Hints From Heloise

Dear Heloise: Many small businesses upgrade their fax machines and sell the old ones. I bought a used (but adequate for my uses) fax machine for $50. Although my computer has a fax/modem, the computer must be on in order to receive faxes. With the used fax machine, I can receive faxes 24 hours a day without the computer being on. My family and friends fax during off-peak hours. Also, if there’s a choice of “U.S. snail mail” or faxing a one- or two-page letter, faxing is cheaper than a 32-cent stamp, 2-cent envelope and 2 to 4 cents’ worth of paper. - Peter Loehr, Hudson, Ohio

Dear Heloise: When frying, place an aluminum pie pan upside down on the burners, to avoid spattering grease on unused burners. The throwaway pie pans are handy for this. - Mary Collins, Fort Worth, Texas

Dear Heloise: I read in one of your columns about kitchen chair pads slipping and I took her advice and now my chair pads are staying put. Thanks to her and you. - Eleanor Palumbo, Rochester, N.Y.