Dear Heloise: It is difficult to make the recipes I enjoy with my family for one person. The taste just doesn’t come out right.

So, when I cook, I make a full recipe — 6-8 servings. The leftovers go into zip-close bags in single serving sizes. If the food is frozen while it is still warm, it keeps the flavor very well.

The small bags go into large bags and into a ‘food file’ in my freezer so that I can microwave it and have the food I love available — with less effort than ordering takeout and no box taste. — Dianne Lee, via email STRICT PARKING RULES Dear Heloise: When my kiddos were teens, and there were five vehicles in the house, two were assigned to park in the street in front of the house. The other three vehicles had to park in the driveway. I had a key rack on the wall right by the door. The known rule was that if you blocked someone in or parked in the street, and your keys were not on the rack, you lost your vehicle rights for 30 days. Luckily, I never had to enforce this rule. — Suzanne Trice, via email TRAVEL INSURANCE Dear Heloise: I know that when most people travel, they want to have enough money to enjoy the trip, but there is one investment they shouldn’t overlook: travel insurance. Perhaps nothing bad has ever happened to you before, but this doesn’t mean it won’t or can’t happen. If you travel out of the country, you can’t depend on other countries to cover your expenses if you need emergency medical treatment, a cast on a leg, or to be airlifted to a hospital.

Credit cards offer insurance on many items that you buy, but they don’t always cover medical expenses, canceled flights, or a long list of other travel-related expenses. They usually don’t cover nonrefundable tickets or help you if you are robbed. So, get travel insurance before you go on your next trip.

— R.G., in Oregon HOUSEHOLD HINTS Dear Heloise: The following are some hints I have used around the house: — If you’re removing fiberglass insulation, put your arm through long plastic bags like those you find on newspapers. Cut holes for your fingers, then slip on gloves to protect your hands. The plastic bags help keep the fiberglass off your forearms and shirtsleeves.

— Use your water tooth cleaner as a mini jet washer to clean the dishwasher filter, jewelry, etc.

— Save the paint stir stick when you paint a wall. You can use it to help select other colors for things like curtains, sofas and chairs.

— Always paint the molding in a room first.

It’s easier to cut in the larger flat surfaces adjacent to them than to paint the molding after a wall is painted. — P.N., in Maryland BUTTERING BREAD Dear Heloise: My wife of 30 years came up with this nifty trick at lunch.

When you are served bread with cold, foil-covered butter, instead of smooshing the hard butter into your soft bread, hold the butter in your closed hand for a minute.

Then open the foil and spread nice, soft butter onto your bread. Works like a charmexclamation — Big Mike, in California (Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.)