Simple tips can lead to savings at vet

Heloise

Dear Readers: Let’s look at some hints to save money at the veterinarian:

• As soon as you’ve found your pet, find a vet.

• Spaying or neutering is a must. If your pet is a rescue or a stray, the vet may offer a discount. Ask.

• As with people, there may be generic options for pet meds (for flea, tick and heartworm prevention).

• A second opinion for big procedures is a good idea.

A good relationship with your veterinarian and the office staff will benefit you and your pet, and save you money, too!

Dear Heloise: I take a picture of the grocery sale ads with my phone; no shopping list is required!

Dear Heloise: Address labels on many magazines now easily peel off. Before, if I wanted to donate a magazine to the doctor’s office, I’d have to tear the cover to remove my address, but now the label just pops off.

This is good, too, if you collect magazines. The cover photography often is beautiful!

Dear Heloise: I do my exercises in bed. It is so much more comfortable to do situps, leg lifts, knee bends and pushing hands together for chest muscles. I’m 75; who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Dear Heloise: I really like the fragrance strips in magazines. This is how I use them: I scrunch them up to release the fragrance, and then put them in my dresser drawers, suitcases and car ashtrays, and tie them to my closet rods. I smooth them over my hair, and tear them into small pieces for potpourri.

Dear Heloise: When emptying a dog or cat water dish to put fresh water in, dump the water on a plant instead of down the sink.

Dear Heloise: As a retired dentist, I appreciate the value of surgical gloves. They’re awesome to keep in the kitchen: Use when handling poultry or hamburger patties, or when dealing with anything messy. They’re inexpensive and available in nonlatex. By the way, your dentist might give you a box for cost! Love your column.

Dear Heloise: I recently read in The Maui (Hawaii) News your distinction between antiperspirant and deodorant. I puff on baking soda for both purposes on my underarms, and I’ve never had odor, even after sweating up a storm in my exercise class.

Hawaii

Mary, baking soda is one of my best household helpers and go-to groomers! Yes, it is safe to use as an antiperspirant, and it absorbs odors (deodorizes), too! I’ve been working with baking soda for my entire career!

Would you like a collection of my best baking soda recipes and hints? It’s easy to get! Simply visit www.heloise.com to order my baking soda pamphlet. Heloise answers letters only in her King Features Syndicate column. Write her at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 782795000 or send a fax to 1-210-HELOISE.