You can thicken soup by adding tablespoon or so of instant mashed potatoes. Yummy and so easy.
 “Did you know that in addition to being better for your baby nutritionally, mother’s milk is an excellent bargain — FREE? Nursing can save you up to $40 per week in your baby’s first year. Even if you purchased an array of supplies meant to make breastfeeding more convenient — pumps, storage containers, shawls — you’d still save upward of $1,500 that year. Wow!” — A Reader, via e-mail
 Here’s a really great, cheap rinse for brunettes: cooled black coffee. Make a pot in the morning, and let sit until it’s cold. Then, after washing your hair, just rinse it with the coffee and let drip. Give it a quick shot of water, then pat dry.
 “I loved the convenience of frozen pancakes, but wished there was more variety in flavors. So I decided to make my own. I make my pancakes with all the fruits and nuts added in, then freeze them on a flat sheet. When frozen, they can be stacked and bagged. I take what I want out andmicrowave it for instant made-toorder pancakes!” — T.Y. in Texas
 “To make a pen easier to grasp for arthritic hands, make two X’s with a sharp knife on either side of a rubber ball (like a racquetball). Push a pen through. This is what we do for my grandmother, who loves to write, but whose hands get tired trying to hold a pen steady.” — O.D. in Maryland
 To store larger bags of pet food,purchase an appropriately sized garbage can with a tightfitting lid. Old plastic cups make great scoops, too.