DEAR HELOISE: This is for anyone who uses a cab while on vacation or in an unfamiliar city. Most cellphones have camera capabilities. Take a few seconds before you get into your cab to snap a picture of the outside of the cab. It usually shows the name of the company, telephone number and the actual cab number.

Should you lose or forget something in the cab, you now have the information to hopefully recover your items. Later, just delete the picture from your phone.

– Sandra G., Bloomfield, Ind.

DEAR SANDRA: Sandra, you're brilliant! Jumping in and out of cabs makes it too easy to lose something.

DEAR HELOISE: While I was pregnant, I received many baby-formula cans and samples in the mail. I had decided to breast-feed and was puzzled with what to do with the formula. I didn't have friends or relatives who might have been able to use it.

I called a women's shelter. People there were very helpful and grateful. They said they would take the cans and samples because they were always in need. I ended up gathering other baby items I no longer needed and added them to my donation as well.

– Shawna in San Antonio

DEAR READERS: Do you know the best way to fold a fitted sheet? Which of these do you think is the Heloise way?

• Roll it into a ball.

• Stuff it into the linen closet.

• Only have one set of sheets so you don't have to worry about folding them.

The answer is: none of the above. Here's how to get it done in no time: Place one of the corners, wrong side out, over your hand. Then take the bottom corner of the same side of the sheet and place it, right side out, over the same hand. Do the same thing with the other two corners, only place them over your other hand. Then each fist will be covered with two corners, and the sheet will be folded in half. Move the sheet so that one hand has all four corners. Smooth out any wrinkles and continue folding the sheet.

DEAR HELOISE: My kids have never been picky eaters, and I think I know part of the reason. I've always told them, "Don't say 'ewww' until you chew." They have to take at least one bite of a new food before they decide they don't like it.

My kids like lots of different foods, and I credit my little saying.

– Laura In Texas

DEAR HELOISE: I had no place left to store my comforter – my closet shelves were full. I finally used one of my suitcases to store it in. Works out great!

– D. King, Springfield, Ill.

DEAR HELOISE: For anyone who rents a car, be sure to check the roof of the vehicle, even if the agent checking it out to you does not. I recently rented a car and did not think to check the roof, and the agent did not check it either.

When the vehicle was returned, the agent found damage, which was a shock to me. I parked away from all other vehicles while out and about, and at home kept it parked in my enclosed garage and never parked it near any trees or anything that could have come in contact with the roof.

I didn't take the rental company's insurance (which I regret), so now I will either have to allow it to file against my insurance or pay out of my pocket. I was sent a bill for more than $1,000.

– Ginger P., via email

DEAR HELOISE: In regard to JoAnne in Tupelo, Miss. (Heloise here: The reader liked the salespeople to check on her frequently while trying on clothes), certainly saying "Thank you" is a step one should take for a salesperson giving excellent service. However, it seems incomplete.

If you are very impressed with the service by an employee, you should speak to the owner or manager. A manager needs to know which employees are making customers happy.

When it comes time to promote someone or lay off someone, it will help with the decision. It is possible the salesperson could get a raise in pay if you speak up. At the very least, you could help the salesperson gain favor with the boss.

– Ron, via email

DEAR RON: How right you are! And don't forget service employees at hotels and motels.

DEAR HELOISE: I take a small address book and write in my computer passwords alphabetically by company. So, for instance, my password to log into www.washingtonpost.com would be under "W." As I accumulate more and more passwords, this saves me so much time!

– Maria O., Chevy Chase, Md.

DEAR HELOISE: My husband and I get several newspapers every day, but we don't necessarily read them at the same time.

I usually read them first, so when I have finished, in the upper right-hand corner on the front page, with marker, I put an "X" in a circle. Then he knows that when he is finished with them, they are ready to be recycled. This is really helpful to us, especially if the newspapers accumulate when we've been away for a couple of days or we've been busy.

– Carol From Indiana

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Send a great hint to Heloise, P.O. 79500, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or email it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

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