HELOISE: Method stays on top of debt

Dear Heloise: I would like to share my method for avoiding credit-card debt that can become overwhelming. First of all, my intention is to never spend money I don’t have, except for things such as houses and autos, and then I make sure the payments are manageable with my monthly budget. I use a credit card a lot to get airline miles.

When I charge something, I withdraw the amount of the charge from my checkbook balance. This way, I am setting aside the money to pay the charge when my bill comes in. I seldom have credit-card bills that I cannot pay.

Occasionally, I have charged something that might take several months to pay off, but I am still limiting the amount of interest I owe. Banks like to have you use their credit card because they know the penchant for people to overcharge and then have to pay the high interest rates, which brings in their profits. Why play their game?

C.J.L., Lincoln, Calif.

Keeping track of credit-card charges and cash spent will help you stay on track financially. Just writing it down makes you more aware of dollars spent.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I put a sticky note on my medical insurance card with the two medications I am allergic to. I also carry an index card with my medications, dosages and the date prescribed the first time. I date the card so that medical personnel can tell that it has current information. I make sure to update the card after each doctor visit. If no medications change, I just put the date on the card. Both of these hints have helped me in emergency situations. Emergency medical technicians immediately can tell what I take and what not to give me.

J.J., via e-mail

Dear Heloise: This past Christmas, I purchased 12 gift cards (one for each member of my family) and 24 lottery scratch-offs.

I wrapped each one individually, using one type or color of paper with curly ribbon for the gift cards and two different papers for the scratch-offs, and hung them on the tree in place of ornaments. After we finished opening our presents, everybody was allowed to pick three “ornaments.”

If somebody received a gift card to a place he or she didn’t frequent, it could be traded. Everybody still got a gift card and was thrilled. Best of all, my tree was undecorated, and I was able to fold it up and put it back upstairs for next year without having to do all the work of undecorating!

Lil Shaver, Sugar Land, Texas

Lil, this is a nice hint for gift-card giving.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I recycle the plastic dry-cleaner bags by sending them to my seamstress to cover garments she has finished. She likes to receive them, and I like it that I’m recycling.

Margaret, Vancouver, Wash.

King Features Syndicate