Don’t give personal information to those who call you

Dear Heloise: Never, never, never give your personal information to anyone who calls and asks for it. You call them!

Once, I was ready to send a fax, but after having second thoughts, I deleted my credit-card number and said I would call them. That fax did go to a wrong number. The recipient was kind (and honest) enough to call me and tell me that my fax was missent. If I had included the instruction to call me for my credit-card number, and he hadn’t been honest, he could have called me and I’d have given him my number. Never give out your private information unless you initiate the call. Nan Eckfeld, Dublin, Ohio

You’re correct, Nan. Your bank, credit-card issuer or the Internal Revenue Service is not going to call you asking for account or personal information! Think before giving any financial data to anyone. Heloise

Dear Readers: You can repurpose pantyhose in lots of ways:

•Use as a strainer for paint.

•Cut off the elastic waistband and use it as a large rubber band.

•Use to tie up rugs.

•It can get pet hair off clothes and furniture.

•Use to tie up vines. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Thanks for many years of good tips. I discovered this one when I couldn’t find the packing peanuts I thought I had saved. I take the plastic bag that my newspaper comes in and use it as an air pillow. Recycling at its best. It saves garbage and postage weight. Tammy A., via e-mail

We tested this with several different newspaper bags. Lightweight bags didn’t hold air very long; the stronger bags seemed to work for a while if there were no holes, punctures or tears. Test them yourself, and you can use them as lightweight recyclable cushioning. Heloise

Dear Heloise: My solution for when the electricity goes out is to go to a store that sells things for a dollar and buy five or six small flashlights that take two AA batteries. I put them on my nightstand, by the computer, in the kitchen and on the table between the recliners. When a storm is due, one goes in my pocket. When it is pitch-black, I have instant light. No searching for candles and matches. Dorothy in New York City

Dear Heloise: To help keep a pair of tweezers still working strong when they lose their grip, give them a rub with sandpaper or an emery board. Ann, via fax

Sound off

Dear Heloise: Recently, I went to be fitted for a new bra. Since I am tall, I have found that the shoulder straps are too short and the bra rides up in the back. Please convince bra manufacturers that all women are not average or short, and ask them to make longer or detachable straps that may be adjusted to fit all figures. Thanks from a tall woman. Elizabeth D., via e-mail

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