HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR READERS: Sorry, what number did you leave on my voicemail? Here’s the Heloise Hint when leaving a voice message on a recorded phone line (could be land line or cellphone): Speak clearly, slowly and succinctly.

State your name and callback number at the beginning of your message and again at the end. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to replay the message to get that information.

Try to be brief and get to the point. This is especially true for business-related messages.

DEAR HELOISE: To make certain my kids can find the information necessary for my health care or my life insurance, I send them copies of each policy. That should save a lot of time in case of an emergency or in the event of my passing.

— Maggie D., via email DEAR READERS: It can be difficult to decide if you want to buy or lease your next car or truck.

If you are interested in leasing a vehicle, do your homework. A lower monthly payment is one reason some people lease. Or they may want a new car every year or so. They may want to see what it drives like for a year before actually buying one. Today’s lease is not the lease of old.

You must read all the information on leasing, because there are a lot of rules. Rules may vary from state to state. Read the fine print. Don’t sign on the dotted line just because the salesperson tells you what the contract says. If you still have questions, ask a trusted adviser.

DEAR HELOISE: We had a morning low of 19 degrees in San Antonio a while back. I thought about what would work best to protect the pipes. Elastic stretchable bandages I had accumulated came to mind. They were the perfect width to cover the exposed pipes, and the hook-and-loop closure at the end was perfect for securing.

I had three exposed pipes, and the bandages were easy to install and provided protection for the pipes. At the end of the winter season, they can be washed and stored.

— Sandra T., via email

DEAR HELOISE: We always buy sheets with a vertical stripe or pattern. That way, it’s easier to figure which end goes at the top of the bed.

— Marybeth B., via email