DEAR HELOISE: For the past 50 years, I have kept pairs of socks together by using safety pins. I don’t know where I read this tip. It could have been in a “Hints From Heloise” column since I have been a Heloise follower since forever.

• Annette H., via email

Annette, yes, this is an old Heloise trick, and many have told me that it was a simple but very effective method to keep their socks from getting lost. I’m glad to know that it’s still being used.

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: Several years ago, I donated some inherited money to several charities, choosing ones that I thought my relative would have supported. Now my mailbox is flooded daily with requests for more donations, as my information was sold or shared between organizations.

You recently published a hint regarding Charity Navigator’s reviews. They also offer a giving basket! Donations can be made to your chosen charities, and you can choose to withhold your private information this way.

• Nell M., via email

Nell, so many of my readers say the same thing about suddenly getting requests for help from various charities after making one donation. Just pick the ones you want and ignore the others. Our wallets can only stretch so far.

• Heloise

DEAR HELOISE: Why are so many jobs disappearing? I went to a local car wash yesterday, and for $25, they have large rollers that clean the exterior of the car. But they have stopped cleaning the interior! There were no attendants who hopped inside to wipe down the interior.

This self-serve service is getting out of hand. I don’t mind paying a little extra to have people do a simple job, but all the places have done away with people who did a decent job for a fairly small wage.

• Lindsey M., in California

Lindsey, it’s a new world. The newspaper boys are gone, self-serve restaurants are springing up everywhere, and finding a salesperson in a department store can be difficult. The cost of doing business has increased dramatically and has forced business owners to cut expenses where they can. Change is inevitable, but we’ll all adapt eventually.

• Heloise

Heloise@Heloise.com