Dear Heloise: I plan to buy an electric car later this year, but I will need a place to charge my car. Instead of using a public charging station, I’d rather have a charging station installed in my garage. How do I go about getting someone to do this installment? — Jason R., Huntington Beach, California

Jason, first, you will need a licensed electrician who has installed a charging station before and knows what you’ll need. A regular plug is not designed for this type of work. You’ll need a heavy-duty outlet that can handle the required voltage for an electric car.

You can probably find someone who can do this kind of work online or by calling a company that installs electric car stations. — Heloise

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SPARE TIRES

Dear Heloise: I was unhappy to discover that new cars do not come with a spare tire. What should I do if I get a flat tire? — Delores S., Gary, Indiana

Delores, some companies supply a driver with a tire-repair kit instead of a spare tire. If you didn’t get one, you can buy one online or at an automotive store. You can also purchase a “donut tire.” When buying a new car in the future, ask about getting a spare tire. If not, be sure you have towing insurance because you might need it. — Heloise

FINNANCIAL APP SAFETY

Dear Heloise: I worry about someone getting my financial information from my phone. I’ve been told it’s easy to do, and I need to know what I can do to avoid being a victim of a thief. — Cassandra K., Holland, Michigan

Cassandra, first, make certain that you are always signed out of all your financial and banking apps. Be sure to use a PIN on all financial apps, and it’s best to change your passwords and PIN every six months, or annually. And never hand out financial information, passwords or your PIN to anyone. This the best way to protect yourself at present. — Heloise

SPAM CALLS

Dear Heloise: I get calls at all the worst moments. I hate to get calls in business meetings, and my boss gives me the worst look when it interrupts a meeting. Sadly, most of the calls are spam calls.

I can’t turn it off because my son has serious health issues, my father has heart problems, and my mother is on an oxygen concentrator. I never know when an emergency will crop up, so that’s why I need to keep my phone on. But what can I do to filter out spam calls? — Victoria D., Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Victoria, in your phone’s contact list, make sure you have all of your family’s and friends’ contact information. Also, put in the necessary doctors’ information and any other important numbers you might need to hear from.

After that, go into your cellphone’s settings and look for “silence unknown calls.” Those pesky spam calls will be sent directly to your voicemail without ringing you. — Heloise

WATER CONSERVATION

Dear Readers: If your city requires water conservation, water your lawn and flowers after the sun sets. Your grass and shrubs will soak up the water before the heat of the next day and will help keep your plants alive. — Heloise