Dear Heloise: I am an older person who recently received a couple of gift cards for Christmas, but I don’t know what their amounts are. Please inform your readers to write the dollar amount on the cards with a marker. I now have to get a friend to go online and determine what the amount is so that I know what I can purchase in the future. Not all of us seniors are computer-savvy. — G.R., in Indiana

EASY CABBAGE-CUTTING

Dear Heloise: I recently discovered how much easier it is to prepare cabbage if it’s sliced with an electric knife! For years, I used a hand knife, but since I always buy the biggest head of cabbage I see, I discovered that it’s much less difficult to cut it with an electric knife!

As we age, our strength diminishes, so a little extra help is always welcome. — B.H., via email

REPURPOSE ­HOLIDAY CARDS

Dear Heloise: I reuse any holiday cards I receive after the season is over. Those colorful or glittery front faces make great gift tags! Here’s what I do:

First, I detach the beautiful front face of the card and cut it into strips or squares. As long as there isn’t any writing on the card, you can reuse those “tags” for future gifts! Best regards. — P.W., via email

GARAGE SALE TIPS

Dear Heloise: I want to have a garage sale, but I haven’t done one before. What should I know and do to make it successful? — M.R., in Nebraska

M.R., follow these steps:

— Clean everything you plan to sell and firmly attach a sticker with a price on it to each item.

— Have lots of boxes, bags, newspaper and packing material.

— Have plenty of $1 bills and change.

— Have one person who is in charge of the cashbox. You’ll probably need another two or three friends who are willing to help, but the person with the cashbox should never leave it unattended.

— As a security precaution, lock the doors to your home, and don’t allow anyone to enter the house to use your bathroom or try on clothing. Make no exceptions.

— Be prepared to bargain with people over prices. An item is only worth what someone will pay for it. — Heloise

AIRPLANE MANNERS

Dear Heloise: I work for a major airline, and I have a few hints for your readers on how to avoid arguments while they’re in-flight:

— Keep your feet off someone else’s armrest, and do not remove your shoes and socks while in-flight. The carpets on planes aren’t as clean as the ones at home.

— Got long hair? Don’t flip your hair over the back of your seat. No one wants another person’s hair hanging in front of them or dangling above their food. I don’t care how clean your hair is; it’s unsanitary.

— Please ask the person behind you if it’s OK to recline your seat a little before you relax completely.

— Lastly, please don’t fight with other passengers or the flight crew. We just follow the rules; we don’t make them. — W.W.W., via email

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.