DEAR HELOISE: A tip for seniors on Medicare if you are traveling to a foreign country: Buy trip health insurance. Medicare does not cover you outside the U.S. We learned the hard way.
-- Betty H. in Arkansas
DEAR READER: Betty, this probably is news to many of my readers. There are a few exceptions, one being if you are in the U.S. but the closest hospital is one outside the U.S., you are probably covered. For example, if you are living next to the Canadian or Mexican border, or traveling through Canada from Alaska and the closest hospital is in Canada. This is a simple, quick overview.
P.S.: Do check any health insurance when going out of the U.S.
DEAR READERS: Here is a hint I use all the time: Most manuals we get that come with a new item often are in other languages, too. To save space, I tear off the pages I can't read.
DEAR HELOISE: I know there is a combination of vinegar and something to clean toilets. I am looking for a non-chemical way. Thanks.
-- Ruth M., Omaha, Neb.
DEAR READER: Ruth, it's as simple as just pouring several glugs (maybe 2-3 cups) of vinegar into the bowl. Let sit for about 10 minutes, then scrub and flush.
If you want to add some cleaning oomph, sprinkle in a cup or so of baking or washing soda. The powder acts like a scrubber, but it will not hurt the finish or scratch the porcelain. Safe, cheap and a friend to Mother Earth.
DEAR HELOISE: I scan mementos into my computer. Some are bulky, but most are invitations, thank-you letters, birth/marriage announcements, etc. I put them onto my flash drive and plug it into my digital frame. Lovely memories play on a side table, kitchen counter or wherever I place the frame. I keep two digital frames just for this. This way, I can discard the mementos themselves. This reduces clutter and storage significantly.
-- Marie M., Bend, Ore.
DEAR READER: Don't you love some of the new techno gadgets? Readers, a digital frame is a "frame" that has a screen display, and the photos rotate through and start over. Rather like looking at a photo album, but you don't have to turn pages, and the photos won't fade. Super!
DEAR HELOISE: My dress shoes were scuffed, and I had no polish, so I sprayed them with foam-type furniture polish and wiped it off. The result was a nice, bright shine.
-- Ronald N.,
Alexandria, Va.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
MovieStyle on 10/31/2014