HELOISE: Safety tips make trips to parksmore fun

Dear Heloise: I recently visited a large theme park with my husband and two children, ages 2 and 4. Several friends and family members had tips about how to keep my children safe. This is my favorite:

Discuss with children what to do if they become separated from parents. I told my children that if they couldn’t see me, they should stay where they are. I will find them; they should not try to find me.

We did not have any incidents, but I certainly felt better knowing that this base was covered!

Nancy Turbyfill Decatur, Ala.

Nancy, glad you all had a nice time. Here are some more helpful hints for an enjoyable good time at a theme park:

Take a digital photo of everyone before you enter the park so you will have one if needed.

Don’t buy souvenirs as soon as you see them! Remember, you will have to haul them around all day, or someone will have to take them to the car. The best time to buy souvenirs is on your way out; you only have to carry them to the car.

Take along an empty bottle to refill for water. Or, some parks offer color-coded cups to refill at a discount for the current season.

Eat lunch either early or late to avoid long food lines, and you’ll have a better chance at riding the rides, because those lines aren’t as long during the lunch break.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My husband and I travel and like to purchase souvenirs from the places we go. I have learned a very inexpensive way to do this. I don’t buy the souvenirs in tourist traps; instead, I find them at thrift stores, garage sales, etc.

Last year I went to Tuscany, Italy, and found a beautiful little plate at a thrift store for a dollar that simply said “Tuscany.” You just never know where or when you’ll find that treasure, and it’s fun to search.

Sue in Keizer, Ore.

Dear Heloise: Due to identity theft, I have been shredding all financial information I no longer need. One thing I noticed is the labels on prescription bags, which have my name, address, phone number, insurance, etc. Due to the adhesive on the labels, I cut them into small pieces because these labels may jam a shredder.

Kelly S. Hagerstown, Md.

You may not need to spend time cutting them up. I tested three different shredders in our office, and none of them jammed.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My shampoo and conditioner bottles are exactly the same except for the small print on the bottom of the label. I don’t wear my glasses in the shower, so I put an old hair tie on the shampoo bottle for easy ID.

Cathy M., Lanoka Harbor, N.J.

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate