H elen Gurley Brown, editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years, started life without glamour. Her father died when she was 10 years old, her mother was severely depressed and she spent a lot of time caring for her older sister, who was wheelchair-bound from childhood polio.

Now age 78, Ms. Brown runs the international editions of Cosmo and continues an active social life. In her memoir I’m Wild Again, now in paperback, she reveals many personal secrets... and outrageous opinions. During a recent interview, she shared even more...

ON THE VIRTUES OF THRIFT

“Waste not, want not” never pales, no matter what your income.

I recycle plastic sandwich bags if they’re clean after use (for a piece of toast or vitamins to take to the office) -- but not if they have contained gloopy sandwiches.

A noted author once sent me galleys of his 400-page book on hole-punched paper. I’ve used the blank sides of this paper for years to write memos to my assistant, housekeeper and husband.

I sometimes use a car and driver, but I can’t bear to pay overtime while the driver waits for me at the theater for three hours. A cab would cost $10. So I drag my husband to the bus, which in New York costs $1.50 one-way for both of us at the senior citizen rate.

My friends often ask me to send things by messenger. That’s all too common in Manhattan. When the next day really is good enough, I say, “No -- I’ll mail it.” I’m not cheap. I’m thrifty!

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CHUTZPAH

I firmly believe in chutzpah -- that terrific Yiddish word for gall, guts, the drive to put yourself ahead. Part of success comes from knowing when to push and how hard.

As a college student, I did my first-ever interview by asking a bellman if any celebrities were staying at his hotel. He called a radio commentator’s room, she came downstairs and I wrote an article for the school paper. It was turned down, but I learned that chutzpah works. Now I ask famous people anything I like -- and they usually answer.

ON THE VALUE OF INSECURITY

Feeling insecure is good for you. It forces you to do something better, drives you to use all your talents.

Lack self-confidence? Do something that will give you some -- something you’re good at. Get up and do whatever it is!

MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE

I went through 17 different jobs before I succeeded at being a magazine editor.

Do what’s in front of you as well as possible. Keep going until you realize what you’re best at. Often that doesn’t happen until later on in life.

Your talent can become a career. A hostess who entertains wonderfully well might become a caterer or assistant to the banquet manager at a major hotel.

Use every squidge of intuition and intelligence to make people comfortable with themselves and with you.

ON STARTING A NEW LIFE
AT ANY AGE

Life is change. It will change around you if you don’t change with it. At age 74, after serving as top editor of Cosmopolitan for 32 years, I was asked to step down. I wasn’t sure I’d get over it, but I did. My wonderful publisher created a new spot as head of Cosmo’s international editions, and there I have thrived for the past four years.

Workers who are pushed out of their companies after many years and are still good at what they do face a stark challenge. One good way to keep your mind busy is to give help to people. Not necessarily the underprivileged, but perhaps someone with three kids who really needs a helping hand.

GROWING OLDER

I haven’t found anything wonderful about being older except accumulating practical knowledge, such as how to get reservations, how to pack for a trip (in increments as I make agonizing choices) and knowing how long it takes to get across town by public transportation. You start losing things -- your hair, your hearing, your eyesight. What you don’t want to lose is the ability to help people who need you.

Recently, I spent 45 minutes holding the hand of my former therapist, who has Alzheimer’s disease and barely knew who I was. It did me more good than her.

You have to give back. But I have given up spending time with people who make me unhappy to be around them.

THE VALUE OF EXERCISE

Fight back -- don’t let aging do you in. Exercise every day for 45 minutes, no matter what -- especially if, like me, you’ve never met a cookie you didn’t like (and eat).

Exercise fights back against the goblins and lets you eat without ballooning. It gets the goblins out of my head and helps keep me young.

A week after my hysterectomy, I resumed my exercise regimen.

In Los Angeles last February, I did five TV interviews in one day. I was so tired, I could hardly hobble into my hotel room. But I made myself put on my bathing suit and get into the pool.

You can’t let anything get in the way of self-discipline. Work at it and you can still be vibrant, able and active -- and make a difference.

CRISCO AS A BEAUTY AID

My beauty present to you is Crisco, which I discovered after a bout of facial cosmetic surgery. I was told to dab the scabs generously with Crisco. It worked so well that I even grew decent fingernails for the first time ever.

Now I rub that precious goo around my feet before pulling on panty hose, glob it around my mouth at night if no romantic time is planned, rub it into my elbows and use it as hand cream during the day.

A can costs $4 and lasts forever. Thrifty, innocent (it’s digestible), safe and smart!

HOW TO FALL ASLEEP

Trying to make yourself sleep “because it’s time” is as dumb as trying to force an erection. But if you’re tired and can’t rest, try this game -- it works for me.

Go down the alphabet and think of a three-syllable word for every letter except Q, X, Y and Z. The next night, move on to four or five syllables. Not thinking about anything serious is soporific.

More complex game: For each letter, think of something that happened to you that day. A, anxiety attack... B, bus, bridgework came out, banana... C, chocolate cake... D, dance class... E, exercise... F, Florence visited.

Happy snoozing.

GREAT GIFTS FOR SICK PEOPLE

When someone is in the hospital, has just returned home or is merely in bad health, don’t ask if there’s “anything you can do.” The classy thing, the only thing, is to go ahead and send something.

A person can’t have too many flowers and plants, which show someone cares. Cookies and candies can be offered to visitors. With liquor, send a card saying, “For when you get all the way well.”

The sick need and deserve more action and commitment, and fewer fake offers.

ON KEEPING YOUR MARRIAGE ALIVE

My marriage has blossomed and grown for more than 40 years. The best advice is to marry a decent, good, kind person who will cherish you.

Suppose your spouse isn’t all those things. Then be his/her best friend. If you listen to your mate maniacally well, you can’t go wrong. Have fun together. Do projects together.

Keep your sex life alive. If only one of you is in the mood, do it. Even if sex isn’t great every time, it’s a unique form of communication and togetherness that can help you stay together with a good degree of contentment.