Am I the only one who didn't know that there's a definite protocol for burning jar candles and pillar candles? I've made an ugly mess of so many candles in my life, only to toss them out long before their time. But no more. I've learned the secret to keeping large candles looking good and functional right down to the last bit.

HOUR-PER-INCH RULE. Although it is absolutely counterintuitive, burning a pillar candle or jar candle for at least an hour per inch of diameter each time you light it will give the candle many more burning hours over time. This way, the flame has enough time to melt the wax all the way to the outer edges, and the whole candle burns down efficiently. Each time you cut short a burning session, the flame only burns the wax in the center, which wastes the outer wax at that level.

HOTEL TRAVEL TIP. If you've ever left something behind in a hotel room, you are going to love this tip. Make this the first thing you do when you walk in your room: Take a hand towel from the bathroom and spread it out on the desk or another countertop. This becomes the de facto location for all of your things that you have a place for at home. Put your room key, car keys, sunglasses, chargers, wallet —everything — on the towel. Everything is visible in one spot, rather than scattered about the room. As you come and go, return these items to their place on the towel. When you're ready to check out, there's no searching needed and nothing left behind.

NONFOOD BARGAINS. Do not buy nonfood items, such as paper goods, garbage bags and cleaning supplies, at the grocery store. They can all be purchased for lower prices at discount stores like Target, Wal-Mart or Kmart. Grocery stores sell them thinking the convenience of buying these items at the same time you buy your food will make you not mind spending twice as much.

FRUGAL FOODIE. To stretch pricey ingredients like meat, avocados, cheese and nuts, dice or chop them and sprinkle them on top of your dish, rather than mixing them in. You'll taste the yummy richness and flavor without having to use as much.

AN APEELING IDEA. A woman I know would clog the garbage disposal every year when she peeled the potatoes for Hanukkah latkes. It was as much a tradition as candles and gelt. She and her family thought it was just a quirk of her sink. Here's the problem: Grinding potato peels in the disposal turns them into a mashed-like mass that's almost guaranteed to clog any drain. An easy solution is to line your sink with newspaper (or a plastic bag), peel the potatoes onto the paper and then chuck the whole thing in the compost or trash.

BRING OUT THE BABY OIL. If your mascara seems to be dried out but you need to get a few more uses out of it, trickle a drop or two of baby oil on the wand and then mix it well. It should yield a few more coats of eyelash enhancement. (If the mascara is more than six months old, it should be replaced.)

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.