Kids clip coupons for family

Dear Heloise: We used to never get to the store with our coupons, so we adopted an incentive system for our children. We split the coupon savings 50-50 with our children for any coupons we use. They must clip and save the coupons and bring them along to the grocery store. The benefits include our money savings and our children making money, learning to be responsible, looking for a value, being occupied while at the store and saving money for their own use. — Kent and Gay in Missouri

A good hint for teaching your children about saving money!

— Heloise

Dear Heloise: I have found wide rubber bands very useful (the kind you find wrapped around broccoli stalks). One or two will make an excellent nonslip grab ring for a jar that is difficult to open; just stretch them around the edge of the lid and twist it. It really works! But make sure your hands are dry.

My second hint is one I just discovered. The eraser on a pencil was hard and shiny and wouldn't erase, so I wrapped it in a wide rubber band, and it worked perfectly. I've left it on the pencil.

The third hint is to use rubber bands as bookmarks; a long, thin one wrapped around pages from top to bottom doesn't leave a mark and can't drop out. — Judy G. in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada

Dear Heloise: I found a good use for those clear, thick plastic bags (with zippers) that comforters and blankets are sold in. I use mine to store packaging materials. Whenever I get a padded envelope, I save it in my comforter bag and reuse it the next time I need one. I simply put a new label on it and seal it with packaging tape. This helps the environment in two ways: The plastic bag doesn't end up in the landfill, and neither does an envelope that can be reused. — Elke in California

Dear Heloise: When I get a new garment with extra buttons, before wearing, I stitch the buttons onto an inner seam. When I lose a button, I have a replacement right in the garment. Also, when I pass on the garment, the new owner has the buttons. — W.U. from Florida

Dear Heloise: I read in your column a hint about removing scuff marks with a tennis ball. All you really need to do on flooring (especially kitchen flooring) is put on a light-colored pair of rubber-soled shoes, step on the scuff mark and twirl — magic, it's gone! Actually, most leather soles work, too. — Maureen Denton, Auburn, Calif.

Dear Heloise: The plastic sleeve used to protect our daily newspaper makes an excellent trash receptacle for use in both the home and the car. Use and recycle an item that is delivered free to our homes daily. — Arnold in Texas

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column. © King Features Syndicate Inc.