HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: Summertime is often moving season. My husband’s company is relocating us across the country. These are my favorite hints when hiring a moving company:

I picked three to interview. That’s enough to get an idea of what companies are offering, rates, how the industry works, etc.

So that I would be on the same wavelength as my movers, I had to understand if they were going to help me unpack, what heavy objects they would lift and if they would disassemble and assemble items.

Once I had chosen the company, I had them come out and look at everything that needed to be moved. They have a tool on their website for this, but nothing beats an experienced mover’s assessment.

Questions are key, especially about insurance: Is my property covered if it is damaged? Are your workers bonded? (“Bonded” means my things will be covered in the highly unlikely event of vandalism or theft.)

Moving is one of the most stressful events in a family’s life, but asking the right questions and hiring the right team will help tremendously.

— Helen L. in New York

DEAR HELOISE: I have a magnetic paper pad on my fridge along with a pen. When I make my shopping list, I write it down, but I start at the bottom of the paper and write going up.

This way, I just tear off the part of the list that I need, and conserve the rest of that long page for the next items. Why waste paper?

— Rusti S. in Houston

DEAR HELOISE: My parents were frugal and big savers. One hint they shared with me: Plan ahead. I’m shopping now and looking around for sales and discounts on gifts for the holiday season.

— Helen B. in Montana

DEAR HELOISE: I wish people would realize that there are some who have allergies. One of mine is to perfume. I was at a restaurant, and pretty soon my throat was burning. A tiny bit of perfume is not offensive. — Martha S., Beardstown, Ill.

DEAR HELOISE: My family taught me this at the dinner table: When someone says, “Please pass the salt,” pass the salt and the pepper. They are not to be divorced. I thought this was cute.

— Ellie S. in Arizona