Helpful Hints

DEAR READERS: I make Heloise Trail Mix and save a lot of money, as well as use up the last of certain foods. Nuts and dried fruit are the base, then I add whatever may be in the kitchen. Some commercial mixes can be healthy, some not so healthy (lots of candy, other sweets or salt) and very expensive.

The "basic" mix is low-sugar cereal, broken pretzels, popcorn and crackers. Then add the last of the bag of various chips and one or two crumbled-up cookies.

Nuts, you ask? Buying nuts in bulk -- almonds, peanuts, pecans and hazelnuts -- will save a lot of money.

Dried fruit, such as cranberries, raisins, apricots, etc., adds a touch of sweetness. I cut these into smaller bite-size pieces to spread the flavor.

Broken pieces of chocolate, candy or mints get added. Sometimes I crush up peppermint or butterscotch candies with a hammer and sprinkle the "dust" into the container.

I scoop a cup or two into small plastic zip bags and am ready to hit the road. Cheaper, easy to carry and won't spoil!

DEAR HELOISE: Recently, I took my grandchildren to a roller-skating rink. It was so fun to show the kiddos something my husband and I used to go to almost every weekend. Your readers might consider this as a fairly inexpensive outing.

-- Joan in Waco, Texas

DEAR READER: Joan, talk about a "flashback" memory for me -- a fun family outing. If someone doesn't skate, they still can watch the hilarity.

DEAR READERS: Chammy, our adopted silky wheaten terrier, can be pretty "ruff" on her stuffed toys. She pulls stuffing out piece by piece and leaves puffs of white all over the floor. No, she does not chew or swallow it -- just spits it out for me to pick up.

Our challenge? Cham "unstuffing" and me restuffing the toys. I put small plastic grocery bags (tied in knots), along with the stuffing, back into her toy. I stitch the areas she tore open with dental floss. It takes her a little longer to get inside.

DEAR HELOSIE: I discovered this by accident as I was washing and drying a winter coat. When I put it on, it was still warm. It felt so good, similar to the heated blankets they give you in the hospital.

On cold days when we are going out, I put our coats and knit hats in the dryer for about five minutes. They feel so good.

-- Barbara in Marietta, Ohio

Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email

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HomeStyle on 02/28/2015

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