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Dear Heloise: My 12-year-old son came up with a clever hint, and it proved to be very easy and helpful to us (and maybe other people, too). He saved all the toilet paper rolls and painted them white. Then he wrapped charging cords around individual rolls and labeled each one. At one end, he made a clean cut so that he could press one end of the cord through, to keep the cord from unraveling.
What used to be a kitchen junk drawer is now organized and filled with these charging cords. When we need to recharge something, we know where the cord is, and when we're done, we return the charging cord to its roll in the drawer. This has saved us hours of frustration by organizing our cords! -- Jennifer S., in Dover, Delaware
STACK AND STORE
Dear Heloise: I love your column. I also love to cook, prep ingredients, and save leftovers for yet a new spin on another meal, which all require planning to have the best nutrition with minimal waste or expense.
Instead of using plastic wrap, and due to limited fridge space, I put my leftover or prepped ingredients in bowls and use a saucer or plate that's similarly sized to place on top of the bowl. This way, I can stack them, save space in the fridge, and don't tussle with single-use plastic film (which is never easy to deal with).
This method saves me a lot of money, and it's easier and better for the environment. -- Jean W., in Richmond, Virginia
ALLERGY CARE
Dear Heloise: I love your column, which I read in The Villages Daily Sun in The Villages, Florida. Regarding Janice, who wrote in about having allergies and being uncomfortable in hotel rooms, my opinion is that she must first look to herself and her doctors. She can be prescribed medication so that she can be comfortable everywhere and not expect others to accommodate her.
I and others had a similar problem when singing in the philharmonic. Some members were sensitive to cologne, hairspray, etc. Since we were performing at indoor and outdoor venues, hairspray and other cosmetics couldn't be entirely avoided. The consensus was that everyone would cut back on these products, but those who were affected needed to care of themselves for their own well-being.
Thanks for all of your great tips over the years, and bless you! -- AnnaMaria, via email
AnnaMaria, I have to agree. Rather than depending on someone else to help me cope with an allergy, I'd first see if there was some way I could protect myself from dander, pollen, and other allergy-causing substances. But it's always greatly appreciated when others show a little consideration for those of us who suffer from allergies. -- Heloise
TOUGH PACKAGING
Dear Heloise: In regard to opening hearing-aid battery packaging, my audiologist showed me a trick: Make a cut on the side of each battery with scissors. Then you can bend the individual battery, and it should open up and pop out. Yes, it's still a chore, but it's the only way to deal with this arduous packaging. -- Teresa M., in Atlanta, Texas
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.