Have lots to shred? Check with your bank

Dear Heloise: In a recent column, there was a question about shredding. The person’s shredder had broken. You suggested that she buy another. While that is true for the long term, she might check with her personal bank. Mine has times during the year when it lets the customers bring in all their shredding to have done at the bank, as a courtesy to its customers. It’s worth asking! It has saved my shredder when I had too much for my home shredder to handle. Nancy Meyer, Omaha, Neb.

Nancy, thanks for the hint. We checked with several banks and credit unions, and they usually are happy to help an account holder shred confidential papers. Check with your financial institution.

Also, many communities periodically offer a shredding day, so call your chamber of commerce to see when this might be. Heloise

SOUND OFF

Dear Heloise: My complaint: Why don’t hotels, motels, inns, etc., have night lights?

My husband and I travel a lot. We like to have a night light on overnight, in case we need to get up in the middle of the night. So we do what I think most people do: Leave the bathroom light on with the door slightly ajar, all night. Often there is a fan involved with the light, so both are on all night.

I wish there were night lights, and if people stole them, the hotel could put the light on their bill.

Think of the energy savings! (I know I could take my own, but I often forget.) Because I’m writing to you, I hopefully will remember in the future. Thank you for listening. Janice Murray, Laguna Woods, Calif.

Dear Janice: I’m with you! That fan can make a lot of noise. Hopefully, the hotel and travel industry will take heed of your concern.

Plus, we all need to “think green” these days and be more energy-efficient. Heloise

P.S.: You also can call the front desk or ask housekeeping if it has a night light. Many do.

Dear Readers: Here are some other uses for silk flowers:

UArrange on a fan and hang as a decoration.

UDuplicate a favorite bouquet.

UPlace outside in plant beds.

UPlace in flower arrangement as real flowers die.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: Often, new clothes come with extra buttons. For years, I didn’t know a good place to keep the buttons, and they would become lost or misplaced. As I was hanging up a new jacket, I had an idea: Since most of the buttons now come stored in a small plastic bag, I poke a hole in the bag and simply put it on the garment’s clothes hanger. It works quite well. Myra, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: The mystery of the disappearing needles has been solved. I opened my little red pincushion and found 34 needles! So, if you can’t find your needles, you know where to look! L.P., Bella Vista, Ark.

SBlt 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