Print that’s not so fine when looking for deals

Dear Readers: Today’s Sound Off is about a craft store’s coupons: “A fabric store sends out ‘valuable coupons’ for its patrons to use. At first glance, the deals look amazing, offering as much as 60 percent off the total purchase. Reading the fine print — and believe me, it’s really, really fine — you’ll see that anything you might consider using the coupon for is exempt from the discount! Listed on each coupon can be as many as 25-plus categories/ items. The items listed are printed in the tiniest font possible. I used a magnifying glass just to read it! Even my son, whose vision is fine, couldn’t believe the font used on the coupons.” — Anna A. in San Antonio — Heloise

Fast facts

Dear Readers: Here are some other uses for an empty, cleaned-out potato-chip can. Repurpose it to:

1. Store multiple coffee pods.

2. Hold crochet or knitting needles.

3. Carry or store condiment packets.

4. Protect some of the more popular storebought cookies.

5. Contain children’s small toys. — Heloise

Operation care and comfort

Dear Heloise: In March 2013, you printed a hint about supporting the valuable nonprofit Operation Care and Comfort, which sends care packages to deployed troops.

I’ve since discovered that the address you provided then (I clipped and saved the column) is no longer valid. The new address is:

Operation Care and Comfort c/o American Red Cross 2731 N. First St. San Jose, CA 95134 Thanks! — Beth, via email

Beth, thanks for the update. Further research on this topic gave me the following websites, for those of you who prefer going that route. Here is a list:

www.operationcomfort.org

www.operationgratitude.com

www.military-missions. ■ www.redcross.org. — Heloise Gripping shelf liner Dear Heloise: A few weeks ago, you posted other uses for gripping shelf liner, and I wanted to thank you for the soapdish hint.

My bar of soap kept falling out of the “cutout” soap dish in my shower stall. I had some leftover liner, so I cut a small piece to fit in the soap dish. Now the bar stays put, and if I ever have to clean the liner, I simply take it out of the dish and wring it a few times under the water spray.

Again, thanks for the wonderful hint! So simple, but not necessarily so obvious! — Frankie H., via email Office-supply catalog Dear Heloise: I’m a retired teacher and am always trying to find different ways to reinforce my middle-school-age grandchildren’s academic skills. I recently acquired a catalog from a local officesupply store and used it to reinforce many math, reading and language skills.

The great thing is that the children actually enjoy looking through it, so it was easy to follow along and ask questions related to a certain page’s content.

They know that I love learning and will try to fit in some “learning time” while we’re together. I make it fun, and they seem to enjoy it.