HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Today’s Sound Off concerns wedding gifts:

DEAR HELOISE: I recently attended the wedding of a friend’s daughter, and since they made no bones about wanting cash for their honeymoon, I gave them $100.

I was told that asking people to fund a honeymoon is now the new normal for couples getting married. Am I out of step with modern weddings?

— Brandi W., Texas DEAR READER: We’ve had several letters on this new trend of couples asking for money for their honeymoon. Readers, what would you do if you were asked to give money for a couple’s honeymoon?

DEAR HELOISE: Want a perfect sewing basket for all of your sewing supplies and loose buttons? Use a fishing tackle box. It’s perfect for your scissors, threads, thimbles and more.

— Patsy K., Deleware DEAR READER: And the next letter has another useful sewing hint.

DEAR HELOISE: If you use a bar of soap with the wrapper on it as a pincushion, it not only will hold a lot of pins, but the soap also will actually lubricate the needles, making them slide easily through various fabrics.

— Meghan P., Latrobe, Pa.

DEAR HELOISE: Whenever someone I know moves into a new house, I always give the person a housewarming gift. Over the years, I’ve found that some items are really appreciated more than others because of their usefulness. Things such as a hand cart, a gift certificate to a home-improvement store or hardware store, a set of screwdrivers, or even small items such as a flashlight or a basket of energy-efficient light bulbs are a huge help to people when they move.

— Judy T., Arizona DEAR READER: These are excellent suggestions. When you move, you may realize you need more light bulbs than you did in your old place, along with shower curtain rings, a hammer or many other items.

DEAR HELOISE: My concern is about bikes. Kids get them for birthdays and Christmas. As soon as a tire goes flat, the bike becomes useless. Kids need exercise — too much TV and too many video games.

My question is: Can’t tire manufacturers make solid bike tires?

— A.W. in Temple, Texas