Online Shopping: How to find gifts without breaking the bank

(NC)—There is nothing quite like the pleasure of giving the perfect gift to your friends or family during the holidays. The only problem is your budget may not stretch as far as you would like. To counter your budget shortage, you can go online to save money while shopping.

Look for e-coupons

Going online gives you a new way to use an old trick for saving money—finding and using coupons. The Internet has brought new life to the practice of couponing. Finding coupons online is simple and there are plenty of sites and blogs out there to peruse for the deal you’re looking for.

Sign up for the “Deals of the Day” sites.

There have been an explosion of “Deal of the Day” websites in the past few years. These sites offer one or more daily deals on unique experiences or the best stuff to see, do, eat or buy in your city. “Deal of the Day” sites can be found in most major Canadian cities, as well as locations around the world. If you sign up for one of these sites the daily deal is emailed right to your inbox, making it easy to purchase if the deal is right for you.

Wait for the after holiday sales

The holidays are a great time to give gifts to family and friends, but sometimes you can’t give to everyone on your list (including yourself). One secret to saving money on gifts is to wait and check out all the deals available after the holidays. Many online merchants offer deep discounts immediately after a big holiday, allowing you to buy that gift you thought was out of your budget.

Take advantage of offers already available to you

The bottom line is you can save money on holiday shopping for everyone on your list when you buy online—if you know where to look. Visa cardholders can visit Visaperks.ca and have access to discounted goods and services from more than 70 retailers. Visaperks.ca is a great place to find deals for everyone on your list, from clothes at Gap Kids, athletic gear at adidas or electronics from Lenovo. And as an added bonus, new deals are added all the time.

www.newscanada.com

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Real Simple Wrap Job

I am the worst at wrapping presents!  My husband is great at it, but for some reason every time I wrap a present it looks like a child wrapped it.  I think it is because I am not so patient.  That and maybe my wrapping paper is too cheap?  Who knows, but this year I vow to be different.  I found this video by Real Simple Magazine. I LOVE Real Simple.  They always have the most beautiful, creative, and delicious ideas that are….well, simple.   This video is a demonstration on how to make a present look perfectly wrapped.

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Smart holiday gift ideas that make busy lives easier

(ARA) – As the holiday season approaches, many people start wondering how they’re going to get everything done. From shopping for gifts and decorating the house to hosting parties and visiting relatives – and more – the list feels endless. And adding all of these things to an already hectic lifestyle can seem next to impossible.

However, the important thing to remember, even in the rush to get everything done, is that the holidays are all about sharing time with those you love. That’s why it’s important to find ways to cut back on your own stress levels and focus on the joy of the season.

Little organizational efforts, like making a well-planned shopping list, can cut back on the amount of time you waste and minimize the stressful search for a last-minute gift.

While you’re thinking about keeping your own stress to a minimum, use that same thought in looking for gifts. Opting for presents that blend the practical and the enjoyable will ensure that there are plenty of smiles as gifts are opened. Everyone – even those who are notoriously hard to shop for – can enjoy a gift that will make their lives a little bit easier. To start your holiday shopping, consider these helpful hints from Farberware.

Health conscious

Everyone aspires to live a healthier lifestyle – just look at the most popular New Year’s resolutions if you need confirmation. Giving a gift that makes a more health-conscious way of life easier is something that anyone can appreciate. A high-quality 10-speed blender is a useful tool for making smoothies and soups that incorporate the fruits and vegetables essential to a healthy diet. The Farberware brand high-wattage models with 5 pre-programmed settings can whip up nutritious and easy treats in just minutes.

Other health-boosting ideas might be membership to a gym, or passes to fitness classes – it’s increasingly easy to find classes like yoga that are tailored to families too.

Gourmet gifts

Is there anyone who doesn’t love a great home-cooked meal? The flavors and comforts of home stick with us for years, so giving gifts that take cooking to the next level are always welcome. Creating those meals can take a lot of time and effort, so put items that help with preparation on your list. For instance, a 12-cup food processor like those from Farberware will make chopping, shredding and slicing a snap, and eliminates a lot of work. Plus its 4-cup nested work bowl makes small kitchen tasks a breeze.

