HELOISE: Perfect packing paper cuts costs

Dear Heloise: For anyone getting ready to move, a way to reduce packing costs is to go to the local newspaper and ask for “end roll paper.” It is the end of the rolls used for printing the newspaper. It is good, clean paper, which is perfect for packing any item. It will save the cost of paying for clean paper for packing. Generally, the paper is free or very cheap — just a few dollars.

T.H. Hawkins, via e-mail

We checked with a couple of newspapers, and sure enough, the end roll paper usually is available; one paper sells it for just 30 cents per pound. Great money-saving and recycling hint!

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My young son cut his hand while we were on an outing. I was so thankful to have a first-aid kit in my car, and I quickly cleaned and bandaged the cut. So, I guess my hint is to always carry a first-aid kit in your car — you never know when you may need it.

Gloria R., via e-mail

Gloria, first-aid kits are helpful, and with summer coming on and more traveling and outings on the calendar, a kit is a must.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I always fill out the message part of an e-mail first before adding in the address. This way, I know that if I accidentally push the “send” button, nothing gets sent. This is especially important when I am at work.

Kerry Lee, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Upon the death of my mother, I was overwhelmed with flower sprays at the funeral home. Keeping track of who sent them was going to be a problem.

I asked my husband to take a picture of each spray with the card. This made writing the thank-you notes easier. I included the picture with a thank-you for those who were unable to attend the memorial service.

A Reader, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I just looked at one of your columns, which mentioned using a safety pin as a substitute for a screw in eyeglasses when the screw is lost.

Use a regular pin. Insert into the hole where the top of the pin holds it in place, bend at right angles on the other side, and cut off what sticks out. It is much smaller than a safety pin and is there permanently. No need to replace it — it can’t open on you unexpectedly, and it saves a trip to the optometrist for a new screw.

Stan Goldklang, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: I was putting up pictures and couldn’t get them straight. I remembered that I had an invisible-ink pen that I used in sewing, so, using the pen, I could write on the wall to get my pictures straight.

Bonnie from Texas

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