Credit Cards Online Information

Dear Heloise: In regard to the recent credit-card hints, you forgot this one:

Sign the card across the back with your signature. You can place a small piece of tape across the strip to prevent it from wearing off. If it has already worn off, use a thin-tipped permanent marker to sign it. It does not matter if it is debit or credit -- all cards should be signed.

Since many stores only accept credit cards, debit cards are swiped just as a credit card would be, making the signature the only form of identification.

If the card strip is left unsigned, anyone can pick it up and sign it, and then the person's signature will always match the one on the card, thus overriding any security features. --Sarah Maximiek, via e- mail

Sarah, these are valid points that everyone should read and follow. Most debit-card transactions are deducted straight from a savings or checking account, so you should treat debit cards just like cash --Heloise

Dear Heloise: For a simple car trash bag, I take a regular paper grocery bag and turn the top outward, then roll it down about two or three times. This keeps the top open and sturdy. When full, I just throw it out and make a new one. Try it! --Dick Enright, via e-mail

Dear Heloise:As a military brat, you can appreciate this story. When my husband's Army assignment took us to Belgium, we sent two of our car's four snow tires with our household goods, the maximum number of tires the moving company would take. The private-car shipping company said we could put the other two in the trunk of the car. A paid driver took our car to the port, but the shipper would not allow the tires to go. The driver was not happy when he had to take the tires along on his bus trip back. How to get our tires to us? The company mailed them to our military post office, wrapped in paper. I took the paper off and rolled the tires out to the car. -- Linda C. Shirk, Bellevue, Neb.

Dear Heloise: I like a few blueberries or raspberries and sliced banana added to my cereal. By putting some plastic containers of them in the freezer, I can take out a few anytime, rinse them and enjoy. - -Barbara Fenley of Buena Park, Calif.

Good idea, Barbara. Another easy way to freeze berries is to freeze them whole in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, put them in a container or plastic freezer bag. This way, it is easy to grab as many or as few as you want. --Heloise

Dear Heloise:When taking a shower, especially on a cold morning, light a candle in the bathroom. The mirrors will remain clear and not get foggy when your shower is complete. No bothering to wipe the mirrors. I've tried this several times, and it worked each time. -- Dawn in Maryland

# posted by Medical Information : 3:21 AM