For those who really love to cook, give the gift of a cooking class experience. They can learn to create new dishes, study an unfamiliar cuisine or even sharpen their knife skills.

On the go

Most people’s schedules are packed, and they often find themselves rushing through the day without taking time for themselves and what they enjoy. By giving gifts that both help them through their daily routine and provide a bit of pleasure, your presents will do double duty. To get their day started on the right note, a programmable coffee and tea maker with automatic brewing can give them a morning boost of their favorite beverage. With two specialized permanent filters for coffee grinds and tea leaves, they never have to sacrifice their favorite cup of fresh brew. Supplement it with a tasteful travel mug, and you’ll be sending them out the door with a smile on their face.

You can also encourage them to spend some quality time on their own by giving a gift like a massage or spa gift certificate. Offer to help set the appointment so it doesn’t get lost on their to-do list.

Shopping for the holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful. Look for inspiration in the things your friends and family love to do and how you can make their lives simpler. You can find these fabulous Farberware gift ideas exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide for only $59.88 each. Visit www.farberwareproducts.com for more information on all your gift-giving needs.

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Smart shopping tips to keep your credit healthy

(ARA) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but for most Americans, it’s also the season to shop. While the items on your shopping list are sure to make gift recipients happy, being mindful about financial stress and maintaining good credit should remain top-of-mind.

Going overboard on holiday purchases is all too easy when you’re caught up in the spirit of the season. As many as 14 million people responded to a recent Consumer Reports survey admitting that they’re still paying off purchases from last year’s holiday season.

“If it’s taking more than a year to pay off purchases, you’re possibly on the way to damaged credit,” says Barrett Burns, CEO of VantageScore Solutions, LLC. “The short term enjoyment that you might get from a purchase could be far outweighed by potential stress that could come later when those credit card bills come due. Resolve now to head into the new year with good credit, which will alleviate a lot of headaches and allow you to take advantage of record low interest rates.”

If you make smart shopping decisions now and throughout the year, you’ll be protecting yourself from financial stress down the road. But it’s also important to remember that even if you’ve already overspent this season, you can still make wise decisions about your credit going forward that can help you in the long term. During this holiday season, keep these credit score tips from VantageScore Solutions in mind.

When shopping
* Apply for credit sparingly. While there are plenty of tempting offers and advertisements for credit cards, every new credit card account will appear on your credit report. Too many new credit card accounts over a short period of time can potentially damage your credit score. While the temptation might be there, you should apply for credit with the same thoughtfulness you’d use when making purchases with a credit card.

* Plan ahead. Credit scores take into account how much available credit you have. If you are planning on making a large purchase on credit after the holidays to take advantage of favorable interest rates, consider limiting the use of your credit cards during the holiday. This will not only allow you to retain your available credit balance, but can help you in getting the best interest rate for that big purchase.

If you’ve overspent
* Reduce your balance. A lower balance can help to improve your score and leave room for unexpected expenditures. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep balances under 30 percent of your total credit limit. For example, if your credit card limit is $3,000, try to keep your balance under $900. While it is important to pay all of your credit obligations, try to put more effort into bringing down higher balances to under the 30 percent threshold.

* Make payments on time. Establishing a positive payment history by paying your credit obligations on time, each and every month can have one of the biggest impacts on your credit score. Don’t let one missed or late payment potentially damage your credit score that you have worked hard all year to maintain. Also by maintaining a good credit score, you can help ensure that you get the most favorable interest rates on your credit accounts.

Taking a thoughtful approach to shopping – and paying off your shopping bills – can help you not only buy what’s on your list, but keep your credit score in good shape for the future. To learn more, go to www.vantagescore.com and visit www.creditscorequiz.org to test your knowledge about credit scoring.

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Spread your holiday cheer abroad

(NC)—Trying to find the perfect holiday gift for a friend or family member in a far off place can be difficult. However, ensuring that it arrives on time and in one piece shouldn’t be.

“To ensure holiday packages arrive on time, it is important that shippers follow some basic tips when preparing to ship their packages”, says Nando Cesarone, vice-president of operations at UPS Canada.

UPS offers the following five tips for sending shipments internationally this holiday season:

1. Do your research and make sure the item you’re shipping will be allowed into its destination country. Many countries have restrictions for public health or economic reasons. Knowing these limitations beforehand will ensure you make a wise purchasing decision.

