LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: A friend told me I need to keep old utility bills for a year. Is that necessary?
- T.M., via e-mail
DEAR READER: Keeping utility bills is a good way for you to track monthly spending and consumption. Saving statements for a year or so is a good way to compare usage from the previous years. But you don’t have to keep them at all. Saving the utility bills until the payment has cleared is a good idea in case of a dispute. Most utility companies keep this information for about a year.
Some people use spreadsheets to record utility payments and usage. If you are planning to sell your home, a year or more of these records might be helpful, as it shows your energy consumption.
If you work out of your home, you may need the utility bills for tax purposes.
DEAR HELOISE: Batteries in my camera, flashlight, toys and such used to wear out in no time. Now when I finish using such items, I simply open them up so the battery is not making contact. When I start to use something, I close it back up and have power. The batteries last and last.
- Elizabeth in San Angelo, Texas
DEAR READER: A leading battery manufacturer agreed. If you are storing your device for a long period of time, this is helpful.
DEAR HELOISE: I agree with Joyce (a reader commenting on businesses using only .com information for advertising - Heloise) that a lot of people do not have computers for accessing special offers.
Please also inform the business community that not everyone has “texting” capability. I have a cell phone for emergency purposes only and cannot justify the cost of the online and texting support on it. This leaves me “out in the cold.” - Patty, via e-mail Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail
Style, Pages 24 on 02/22/2011