Dear Heloise: I, too, have trouble with the very tiny print on labels. I found a trick that is a lifesaver for this problem. I simply use my phone to take a picture of the label, and I can then enlarge it as big as I want. This is very helpful in stores to read and compare labels while shopping. — Debbie, in East Amherst, New York

Debbie, I use a magnifying glass to read labels with small print, and it’s worked out for me. In fact, I have magnifying glasses all over my house and office. — Heloise

A FADING PART OF LIFE

Dear Heloise: I loved your response about reading the news from actual newspaper! Amen! A hard print newspaper is for me. I hope that the hard print copy is never discontinued. But maybe when my generation is gone, the printed newspaper will be, too. (Hopefully not for another few decades!) Being on a computer all day long is just not for me. I read the Orange County Register daily and your column always! — Claudia R., in Laguna Beach, California

Claudia, my dad always said that you knew you were growing old when the newspaper came, and you opened the paper to find the obituaries before you read the sports pages. — Heloise

DON’T LIGHT UP

Dear Heloise: I work as a surgical nurse, and today the doctor removed a cancerous lung from a person that was due to smoking two and three packs a day. The patient was only 32 years old and had been smoking since he was 13. If there’s one thing I could say to young people today, it would be, “Don’t smoke, and don’t vape.” You get one set of lungs. Lose a lung, and your life will change in ways you’ve never thought of before.

Damage both of your lungs, and you just might miss out on your children’s graduations and weddings — or seeing grandchildren come into this world. You could be confined to a chair at home, be unable to work, or be unable to walk beyond the mailbox because you don’t have the lung power. Life gets very boring when this happens. So, quit smoking, or better yet, don’t start!

Enjoy a full, rich life of new experiences, friends, travel and moments that are too beautiful to describe. — Sherry, in Seattle

DON’T TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

Dear Heloise: Regarding customers who try a grape before they buy it, the food that is for sale isn’t a free buffet for people. Yes, it’s only one grape, but what if every customer tried one grape? How would this be OK? I’ve seen a customer stuffing more grapes into the bag before they buy them. People are so self-centered and cheap. If you’ve had a bad experience at one store, then go somewhere else. — Steve, via email

Steve, I have to agree with you that a healthy piece of fruit shouldn’t be sampled in the store. Who knows who was handling the grape or cherry! Bacteria from several people are usually on these pieces of fruit. A customer then comes along, pops it into their mouth, and wonders what made them sick after the fact. You’re better off if you use your eyes rather than your tastebuds to judge fruit or any produce item. — Heloise

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.