DEAR HELOISE: I receive magnetic calendars from charities. After the year has ended, I carefully remove the front picture, leaving the paper backing. I then glue on school pictures of my grandchildren. After the glue dries, I cut out each picture and have fridge magnets of their smiling faces. I read your column in the Union Leader.

• Frances R., in Manchester New Hampshire

DEAR HELOISE: When I travel in the United States, I often use shipping boxes in the opposite direction. For example, if I’m going from colder weather to warmer weather, I’ll box up my heavy jacket, plus dirty clothes and any souvenirs or other items that I won’t need until I get home. I mail them to myself (at my home address) from a post office, and the box usually arrives at my house at about the same time I do. It’s a very convenient way to keep my checked baggage under control.

• Suzanne R., via email

DEAR HELOISE: My wife and I are preparing for a major house move after 40 years of living in one place. We’ve been going through mountains of old paperwork — pay stubs, insurance records from defunct policies, etc. It’s simply astounding how many of these have our Social Security numbers on them, but 40-50 years ago, nobody knew about “identity theft.”

Everyone should periodically go through old papers and destroy anything with an SSN on it. If you don’t have a shredder, you can burn papers in a charcoal grill or a burn barrel, or you can use a confidential commercial shredding service for big jobs.

Unfortunately, some government agencies still use SSNs as an identifier. One of the worst offenders in this respect is the veterans’ affairs department. I’ve repeatedly written to the VA secretary — and my Congressman — to ask that this policy be changed, but nothing has happened so far. All veterans who read your column should do the same for their own protection.

Thousands of people in the VA have access to this data. Most likely, 99.9% of them are honest and will keep such things private, but all it takes is one bad ‘un to let it out with dire consequences.

• An Avid Reader, via email

DEAR HELOISE: Tanya G. might want to take a careful look at her diet. What you put in your body is often reflected in your skin and hair. She could ask her hair stylist to recommend products that will help her hair, and a doctor could suggest a diet to improve the condition of her hair and skin.

• Jeanie B., in Paramus, New Jersey