HELOISE Call the bank to increase your debit-card limit

Dear Heloise: I read your hint about the couple who were surprised that there was a limit on their debit card. I've worked in banking for more than 20 years and know that most banks (given 24 hours notice) can increase the limit on a debit card if the customer will let the bank know. This can be done when someone knows ahead of time that he or she wants to make a large purchase (e.g., a computer) with a debit card, or if the person is traveling out of the state or country and might be making large purchases or using a debit card a lot.
Of course, the customer should notify the bank after the purchase is made so that the bank can take the limit back down to the original amount. With all the identity theft today, it's really for the customers' protection that the limit is not set too high. Kathy, Dallas
How right you are, and thanks for reminding us. Folks, listen to the expert and call your bank ahead of time. Heloise
Dear Heloise: You are in our local paper, The Peterborough Examiner, every day. I certainly enjoy your column. I also like your matter-of-fact tone as you reply to people. And finally, while I have your ear, my favorite hint, which I accidentally discovered:
When putting leftovers away in the freezer, I now put the content title on a small piece of paper and insert the tag at the edge of the lid, then bend the tag down, thereby making it visible without having to pull each container out to read the lid tops. Wish I had thought of that years ago. With joyful regards for your continuing column. Therese Harman, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Therese, thanks for the kind words and good hint! Hello from Texas to all of my readers in Canada! Heloise
Dear Heloise: When putting medicine in your daily or monthly pill holder, do not empty all the pills from the bottle. Leave about three or four in the bottle, and when you run out of pills in the holder, you will know you only have three or four remaining and that it's time to call in the refill. It works great for us, so I wanted to share with others. Brenda Self in Alabama
Dear Heloise: Relatives recently had a home fire, and because they didn't have a good inventory of their possessions, they had a hard time with their insurance company. This got my husband and me in gear.
One weekend, we took the time to photograph all of our possessions, especially those that are one-of-a-kind or costly. We put the photographs into an album, with each photo carefully labeled, along with any warranty and price information. Then we took the photo album to the bank and put it in our safety-deposit box. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. A reader, via e-mail
Dear Heloise: After washing baseball caps, I stuff them with wadded-up plastic grocery bags to keep their shape. Just set them on a rack to dry. Margaret Ney, Bad Axe, Mich.
King Features Syndicate