Hints From Heloise: Designate one credit card just for automatic payments

DEAR HELOISE: I recently lost a credit card, and I closed the account. This card had several prearranged payments automatically deducted each month. I had to call each company and advise it of the new credit-card number, which is quite time-consuming.

To avoid this hassle in the future, I have designated a specific credit card to be used solely for automatic payments, and I leave it at home in a secure place.

DEAR GLORIA: I have a card that I use only for online purchases. Your hint is a good one. Keep another card to use only for automatic payments, and don’t carry it with you.

DEAR HELOISE: After fumbling around on my key fob for the store scan tag again (Heloise here: the little plastic, key-chain-size cards for customer rewards or loyalty programs), I unloaded the key ring and loaded all the tags facing the same direction and in alphabetical order. So much easier now to find the correct store’s tag!

DEAR HELOISE: We get address labels from a variety of organizations. I cut off the images, as appropriate, to use as stickers for memory-verse charts for my Sunday school class. I have an envelope for each season and some holidays, which makes it fun for the kids. Teachers also can do this as recognition stickers for their kids.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Hints From Heloise: Designate one credit card just for automatic payments."