Now here’s a tip

•”When we take the kids to the beach, we always bring a few large umbrellas for shade. We decided to use a little fabric paint to personalize them. We made the designs really bold, so you can tell where we are from quite a distance away. It’s easier to locate the ‘home base’ on a crowded beach.” — I.C. in Florida

•Cut old pantyhose into strips to use for bundling newspapers, tying up plants, closing up bags of chips, etc.

•”When you have a family party or get-together, leave a few disposable cameras around and encourage family or guests to take pictures. I love taking them to the store and seeing what was going on when I wasn’t around. The shots are usually really great, and it’s a wonderful surprise.” — B.R. in Canada

•What’s the best strategy for combating junk mail? A two-part approach: First, make sure you are opted out of mailings from your current accounts, and secondly, don’t bring it in the house to begin with. Keep a trash can (even better, a shredder) in your garage to throw away junk offers immediately.