Charities that make giving simple get more donations
Dear Heloise: This is not a household hint, but a suggestion for the good-hearted people who arrange fundraising drives for worthy causes:
Keep it simple . Make it quick and easy for donors to write and send their checks.
Use a brief, easy to-single word—two to three at most—that will easily fit on the line for “pay to” on checks. Avoid using an elaborate address that can’t be easily passed by word of mouth or has the possibility of mistakes. Arrange for a temporary post-office box.
Sadly, a local cause is not receiving support because the name is much too long, with an equally lengthy address. Banks that set up accounts for donations need to realize the importance of simple names. Thanks for spreading the word.—Helen R., Manhattan, Kan.
Happy to help! Your hints are spot-on and will help many charities, especially smaller ones, increase donations. Make it easy for your “customers,” and they will donate more!— Heloise
TRAVEL HINT Dear Heloise: I went on a two-week cruise and was shocked to discover how expensive Internet service was. A suggestion was to email messages onshore using free Wi-Fi at restaurants. But everyone else had the same idea!
I decided to pay the ship’s fees for the smallest amount of minutes. I typed my messages as documents and then cut and pasted them into email. Within minutes, I could log on, send my messages and be off quickly. No wasting minutes or money!— L.W., via email EMERGENCY INFORMATION Dear Heloise: In case of an emergency, we need to be prepared. My mother made a notebook in which she keeps important information for my brother and me that we might need. Insurance and loan information, a copy of her will, car title, etc.—anything needed in the event that something happens to her. It’s not a subject people want to talk about, but it is important to be prepared. Searching for that information is not what you want to be doing at a time like that. — A.S. in Texas
Good advice! Take note, readers! —Heloise
DRYING CAR Dear Heloise: For those who still wash their cars by hand, I thought I would share this helpful hint. It took me a while to figure it out, although it is common sense. When I am at the point of drying the top of the car, which is hard to reach, I open a door and stand on the side of the seat.—Adam H. in Illinois TOILET TURMOIL Dear Heloise: My son decided to throw one of his bath toys in the toilet one evening. Now we use only large toys in the bath. Even if you keep the toilet lid closed, for safe measure, toys that are not able to be flushed by mischievous kids should be the only toys in the bathroom. It would have saved my husband and me lots of money and headaches.—Penny in Florida
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