I'm a lucky woman. My husband and I make a quick trip to California once a month to tend to business, see friends and visit our older son, who just happens to have the most prolific Meyer lemon tree on Earth in his backyard. I always try to bring an empty bag with me so I can load up on these beautiful ripe lemons. Many thanks to our first reader for her tip to keep my lemons ripe long enough to use them all. It works for me!

FRESH LEMONS. "If you like to keep lemons on hand even when you don't have a specific need, submerge them (washed with peel on) in a bowl of water in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for weeks on end. I have had a bowl in my refrigerator for the past two months, and they are still beautiful. Wow. What a money saver, too." —Ashley

DRIVE-THRU FIRST. "Taking youngsters to a fast food restaurant can be a fun treat, but standing in a long line with an active brood can be stressful. Solution: Place your order in the drive-thru and ask the server to put your food on a tray instead. By the time you park and get everyone inside, you can pick up the tray and go directly to a table." — Rhonda

ULTRA-QUICK DRY. "Do you need to dry a pair of jeans or pajamas in a hurry? Put them into the dryer with a completely dry bath towel. They'll be dry in a fraction of the time." — Patsy

BACK SPONGE. "Instead of using an expensive blow-up bathtub backrest (even the best ones stop holding air after a few uses), buy an inexpensive baby bath sponge. It will stick to the tub and is large enough to rest your whole back. It stays warm as long as the water does. Just run it through the washing machine occasionally to freshen." — Roxy

PAINT STAINS. "Even if it's been there for a long time, you can get latex paint out of carpet or fabric with lacquer thinner (not paint thinner), available at hardware or home improvement centers. Using a clean white cloth, wet the dried paint with the thinner. Let it penetrate the paint and then gently blot with the cloth. Be sure to test the area in an inconspicuous place first. Also, keep the thinner out of children' and pets' reach, and ventilated the room." — Bradley

ICE BAG. "Pour 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol into a quart-size Ziploc bag, sealing it tightly. Put the bag inside another bag and seal it for double protection. Label the bag as non-edible and freeze. It will remain slushy because the alcohol cannot freeze. It's perfect to put on a wounded area when you need an ice pack." — Dr. Bob

FREE FRAMES. "My insurance allows one new pair of prescription eyeglasses every other year. One time, I needed new frames but it was not the year to be covered. So I asked my eye doctor if they had free frames. They pulled out a drawer with about 20 different frames. I picked one and only paid for new lenses. I've received more compliments on those frames than any other ones I've ever owned. If I hadn't asked, I would have never known about this perk." — Marion

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 Web page at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Heather