Act fast if your information is stolen

DEAR READERS: During the pandemic, with things not being normal, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to ensure that your purse or wallet is not stolen or lost. This does happen, and identity thieves take information found in purses to create a new identity using your data. The key is to take steps right away when you realize your purse or wallet is gone.

Report the theft to the police ASAP. Then cancel all credit cards and get new ones with new account numbers. Also, call the fraud department of major credit reporting agencies; they will put a fraud alert on your account.

Do notify your bank about the problem. You can get new checks with a different account number. And you will get a new ATM card with a new PIN. If your driver’s license is gone, contact the state Department of Motor Vehicles to get a replacement.

DEAR READERS: First rule: Apply hair spray before you put on your clothing and jewelry. Never let hair spray land on pearls. When you apply hair spray, it always seems to land on your hair as well as everywhere else. Here’s how to prevent that. Do not stand in the same place in the bathroom or bedroom when you apply hair spray, because this creates a sticky buildup on the spots where the mist lands.

When you are in the bathroom, step into the shower to apply your hair spray. Then the residue will be washed away in the shower. And try this: Spritz hair spray on your brush and then run it through your hair.

DEAR READERS: Save all the bits of crumbs and crust on bread, buns and rolls. You can use them up in several ways, which will help you stretch your dollars. Use these Heloise ideas. 1. Turn bread into breadsticks. Cut into strips, brush with olive oil or butter, top off with spices and bake until crisp. 2. Add bread pieces to a casserole or meatloaf. Rip up bread into pieces and add an egg and seasoning to liven it up. 3. Cut bread into croutons. Dice into cubes, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sensing before you bake them.

DEAR READERS: Is your garage a mess? With all the items you keep in it, it can present dangers for anyone who goes in the garage, particularly if objects are scattered around on the floor. Use these organizing hints to make it a safer place.

Bring in clearly marked containers to hold as much stuff as possible. Do not leave any large items or big objects on the f loor where people walk through and can trip and hurt themselves. Organize everything. You can organize by seasons — summer, winter, fall and spring — or by category, like sports equipment, gardening/lawn equipment, car repairs tools and holiday decorations. There are many organizing items that can be found at big box stores — like pegboards, trash cans, shelves, hanging racks — to put things in to keep them orderly and up and out of the way. Keep certain items, such as lawn mowers, snow blowers and garbage cans, in the same place. And you can use fluorescent spray paint to outline parking spaces for autos, bikes and even garbage cans!

Write to P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.