Hints From Heloise

Sun., Oct. 20, 1996

King Features Syndicate

Dear Heloise: There have been some good hints regarding record keeping in your column previously, but I will add mine for what it’s worth.

When my husband and I got married 32 years ago, he had a business and I was a secretary at a nearby school. I learned enough about the business to be informed and did part of the book work. I had to keep a very tight budget during those years.

Upon my husband’s retirement, I found myself still on a budget (by habit) with my husband deferring all financial matters to me. However, I felt that in case I became ill or died, he would not know what to do with the household account.

I set up files with all pertinent information, including our decisions as to our care in case of terminal illness, etc., power of attorney for our son in case of an accident (which we had) or death. We notified our son and gave him a set of these papers and keys for the car, home and lockbox. - Elsa Reichert, Powell, Wyo.

Record keeping is so important! Making decisions in the midst of a tragedy is difficult, especially when no one has been informed of your wishes. - Heloise

Dear Heloise: Here is a travel tip. Postcards are fun to receive. To save time, ask family members to give you a few of their return-address labels. When traveling, all you have to do is stick one on your card, jot a few lines and mail.

Quick and easy, which means you will take the time to do it, and you won’t have to drag the address book along on your trip. - Shirley Divelbliss, Hagerstown, Md.

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