2. Customs declaration forms should declare everything in the package being shipped. Omitting any item from the declaration form can result in your package being detained or seized at border crossings.

3. Be sure to clearly label every package with the name of the recipient, his or her address and the destination country. Providing the recipient’s and shipper’s phone numbers also helps expedite movement of the goods.

4. Place an additional shipping label inside the package. This will ensure that your package reaches its destination even if the exterior shipping label gets lost or damaged.

5. To ease processing and avoid delays, choose an international shipping provider that has a vast international network, and one that allows you to track the location and progress of your shipments online at any time.

“Taking some extra time in the beginning stages of the shipping process can help you avoid the risk of your package being delayed at the border,” adds Cesarone.

For more tips on how to prepare shipments and avoid border delays this holiday season, visit www.ups.com and select the ‘support’ tab.

www.newscanada.com

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Should you use credit for holiday buying? Yes, no and maybe

(ARA) – When it comes to the use of credit to fund holiday shopping, people tend to fall into two extremes of thought. Some believe in a cash-only approach to holiday spending, while others think it’s impossible to get through the holidays without maxing out their credit cards.

For most, the approach that allows you to spread cheer without breaking the bank exists somewhere between the two extremes. Using credit during the holidays should be just like using credit at any other time of year. If you do use it, you should use it wisely and avoid overspending.

Using credit can make sense for holiday shopping, especially if you’ll be buying big-ticket items (such as electronics) and could benefit from the extra layer of consumer protection that many credit cards afford. Buying with a credit card can also yield financial rewards; many credit card companies offer incentives such as cash back to encourage credit card use during the holidays.

So, how do you make decisions about credit use that will keep your holiday season bright without putting a damper on your personal credit and cash flow in the months – and possibly years – to come? The credit experts at Experian offer a few tips:

1. Establish a budget – The holidays arrive at the same time every year, and we all have 12 months to plan for them. Give yourself a very early gift, and start your holiday budgeting in January of each year. Decide how much you’ll spend on holiday gifts and how much you’ll need to save each month to accrue that amount by the time the holidays arrive. Set that amount aside in an interest-bearing account.

2. Check your credit – It’s always a good idea to understand your credit and know your score before you make any big credit moves, such as funding your holiday shopping with credit cards. Websites like www.freecreditscore.com make it easy to check your score and learn about how your credit moves may affect your score and your overall financial well-being.

3. Make a list – You’ve got your budget in mind, now it’s time to decide how you’ll use your money. Create a detailed gift list of who you’ll be buying for and what you plan to purchase or spend for each recipient. Having a plan in hand before hitting the mall can help ensure you don’t resort to budget- and credit-busting impulse buys.

4. Keep your credit under control – Although incentives from credit card companies can help save you cash during the holiday season, those incentives may not be a good enough reason to open a new account. Don’t be tempted to open new accounts in order to fund your buying or to get a discount or better deal. Opening too many accounts in a short time frame can negatively impact your credit score. Instead, look for incentives from cards you already have and use.

5. Don’t spend beyond your means – It can be tempting to overspend on credit cards, especially during the holidays, thinking you’re just spreading the cost of your purchases over a few months. Remember, when you buy on credit and take more than a month to pay off the balance, you’re not just spreading out the cost, you’re increasing it. The same holds true for those tempting low-APR promotional checks sent by credit providers. The vast majority of those promotions incur fees, thereby increasing your total purchase price while potentially simultaneously damaging your credit profile. If you can’t afford to pay off your balance in a month or two – and minimize the cost of using credit – then you probably should reconsider how much you’re spending.

Gift giving is one way we show the people in our lives that we care about and appreciate them. By keeping an eye on your credit and making smart credit moves, you can ensure the holidays stay happy for all, including your wallet.

