Still got gifts to mail? Today is zero-hour: The U.S. Postal Service says you have to send your first-class mail — that means greeting cards — by Dec. 19 to make it to your destination by Christmas.

The same date goes for international packages sent via Global Express guaranteed service (except Canada).

For more information, call (800) ASK-USPS.

— Catherine E. Toth

COMPACT FLUORESCENTS USE LESS JUICE

If you want to save on your electric bill — and who doesn't? — consider switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.

You can get coupons for $1 off the purchase of two GE Spiral CFL bulbs at www.heco.com and participating Longs Drugs, Times Supermarket, Foodland, City Mill, Daiei and 7-Eleven stores.

Hawaiian Electric Co., General Electric Co. and Webco Hawaii have partnered to encourage O'ahu residents to buy and install a total of 100,000 CFLs by Dec. 31 as part of its "See the Light, Make the Change" campaign.

— Zenaida Serrano

FINAL WORD

"Perhaps we ought to consider the practice of mutual respect as the true meaning of holidays. With that as our starting point, it would be hard for us to go wrong."

Excerpt from "The Don't Sweat Guide to Holidays: Enjoying the Festivities and Letting Go of the Tension," by the editors of Don't Sweat Press.