Look for sales, clip coupons when donating for holidays

Dear Readers: If you want to contribute canned goods or nonperishable food to your favorite local food bank or church charity, but don’t have enough extra money to do so, here’s what you can do to cut down on costs.

Look for sales or markdowns. Clip coupons from the newspaper and collect the ones available at grocery stores. Collect them for several weeks and then make your purchases to donate. Never give outdated food items to food pantries.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: What’s the most dangerous room in your home? The kitchen! More accidents happen there than in any other room in the home. And that’s not surprising, considering the hot stove and oven, kitchen knives, household cleaning chemicals, stepping stools and lots of people in the kitchen during the holidays.

So teach your kids kitchen safety and alert them to potential dangers — and no running in the kitchen! Keep a first-aid kit in the kitchen and be sure to post a list of emergency numbers, along with your local poison-control center, where everyone can see them. — Heloise

Dear Readers: If you are visiting family or friends over the holidays and staying in a hotel, be sure to bring hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes to protect you in unfamiliar places.

To be certain your room is really clean, take these steps: First, wipe down door handles, the TV remote, phone and other surfaces that you will touch with sanitizing or alcohol wipes right away when you get in the room.

Health experts report that germs can live on these surfaces for hours.

— Heloise

Dear Readers: Your family will love this cake, really! Just add 1/2 to 2/3 cup of chopped sauerkraut, which has been rinsed and drained, to a box chocolate cake mix. First, follow the directions on the package for making the cake, then add the sauerkraut. With this addition, it might take a bit longer to bake, so be sure to check the cake to make certain it’s done.

— Heloise