Reader sounds off on pillbugs

Dear Heloise: You really should make a correction to the advice in a recent column regarding pillbugs. These crustaceans (they are not insects) live where the soil is damp and feed on organic matter, recycling it in the process. Anyone with these organisms in their indoor flower pots is keeping their soil quite wet, which is not helpful for the plant in most cases. They are overwatering their plants.

These animals may be found under outdoor pots, where they should be left alone as they are recycling organic matter below the pot and are not harming anyone’s plants. — Marlene C., in Charlottesville, Virginia

Marlene, I agree that they have their place in nature. However, there are many people who do not like having crustaceans in their yard. I don’t try to kill mine because I don’t find them creepy, but some folks do. — Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO:

Heloise@Heloise.com

DISCOUNT RIP-OFFS

Dear Heloise: The 25% discount you get when buying two items hardly covers the real rip-off. I’m a senior widower living alone and often see pricing that is half off if you buy four of the items (sodas, chips, meals, etc.). This is way more than I can store or consume in a reasonable amount of time. It just tells me that they will sell these items for half the price but not to me, which angers me and borders on elder abuse. — Charles H., via email

Charles, I have to agree with you. They often use the same phrase: “The more you buy, the more you save.” It’s not really saving if all you need is one. — Heloise

DID I FORGET

MY PILL?

Dear Heloise: The only pill I regularly take is a multivitamin. I could never remember if I had taken it before, so I started to use a daily pill dispenser, which I got for free at the state fair. I started to put one vitamin in each day slot. Now I just have to look at it to see if I took it.

I tried to get myself to take it daily when I first got up, but I always got distracted by things. So, this method has worked well for the couple of years I have been doing it. — Sharon H., in Springfield, Illinois

MORE ON WILLS

Dear Heloise: Your readers are quite right that it is essential to have a will, trust, power of attorney, and health directive. In addition, one needs detailed lists of such things as all assets (house, cars, etc.), their bank and credit information, utility accounts, sources of income, debts, insurance information, and more.

And don’t forget online accounts or things connected to them such as automatic payments. Travel and other loyalty programs are important, too, as some of them may have rewards that are transferable. Don’t forget to create a password list and instructions for accessing your phone and computer.

The personal representative (executor) will need to write letters and give proof of their authority to act as well as certified death certificates. (Order at least 20!) Some will just need a letter. The internet has a wealth of information for what one should do if tasked with handling an estate. This information can help guide someone in deciding what to record.

My list is now nine pages long after several days of finding information, including contact addresses and phone numbers for the various businesses. I still need to write a letter of instructions (which includes preferences for distributing/selling/donating/tossing assets) and possibly my obituary.

I have also listed the name of the attorney who prepared our documents. — Leslie Ann, via email