, support and comfort.

DEAR HELOISE: My lab takes medicine for its joints, and those treats that hold pills can get costly. After making penne pasta one night, I put each pill inside the tubular pasta and now use it for pennies a day. She loves taking her pills. — Gale B., via email

DEAR HELOISE: I carry a leash and collar in my car. If I come across a lost dog, I may be able to help it a little more easily. I’ve had this happen more than once and have always been glad the leash was there.

I hope this helps some doggies.

— Karen R., via email

DEAR HELOISE: When my children were young, I had assigned chores for them. These changed each week. If you washed the dishes one week, you wouldn’t be doing them the next week. Male or female, the chores were no different.

And on Saturdays, yes, your chores had to be done before you went out to play. One Saturday morning, a friend asked if my daughter could come out to play. I asked her, is your room clean? She was quickly done and out to play. Another plus? Ask my daughter-in-law. She likes that my son pitches in without having to be asked. It’s embedded in his DNA.

— Marnie W., The Villages, Fla.

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email