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iPad

I have a very important man in my life, my husband, who I shall be shopping for very soon.  I was thinking about how easy it is to get crappy gifts for men.  It may be because shopping for men seems harder to me than shopping for women. I can always score points with a pretty purse, perfume or candle for the ladies.  So, here are a few ideas of gifts that my man, my husband, might enjoy receiving this holiday season:

Fun Tee-Shirts:  My husband loves funny and eclectic tee shirts.  He wears about two or three different ones a day.  It drives me crazy, but I love him!  My favorite places to get unique and fun tee-shirts for men are: Threadless.com, ShanaLogic.Com and JohnnyCupcakes.com

Tech Gadgets: My husband loves anything high tech.  Anything at all.  From our fancy schmancy thermostat to electric soap dispenser, he loves it all.  I’m sure I will have no problem finding something we don’t already have.

iTunes Gift Card:  Classic, tried and true.  My husband will never have enough apps downloaded or music to listen to.  This is a definite must on my Christmas shopping list!

Electronics:  He is dying to have a iPad.  Will he get one?  That remains a big question!  Another idea is a gaming system, but that could be bad.

Music Equipment:  My husband is a musician.  A very talented musician at that and has the ability to play the guitar, mandolin, key board, Uke and more.  I like to nurture that hobby and getting something music-related is always a nice option.

Gift Cards:  The bowling alley, his favorite restaurant or even for some clothes shopping, gift certificates always make him happy!

Something for the Dogs:  Although this is not technically for my husband per se, he enjoys making the dogs happy and giving them new toys, bones, treats.  This could be a nice way for Daddy to be the star and give the pups some new goodies.

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Oatmeal, walnut, cranberry Christmas jar

I love the idea of homemade jars for Christmas gift ideas.  I’ve seen them being sold at Williams Sonoma for a lot of money, but the following video shows how simple and inexpensive it is to make them at home.  You can fill the jars with what it takes to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, brownies or other dessert ideas.  Simply wrap with a bow and list directions on the gift tag.  Kim Danger from the video also mentions how you can make body scrubs and give them as gifts.  Interesting, but I’m not sure how you would know what to put in the scrubs?  Regardless, here is the short video on handmade Christmas gifts!

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Holiday planning for cash-strapped Canadians

(NC)—For many Canadians, 2011 was a rough year. Layoffs, family emergencies, and poor investment choices have meant you’re counting pennies and struggling to pay off debt. And, with the pending holiday season, you’re stressed about finding money in the budget for appropriate and meaningful gifts. After all, with holiday parties, seasonal decorations, and multiple trips to the mall, December can be a difficult month for even the most organized of budgeters. So what should you do?

Start early. By purchasing a few gifts every month – instead of leaving everything to the last minute—Canadian shoppers can take the time and effort to source out sales, buy in bulk, and shop around for the best deal. In addition, starting early often means spreading out the cost of Christmas shopping over a few pay cheques, which decreases the stress felt by most shoppers in December.

Think outside the box. Gifts given in the name of a loved one from a charitable organization are available year round (perfect for early planners) and are tax deductible—a definite bonus for shoppers on a budget. Organizations like Christian Children’s Fund of Canada offer life saving gifts for children and families living in extreme poverty, which benefits both the giver and the recipient. You can visit their website at www.ccfcanada.ca/Gifts.

Invite people in. Hosting a holiday potluck is a wonderful way to show appreciation to loved ones. Giving your time to someone else is more valuable than anything you can wrap in a box. Plan ahead and organize a get-together that will build relationships and result in warm memories.

www.newscanada.com

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Tips to simplify holiday gift shopping

(NC)—Are you overwhelmed at the prospect of tackling your holiday gift list? Here are a few tips to help put your fears to rest and conquer that list like a pro:

1. Get gifts that are personal. Start by making a list. Write down who you are shopping for and then list their interests. This will help you narrow down gift ideas and ensure success.

2. Avoid spending time on wasteful items – such as a card for every present. Print personalized labels at stickeryou.com and put them on everything from presents to wine bottles to your holiday baking. This will save time AND money.

3. Find gifts that can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you have four family members on your list, cut it down by settling on one gift they can all enjoy together. A board game, a DVD set, even a craft toy. For example, StickerYou.com has a new product called Make + Print Your Own Stickers. It offers packages of 40-110 stickers that make for a fun craft project for the whole family. Mom can make family address labels, dad can come up with funny bumper stickers, and the kids can design name stickers for all their gear.

4. Order on-line. Avoid line ups at the mall – let the gifts come to you. Or better yet – have it shipped directly to them.

More gift information is available online at www.stickeryou.com

www.newscanada.com

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