King Features Syndicate
July 19, 2004

DEAR Readers: Here are some credit-card hints to help you avoid unnecessary charges when you go shopping. The best way to avoid credit-card debt, of course, is not to use credit cards — but that is easier said than done. Many people don't want to get rid of them at all — and a credit card can be a lifesaver in case of an emergency, or a good way to collect on offers involving miles, points or cash back.

To try to cut down on credit-card use, consider having one card designated just for emergencies. Keep that credit card with you on a regular basis. Place your "emergency" card in a small envelope that'll easily fit inside your wallet. If you get the urge to use the card when you know you really shouldn't, you'll have a gentle reminder.
— Heloise

Dear Heloise: I read your column regularly and have found many hints that I use. When I buy something new that has a pamphlet with instructions, I staple the receipt to it. That way, if I have to refer back to it or have a problem, the purchase info is handy, and I don't have to look for it.
— Jeanne McCarthy, Buena Park, Calif.

Dear Heloise: I am 72. My mother was an avid gardener and had a beautiful garden in England, as well as the prettiest hands, although she never wore gloves.

Before gardening, she would scrape her fingernails across a bar of soap. When finished in the garden, she would wash her hands and use a cotton-tipped swab to get the dirt, mud and soap from beneath her nails. She would then pour a small amount of olive oil into the palm of her hand, along with a teaspoon of sugar, and massage her hands. She would again wash her hands with soap and dry them. And last, she would apply a small amount of a mixture of glycerin and lemon juice that she kept by the sink.
— Pat Barrett, Houston

Dear Heloise: I would like to ask the following from readers everywhere: Carry a map!

As a professional tour guide in our nation's capital, I always carry a city map and Metro map with me, whether I'm on- or off-duty. It's always such a joy and a pleasure to help lost tourists find their way. Your kindness to them will never be forgotten.
— G. Del Signore, Washington, D.C.

Mortgage Rates News, Mortgage News, Financial News