Now here’s a tip

• “When I am traveling in my car, before starting the engine I set up my cell phone to receive calls. I open it up and place it on the dash (I have one of those attached pads so it will not slide around). This way, I can just push one button to receive a speakerphone call. And I always let the caller know I am in my car.” — X.T. in Montana

• Here’s a tip straight from an air-conditioner repairman: When you write your check for your mortgage or rent, clean or change your air filter. You have to do one or the other every month, so it’s a great reminder.

• When covering your outdoor plants for a frost or freeze, use sheets or light blankets, not plastic tarps. Moisture can condense on the underside of the tarp and harm your plants.

• “To keep a pen handy but out of the way, I Velcro-ed it to the underside of the lip of my kitchen counter. It’s there, just not noticeable. I can pull it out with ease and stick it back just as easily. It is right below where my phone is on the wall, so I never have to scramble for a pen.” — C.C. in Texas

• “I keep a yearly calendar on the inside of the door to my pantry. Everyone in the family marks his or her important dates on it, and since it is the plastic kind with an erasable surface, we can write other notes too.” — I.D. in Missouri

• For a wonderful and relaxing bath, add four tablespoons of Epsom salts and several drops of vanilla extract. Stir and soak.