Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: My son often gives me a “gift card” to a store where I shop. Before I use the card, I stick a piece of write-on clear tape on the back of it. When I don’t spend the card’s full value, I write the remaining value on the tape. This way I always know how much is left to use on the card. It is quite helpful to me, and others have applauded the idea as clever. - Rose Harshbarger, Rochester, N.Y.

I applaud you and thank you for writing. This would work well for video-rental gift cards or prepaid long-distance telephone cards, too. - Heloise 3 xxxx