Dear Heloise: In my work, I do a lot of walking tours on BRIGHT, SUNNY DAYS, showing people the sights of my city. Needless to say, I wear protective items to keep sunburn at bay, but so many of the tourists don’t. If you are going outside, you’ll need the following items:

• Sunglasses: Protect your eyes! The sunglasses should block out UVA and UVB rays.

• Sunscreen: You’ll need an SPF of at least 15, but an SPF of 30 is better. Reapply every two hours, and don’t forget the back of your neck.

• Sun-protection clothing: This includes a hat, even if you don’t like wearing one. Get one with a full brim. You’ll still need sunscreen.

• If at all possible, take along a bottle or handheld container of water. I have one that clips onto my belt. 

- Cindy A. in San Antonio

Go away from the blue light

Dear Readers: Looking at the BRIGHT LIGHT on your phone, or reading a book on your tablet or electronic reader at bedtime, can disrupt your natural sleep/wake cycle -- your circadian rhythm. Experts agree that the blue light from these devices can block your body’s ability to produce melatonin, a hormone that tells your body when it’s time to go to sleep. How to strike a balance between staying up to date and not turning in late? Keep your gadgets about 14 inches from your eyes, lower the brightness setting on your device and put down these devices one hour before bed. - Heloise

THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE ...

Dear Heloise: I have a complaint about sales that require a person to buy two items to get 50% off the second item. It’s used by drugstores with creams, lotions and personal/beauty supplies. Some things on sale are quite expensive for one. 

Yes, it’s a bargain if one has both the money and the space to store extras. However, someone on a fixed income or in a small residence cannot take advantage. Why not simply offer 25% off each? Then all of the potential customers can participate in the sale. - Alexandria, via email

Yep. Think about it: You’re not saving half on anything - you’re saving 25% on each, but you have to buy two! I agree; it’s misleading and confusing. People get excited when they see “SAVE 50%.” But that’s not what’s happening. - Heloise

CORK IT

Dear Heloise: If a piece of cork winds up in my guest’s glass of wine, I don’t use my finger to fish it out - that’s a no-no. I use a straw instead. I put the straw over the floating cork and cover the end with my finger. The piece lifts out cleanly. - Gary T. in New York

WORD FOR WORD

Dear Heloise: When I hear or read a word I don’t know, I grab my phone and look it up. This has helped me learn many words and forms of words: For example, “strew” means to scatter. I’ve heard of trash strewn over the lawn, but I hadn’t heard the word as an action verb. - Collin R., age 11, Orlando, Fla.

Protect your ID and your money

Dear Readers: Want to avoid SCAMMERS? Would you like to protect your identity and money? Here are a few suggestions from AARP:

• Freeze your credit report. You can always unfreeze your report, but this is how scammers get a lot of information about you. The credit reporting bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

• Invest in a good shredder. Shred all bills and all financial documents. Keep scammers from fishing information out of your trash.

• Do not give out your Social Security number. Places like a doctor’s office don’t need your Social Security number, no matter what they say.

• Don’t answer phone calls from numbers you don’t know, and hang up on all robocalls. Don’t give out any information. Ever.

• Stop entering sweepstakes or anything for which there is a drawing. You don’t know who is looking at your information. 

- Heloise

IT’S IN THE BAG

Dear Heloise: I ripen bananas, tomatoes and peaches in a paper bag on the kitchen counter. This traps the natural ethylene gases that many fruits release, and that speeds up the ripening process. - Carrie W. in Ohio

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my (c)2019 by King Features Syndicate Inc.