Plastic zipper-top bag keeps maintenance receipts handy

Dear Heloise: I staple the top of one side of a plastic zipper-top bag inside the cover of my telephone book. When we have work done on the house, car, etc., we put the receipt in there. When we need some work done, usually we head for the phone book to call a repairman and find our receipt for past work. It has saved us several hundred dollars.
For instance, we had an air conditioner fixed. We found our receipt, called the same company, and what they replaced was something we had already replaced before, and it was still under warranty. Alice in Rockport, Texas
Alice, great hint, and one that we all could benefit from using. Also, knowing where all of the household maintenance receipts are helps at the end of the year, too. Glad you wrote. Heloise
Fast facts
Here are a few ways to "recycle" plastic margarine tubs:
Use to hold small amounts of paint for touch-ups.
Use to organize beads.
Great as a pet-food dish for travel.
Can be used as a birdbath for small birds such as finches.
When your ink cartridge runs out, take it with you to the store, write down the number or take a cell-phone photo of it.
If you do get to the store unprepared, try to find a machine like yours in the store, and then you will be able to find the correct cartridge. Heloise
Note: We have six printers, all the same brand, and each uses a different cartridge! Why? It's maddening.
Dear Heloise: Another use for no-slide shelf liner: I used to have a large dollhouse, and my grandmother and I cut pieces of the shelf liner to fit the rooms. Perfect doll carpet! E.S., via e-mail
Dear Heloise: I have found that bank deposit envelopes are handy for recording credit- and debit-card transactions, and for saving the corresponding receipts. Recently, when on vacation, I was able to keep personal and business transactions easily separated -- with separate envelopes for each check card. Handy option in lieu of carrying a checkbook and/or stuffing receipts in pockets! Leslie in Hamilton, Va.
Dear Heloise: Another medication hint: When I get a new medication, I write what it is to be used for in large, dark print on the label. This way, I know I am taking the right medication for my symptoms. K.W.E., via e-mail
Sound off
Dear Heloise: I'm a woman who is under 5 feet 4 inches. Why do clothing manufacturers make "petite" sizes that are smaller in width as well as height?
Shorter means shorter legs, shorter arms and shorter-waisted (usually). But a size 12 bust is a size 12 bust. If I buy a size 12 and hem it, I should be able to buy a size 12 petite. I should not have to buy a size 14 petite. I've only found one company that seems to have figured out that the sizes should be exactly the same! Mary, via e-mail
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate