Now Here’s a Tip: Bright ideas you can use

“ For a little extra visibility in the basement, try applying glow-in-the-dark or reflective tape on the edges of the stairs.

“ Peppermint is a wonderful cure for indigestion. To make a quick peppermint tea, use a rolling pin to smash three to four peppermint candies. Add them to a glass of water and microwave for a minute and a half. Stir to melt the candies completely, and drink slowly. — G.L. in California

“ Many public libraries are offering services that you’d never expect. Some libraries will let you reserve books online, renew your due date or even have books delivered to your home. Some have regular seminars on all kinds of topics. Check out your public library today!

“ If you can print your boarding pass online, do it! It saved us close to half an hour the last time we flew, and with security lines being as long as they are, it’s time we needed to get to the terminal. — I.B. in South Carolina

“ It pays to shop around for prescription drugs. If you don’t have the benefit of a mail-away service (by far the best deal going), make sure you call around for prices. The price of prescriptions varies from pharmacy to pharmacy, day to day, drug to drug. Always shop around, since you never know who will have the best deal. — T.L. in Illinois

(A word of caution: Maintain a list of all drugs taken and give a copy to each pharmacist so he or she can check for interactions. Also, if you have multiple or complicated medical issues, it might be to your benefit to patronize a single pharmacy. — JoAnn)