Dear Heloise: Driving is my primary source of transportation. Hence, I have to fill up my tank with gas on a regular basis. To ensure that I never get stuck with an empty tank, I make a plan to visit the gas station as soon as the gas meter shows a quarter of a tank of fuel remaining. This scheduling also prevents me from visiting the gas station often and wasting valuable gas on unnecessary miles. — Abigail, in Southern California

COFFEE ICE CREAM

Dear Heloise: Like you, coffee ice cream is my favorite ice cream. When I was young and single in Los Angeles, I lived with an elderly woman. The first thing she did was take me to an ice cream shop on Wilshire Boulevard, and we had “coffee” ice cream. She continued to keep it in the freezer for my benefit. I’m not a coffee drinker, so people can’t understand why coffee is my favorite. But it’s yummy!

I’ve been reading your column for years, and I enjoy all your good advice. I am now 89 and will be 90 in November. I expect to have coffee ice cream for dessert to go with my carrot cake that I plan to bake from scratch! Yum! — Nickie Clawson, Lancaster, California

STORING KEYS IN THE ELECTRIC BOX

Dear Heloise: As a reader suggested, I would never want a key “hidden” anywhere around the yard. Our main electric box is mounted on the outside of our home. It contains all the circuit breakers, as well as the main power switch. It is equipped with a place for a lock, but I notice that few people lock them. Why would you want to leave these switches accessible to any bad guy?

I have a spare house key mounted inside the box with Velcro. Then I lock the electric box with a combination lock. I use a combo that I’ve used for years and won’t forget, or you could purchase one that you can code yourself. My key is much more secure, and if I am away and need to let someone else have access, I can just give them the combo. — K.G., Prescott, Arizona

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Dear Heloise: Dress for Success is another organization that should be considered for donations of professional work clothes, including shoes and accessories. Its mission is to help women in need dress for job interviews. — Brenda G. Hatfield, Gonzales, Louisiana

FERAL, HUNGRY CATS

Dear Heloise: Three families in my neighborhood are feeding about a dozen cats that live outside. I believe the cats have been “fixed,” as I don’t see kittens around, but it’s not enough to protect the birds.

Feral cats are the No. 1 killer of birds. When the cats hear the squawking baby birds, it’s easy for them to climb up to the nests and kill the young birds. When we moved into this neighborhood a few years ago, we had a backyard full of a wide variety of birds that we fed and enjoyed. One species of birds remains, and we’re down to only two hummingbirds.

Please keep your cats indoors. Some birds are becoming extinct. — Susan S., Torrance, California

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.