Virtual credit card offered
Dear Heloise: My credit-card bank offers its customers a “VIRTUAL CREDIT CARD” (VCC) for use in online purchases (for now, only online purchases are included in the setup). It virtually eliminates anyone hacking onto an online site and getting your credit-card information. It’s so simple.
You can download the VCC software from the bank’s secure site right onto your computer. Then, when you go online to make a purchase, you can generate a VCC for that purchase only. The bank issues you a VCC for that specific purchase, and even if the VCC is hacked, it cannot be used for anything else.
Your readers would be wise to check with their bank to see if this service is offered. — Len D. in New Hampshire
A safe way to shop online. When I first started shopping on the Web, I got a separate credit card with a different variation of my name. I use this card ONLY for online shopping, so if something does happen, it is not tied to any other credit cards. — Heloise
DETANGLED CHAIN
Dear Heloise: After taking a trip with my daughter, I pulled my jewelry from the bag it was in and found a tangled mess of chains. If I pulled, the chains became more tightly knotted. I had no way of separating them, until my daughter said I should try making the chains slide more easily by using baby powder. After a little loosening and pulling the chains apart with a pin, they were good as new! — Danielle in Utah
GIFT GIVING
Dear Heloise: This is my hint for gift giving for any occasion: I enclose the birthday, wedding card, etc., in the gift bag or wrapped box. On the back of the card, I list the gift, or gifts, and place my address label. This way, the card will not get lost, and the celebrant will have a record of the gift and an address for a thank-you card. — Carole in New Jersey
EXTRA TOMATOES
Dear Heloise: Don’t buy a lot of tomato plants at the beginning of the season. I buy a four-pack or six-pack of tomato plants and then, as they grow “suckers,” I pinch them off. I then root them in a small glass of water, or just stick them in the ground if it is moist enough. Keep them watered if just stuck in the ground, being sure not to bruise the stem. They will make late tomatoes. — J.C. in Kentucky
CORNY CARDS
Dear Readers: Is your favorite deck of cards getting grimy? Clean the playing cards by placing them in a plastic bag with a scoop or two of cornstarch or baking soda. Shake it up for a minute or two. Now remove the cards and wipe off the powder. Degrimed in no time! This also is a great way to clean up cards from board games and other card games your kids may enjoy playing. — Heloise