DEAR HELOISE: Once again, I shopped at a large, well-known retail store that I frequent at least once a week. Once again, as I was leaving and casually looking over my receipt as I walked out, I noticed I was charged twice for an item I purchased. I bought one large package of paper towels, but I was charged for two, which was a $15 overcharge!
Cashiers typically cannot refund money, so I then have to walk to customer service and wait in yet another line to get the overcharge returned. This has happened several times at different stores, so I am now very diligent about checking the receipt before I leave. My hint is to check all receipts before leaving a store or parking lot!
-- Kelly L., via email
DEAR READER: Kelly, this is a good reminder to stay alert. Mistakes happen, but as a consumer, we have to keep track of our own money and purchases (or nonpurchases).
DEAR HELOISE: I discovered that the perfect tool for cleaning out a pumpkin is the flat, circular lid that fits inside a canning-jar ring. The flat lid fits beautifully to the concave interior of the pumpkin and makes for very clean and easy scraping.
-- Lorayne B.,
Lexington, Ky.
DEAR HELOISE: I recently finished redecorating my home and found myself faced with several gallons of partially filled cans of paint. I came up with the hint of buying a dozen pint-size glass canning jars and lids. I filled them with the various paints and labeled each one as to which room it was for and if it was flat or semi-gloss paint. I stored them in a cool, dark closet, and I have just enough to use for touch-ups if I ever need it. I then disposed of the big, messy cans at a proper disposal site. My daughter calls this one of "Mom's humdinger ideas."
-- Lynn C.,
Falls Church, Va.
DEAR HELOISE: Because of arthritis I have trouble opening pull-tab cans. I have found that bending up the tab starts a small opening, and then the tip of a spoon can pry the lid open enough to make popping it off easy.
Also, when faced with a plastic lid attached at several points to a plastic ring around the neck of a jar, I use a nut pick to pop all of the connections. The lid then comes off very easily.
-- Marilyn H., California
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
Style on 10/18/2016