Dear Heloise: It’s time to think about Christmas cards. I don’t send many, but I buy cards from UNICEF and museum gift shops. The money goes to these organizations to use as they see fit. They all have distinctive gifts like scarves and jewelry, too. Check them out online. Items come in nice gift boxes with the organization’s logos. — Carolyn McDonough, in Canaan, Connecticut

DON’T REUSE

MASCARA

Dear Heloise: Using old mascara is not a safe idea. Your mascara brush can redeposit bacteria from your eyelashes back into the tube, where it can grow in the warm, moist environment. Your mascara should be discarded at regular intervals and replaced with a new tube.

As an added precaution, always wash your eyes first, including your eyelashes, before you apply your fresh mascara. This way, it goes on sanitary eyelashes without any bacteria that could be picked up during the day. This is a good practice that can perhaps avoid infections or eye irritation. — Joan Ferris, via email

PAINT TOUCH-UPS

Dear Heloise: In a mason jar, I put a sample of paint from the large bucket for our various rooms and label it with the room it goes to. It’s easy to grab for small touch-ups. — Zeke Carlson, via email

SUN TEA SAFETY CHANGES

Dear Heloise: According to the Centers for Disease Control, using the sun to brew tea can facilitate the growth of bacteria. The sun can heat tea to about 130 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not nearly hot enough to kill the bacteria in the water or tea itself. The proper heating temperature to kill such bacteria is 195 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 3-5 minutes. — Judith Seifert, via email

SAVING ON

WRAPPING PAPER

Dear Heloise: Instead of buying a bunch of wrapping paper and ribbons for this upcoming Christmas/ Hanukkah, just buy a big roll of brown craft paper instead. Last year, I had my four kids roll it out and draw pictures of things that remind them of Christmas (my side of the family) and Hanukkah (my husband’s side). I told them we would use their artwork as wrapping paper.

I not only saved a bundle of money, but it gave them the opportunity to express what they felt the holidays were all about. It wasn’t just about gift-giving. My twins are only 8 years old, but they asked if we could do this every year. — N.E., in Utah