Dear Heloise: Like Sally O. in Los Angeles, our late mother was generous; therefore, she received many mail solicitations daily. My sister got the idea for Mom to put all the requests in a special basket, and at the end of the year, she could sort through it and donate to the groups that she cared about the most. This kept her in control of her giving plan, when so many other things in the final years of her life were out of her control.

P.S. Thank you for the many years of knowledge and entertainment that you and your mother have given me and my own mother. — Julie, Helotes, Texas

PACKING TAPE STRUGGLES

Dear Heloise: Here’s a hint for anyone who has ever struggled with packing tape or trying to find the end of the tape every time you use it:

Place a coin under the end of the tape. Once you’ve finished pulling the tape over what you want to seal, move the coin to the new end before cutting the tape. This eliminates the need for heavy, sharp tape dispensers, as long as you have a knife or a pair of scissors handy.

Store the tape with the coin attached so that it’s ready to go the next time you need it. — Dorothy Mazeau, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

OPENING FLIP-TOP LIDS

Dear Heloise: As a senior, I found an easy way to open the flip lid on a tube of toothpaste. It was difficult using my fingers, so I found that if I place the handle of my toothbrush sideways under the lip of the lid, it can be pushed open very easily. — Hugs from Sharon, in Middletown, Ohio

FAVORITE PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH

Dear Heloise: You invited readers to submit their favorite peanut butter sandwich that is different from the norm, or even wild. Here’s mine: peanut butter, mayonnaise and pickles.

I grew up in a large family. When I was young, I decided to learn to like a dish that my siblings wouldn’t compete for at mealtimes, so I invented this combo, which I still make and enjoy today! — Daniel Avila, Fort Wayne, Indiana

DIY BREAD CRUMBS

Dear Heloise: I wanted some bread crumbs to coat a piece of flounder to bake, but I didn’t have any. However, I did have some garlic-flavored croutons for salads. I put a few in a plastic bag and hit the bag with a hammer until I had crumbs. Then I mixed a bit of flour with the crumbs and coated the fish. The added garlic made it tastier. — Carolyn M., Canaan, Connecticut

WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE LOGS

Dear Readers: If you have a wood-burning fireplace, store the logs you are going to use outside and away from your home. Don’t bring the logs inside until you are ready to start a fire because bugs may be living under the stacks. Also, store logs off the ground and keep them in a dry bin or under a cover. — Heloise

REUSING ITEMS

Dear Heloise: I love your column! Here are a few hints:

I have an empty tissue box on top of my dryer that I use for lint, buttons, coins, and anything else that I might have missed. Very convenient!

Also, I empty my coffee grounds into the plastic bag that my newspaper comes in. Works for me! — A Reader, via email

Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.