HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: Reading about others’ situations (about money hidden by older family members) reminded me of my mother placing quite a bit of cash in a plastic margarine container and placing it in her freezer. After my mother fell and broke her hip, there were ladies who stayed with her in her home. One of the ladies decided to throw away everything in the freezer, including the margarine container.

— Sharon in Texas DEAR READER: I guess the lesson here for others helping out: Open it before throwing it out. Many older folks (and some younger, too) do hide money in unusual places around the house.

DEAR HELOISE: How does a person put a duvet into a duvet cover without a wrestling match?

— Susan in Annville, Pa. DEAR READER: I’m sure many people have wrestled with this same problem. Turn the duvet cover inside out. Lay the duvet on a flat surface and match one side of corners with the cover. If you have a problem with the duvet bunching up in the duvet cover, you can safety-pin the corners if you want. Have a helper reach in and hold the corners while you slowly turn the duvet cover right side out around the duvet.

It’s just like putting a pillowcase on an oversized pillow.

DEAR HELOISE: I use a small photo-album for business cards. I get two cards to each sidee. When I need them, I just go through the pages, and there they are, in clear view. I also keep one in the kitchen for recipes. The index cards fit each page perfectly.

— Martha in California

DEAR HELOISE: My office came up with a hint to help save paper. Instead of using a new cover sheet every time we fax, we made a basic one and laminated it.

There are a few dry-erase markers by the fax machine for filling in the recipient information. When done, all you have to do is wipe it clean, and it is ready for the next person.

— Joyce in Colorado

DEAR HELOISE: I read about the person who did not like the black cords on white appliances. I can go her one better: white pockets in men’s black pants. While standing, the white does not show, but when he sits, the white shows.

— Jessie in Virginia Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail

Heloise@Heloise.com