Dear Heloise: My kids are asking for a dog, but they both have ALLERGIES. What would be a good breed for them? — Karen S., Fort Wayne, Ind.

Karen, allergy-prone kids need a hypoallergenic (less likely to cause an allergic reaction) breed.

What causes the allergies? Dander and shedding, mostly. The symptoms can be itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and rash.

No dog is completely hypoallergenic, BUT there are breeds that are more hypoallergenic than others: Shih Tzu, Yorkshire terrier, poodle, Maltese and even the hairless Chinese crested are good choices.

These dogs (except the Chinese crested) have HAIR that grows, not FUR, and they require regular grooming, which can add up. These breeds need their faces and eyes kept clean, too.

Whichever breed you choose, look online for a rescue group for that particular dog breed. They are out there. — Heloise

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Linda M., via email, sent a picture of her gorgeous, smiling German shepherd, Lucy Belle, playing in the yard with some colorful balls. What a stunner!

To see Lucy Belle and our other Pet Pals, visit my newly updated website, www.Heloise.com, and click on “Pet of the Week” at the top of the page.

Email your funny and furry friend to Heloise@Heloise.com. Include age, breed and amusing anecdote! — Heloise

MAKEUP MAVEN

Dear Heloise: My precious mother-in-law, who was from Missouri and lived to be 95-plus, rode to church with us. When she would come out of her house, she would say to us with a smile, “Too much health?” Meaning, had she overdone her makeup.

I loved her and wish she was still here to tell ME if I have “too much health”! At 79, I still love to wear blush and eye shadow, but I don’t want to overdo it. — Barbara G., Colorado Springs, Colo.

ANNIVERSARY DONATION

Dear Heloise: While helping a friend with party invitations (which requested no gifts) to her 50th anniversary, I had an idea.

What if a box was placed on a table with the word “donations” on the side, and everyone was told this was for a voluntary donation. The proceeds would be given to the local animal shelter. — Clara in New Braunfels, Texas

Love it! — Heloise

SOCK IT TO ME

Dear Readers: A use for a stray sock: Cut the foot part off and use the elastic cuff as a cellphone cover. This probably won’t protect it if it gets dropped, but it can prevent light scratches when the phone’s in your handbag. — Heloise

P.S. Read on for another hint about hosiery.

HOSIERY HELPER

Dear Heloise: A footed piece of pantyhose stretched over a coat hanger works nicely to grab dust, crumbs, pet hair and other yucky things from under the stove and refrigerator. — Helen D. in Los Angeles

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Dear Heloise: You offer travel hints for families, but what about us single women who want to travel but can’t convince anyone else to go with us? Isn’t it dangerous to TRAVEL ALONE to foreign countries? — Andrea Y., Pulaski, Tenn.

Andrea, first check with the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (travel.state.gov) to find out which countries they ask you to stay away from. After that, go online and check out travel sites for suggestions and advice. Traveling alone doesn’t have to be terrifying, lonely or dull. You’ll meet people, conquer your fears and have a nice time if you let yourself enjoy the experience. There are many misconceptions about solo travelers, but don’t let that deter you from seeing the world. — Heloise

TRAVEL HINT

Dear Heloise: Sometimes luggage tags get ripped off or somehow lost. For this reason, I always make sure there is an address label on the handle of my luggage as a backup to prevent lost luggage. — Ellen M., Sun Valley, Nev.

BREAD BEGINNINGS

Dear Readers: Can you name the most commonly consumed food in the world? If you guessed “bread,” you would be correct. It’s also one of the oldest man-made foods. Prehistoric people of the Stone Age are believed to have made a simple bread by crushing grains and mixing them with water to form a paste. This paste was cooked on a heated rock. It’s believed that the skilled bread makers of Egypt started adding yeast as far back as 300 B.C. Eventually, refined flour was used, and whole loaves of bread were sold for centuries until sliced bread became popular in the 1920s. — Heloise

LOOK FOR THE PANDA

Dear Heloise: My father-in-law is getting very forgetful and often can’t remember in which row he parked his car, especially when there are several cars of the same color that look similar. We placed a small stuffed-toy panda in the rear window to help him locate his car from all the rest, and we put a picture of his license plate on his cellphone. He said it was a tremendous help to him. — Pam in Traverse City, Mich.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Dear Heloise: You encourage people to travel, but it’s money that keeps me here in the U.S. How can I get to Europe if I haven’t got a lot of cash to spare? — Rob A., Broken Bow, Neb.

Rob, first write down your monthly expenses. If you need to estimate, go a little higher rather than lower. Deduct that from your monthly income. What you have left over is for “discretionary spending.” In order to save for your trip, you might have to start eliminating unnecessary spending, such as buying coffee someplace when you could make a pot at home and carry it to work in a thermos or travel mug. Stop using credit cards — the interest rates are usually high. Cook at home and skip eating out. Consider a roommate to help out with expenses. Buy things secondhand or on sale, and ONLY if you really need them.

Make your next trip your priority. — Heloise

EDITOR’S NOTE: Send your great money-saving or timesaving hint to to Heloise at P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, Fax to 1-210-HELOISE, or email to Heloise@Heloise.com. She can’t answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in her column.