On New Year’s Eve follow rules of road

Well, we've survived Christmas and, hopefully, the worst thing that happened is that we got a little too much pie or mashed potatoes!

If you've received a gift that you just know that you aren't going to want, here's a little advice for making the most of your return. The first and most important suggestion is ... don't open it. That way you have the best chance of getting a refund or the full value in store credit.

Hopefully the item was accompanied by a gift or regular receipt (it's a good time to remind yourself to always include gift receipts with presents now). You can ask the giver where the item was purchased or if they still have a copy of the receipt, but that can be a tricky situation. If there is a receipt, it is usually helpful to look up the store's return and exchange policy online to see what the terms are to make sure you get the maximum return available.

If you are unable to get a receipt be aware that the item will, most likely, be returned for store credit and the lowest price it has been sold during the season.

Regifting is a positive solution at times, so don't count that out, except if you have a small circle of friends.

We're on the eve of 2016 and want to wish each and every one of you a happy and healthy new year. Be careful out there. Don't drink and drive, put on those seat belts, stay off the cellphone, and follow the other 101 rules you need to remember as you traverse your daily lives.

We're excited about the new year and look forward to having an even better one than we did in 2015 — and that's pretty hard to beat. Take care, my friends, and we'll see you next year.

— Tina Ransom is a dispatcher with Boulder City Police Department. She is coordinator of the Boulder City Citizen's Academy.