HELOISE Brochure could be helpful this time of year

Dear Heloise: Every year, I stumble into the post office with armloads of packages for family and friends throughout the United States, and even some for international mail. Year to year, time after time, I ask the post-office clerk the same questions: What's the fastest and cheapest way for me to send this package? Should I insure it? How do I know when it gets there?
I was happy to learn that the post office has a free booklet called A Consumer's Guide to Mailing that answers all my questions about mailing letters and packages. It has a lot of helpful information, including tips for preparing and addressing packages and a chart that outlines extra services like insurance and delivery confirmation, which helps you decide which service best meets your needs. Monica, Washington, D.C.
Monica, you are not alone! The U.S. Postal Service has a great Web site, www.usps.com, where you can print A Consumer's Guide to Mailing. This informative booklet came up under recommended links after doing a search -- it could be especially helpful at this time of year! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Here is a tip for all men who wear dress shirts and find that their dry cleaner/laundry has inadvertently lost the collar stays from the shirt.
Take an expired credit card and cut it into 1/4-inch strips, then cut to the correct length for the collar and taper one end so that it slips easily into the collar stay pocket. You can produce about nine stays per card.
This hint is an early-morning lifesaver for the man on the go! John Childers, San Angelo, Texas
Dear Heloise: I use colored tape, which can be purchased at any home center or hardware store, to mark computer cords and their connections.
I wrap a piece of tape around the end of the cord or connecting cable and then cut a small piece of the same color to apply next to the connection.
This is really helpful when I have to take the hard drive in for service and all the cords have to be disconnected. J., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: While on a driving trip last weekend, I found a use for those empty cardboard potato-chip tubes. They make fine wastebaskets for your car, because they conveniently fit into the cupholder and can be easily closed with the original plastic top. Sure makes for an easy way to keep your car neater! Nancy Spak, San Antonio
Dear Heloise: I use stick deodorants that have a little wheel on the bottom that pushes the material up through the top. When the material is used up, I push farther until the base that holds the material falls out. Then I put this in my (underwear) drawer to add a hint of a scent. Alan A., Bethlehem, Pa.
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate