The online shopping market has been very volatile since its high point in 1999. Many online merchants have come and gone, depending on how they faired in the Dot Com Crash. Traditional brick-and-mortar merchants have been able to develop a strong Internet presence. In the past, there were few safeguards in place to protect online shopping purchases, lots of sites did not have privacy policies, navigation was tedious, and many were nothing more than online brochures.

In today's shopping arena, privacy and security are the most important things online consumers should be looking for when deciding where to do their Internet shopping. Clear, concise privacy statements are a must. They should state that personal information will not be shared with third parties without the customer's explicit consent. Technology makes it possible to provide secure credit-card transactions.

As the saying goes, "content is king." Great content still rates first when it comes to online shopping. Solid content offers full product lines with photographs and useful descriptions. Online auctions help shoppers locate hard-to-find items while saving hours they would have spent at flea markets or garage sales. Books, music, and video sites offer vast product inventories with product reviews, author and artist biographies, and excerpts. Electronic sites offer side-by-side comparison tools. Buying movie tickets online insures prim seats, as well as provide information about the show and its cast.

There are four ways to shop: New Used Auctions Classifieds

Mother's Day Gifts Shopping Tips

The Best Gift You Can Possibly Give Mom

by Nancy Twigg

Several year ago I polled a large group of moms to find out what they consider to be the perfect Mother's Day gift. Again and again, the sentiment I heard was the same. What mothers appreciate more than any gadget or gizmo is the one thing they never have enough of: time to themselves.

If there's a mother on your gift list this Mother’s Day, why not put your creative thinking skills to work? Figure out a way to give her a little time to call her own. I promise she’ll love you for it! Here are a few ideas that are simple, inexpensive and time-oriented:

*Volunteer to take the kids for a weekend trip so she can have the house to herself for a two whole days of quiet rest and relaxation. Pick the kids up from school on Friday afternoon and don’t come back until Sunday evening. For trip ideas that are both fun and frugal, consider camping or visiting relatives.

* If a whole weekend is too much, surprise her by taking her kids and taking off for an evening. Make your gift even more special by also presenting her with something to occupy this windfall of time: the newest issue of her favorite magazine, a novel by her favorite author, or a video you know she'd love.

* Give her a coupon for a whole week off from cooking dinner. You and the kids do all the preparation, serving and clean up. Let her relish the rare opportunity to enjoy her meals without worrying about how the food got to the table or how the dirty dishes will leave the table when she’s done. * Write an IOU for one Saturday a month of housecleaning and watching the kids. Tell her that for the next six months, she’ll have one whole day free each month to work on craft projects, spend time with friends or go shopping alone.

If you’re a mom reading this article, feel free to drop a few hints to family members if any of these ideas sound particularly appealing. And don’t forget that dads enjoy time to themselves, too. You can easily modify these “timely” gift ideas to work for Father’s Day gift-giving as well.

----Nancy Twigg is the editor of Counting the Cost, a free email newsletter about simple and frugal living. She is also the author of the new book, Celebrate Simply: Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays and Special Occasions. To learn more about living simply or celebrating simply, visit Nancy online at www.countingthecost.com

Shopping Tip

Are you safe when shopping in online stores?

by Finn Jensen

Why shop online in the first place? When you decide to go online for shopping there is a reason for that. Of course there is reason you think. But really; why not just go down town and buy the product you need? It's probably only a street or block away.

Because you like to do some fast research on the net to compare prices maybe or to simply check your options out there in the product jungle. By a click on the mouse your product is on its way to your home. It's amazing how easy it is now a days. Only a few years back in time you went to the mall to get all your shopping done in one place.

But now, you got the internet, which is one giant world wide mall. You can buy all kinds of stuff and products online: luxury, furniture's, motorcycles, cars, wigs, diamond rings, shoes, golf equipment, jewellery, grocery, saltwater fish and a much more. I don't think there is anything that the internet does not offer in some way.

But how safe are you really? One thing that is important when you shop in online stores is, look for the https in the URL in your browser before typing anything private in the stores checkout page. The s that is put in front of the http indicates that the transmission is secure and encrypted. That is preventing hackers to listen in on your shopping to steal your private data. The last thing you want is for some hacker to empty your bank account either directly or via shopping in your name so to speak. So, look for the https.

Can I trust the online stores? How sure can you be that the store actually intends to send you any of the goods you order? Maybe they simply keep your money and that is all you ever going to see from them. Again, look for signs that this online store is serious. Look for customer service; there should be a direct phone number to the store, if you have any questions you need to be answered before or after your purchase. How do they ship items, and how about if you want to return the item? It should also be possible to pay via international credit cards like Visa or similar cards. I think it is too risky to transfer money directly into a bank account, unless you know the store well.

Final word about online stores. I enjoy shopping online. I purchase books, both e-books and regular books, clothes, vitamins, access to information and much more. The net is a wonderful media when searching for information and services. Just look for the secure signs, and enjoy your shopping in online stores.

Finn Jensen is a freelance business man.

Finn Jensen may be contacted at

RESTON, Va., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCOR) , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released an update of holiday season e-commerce spending covering the first 32 days (November 1 - December 2) of the November - December 2007 holiday season. More than $14 billion has been spent online during the season-to-date, marking a 17-percent gain versus the corresponding days last year. The heaviest online spending day of the season thus far was Cyber Monday (November 26) with $733 million in sales.

  2007 Holiday Season To Date vs. Corresponding Days* in 2006
  Non-Travel (Retail) Spending
  Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
  Total U.S. -- Home/Work/University Locations
  Source: comScore, Inc.

                                                   Billions ($)

  Holiday Season to Date             2006            2007    Pct Change

November 1 - - December 2 $12.08 $14.15 17%

  Week Ending December 2            $3.55           $4.14           17%
  Thanksgiving Day (November 22)    $0.21           $0.27           29%
  "Black Friday" (November 23)      $0.43           $0.53           22%
  "Cyber Monday" (November 26)      $0.61           $0.73           21%

  * Corresponding Shopping Days, Not Calendar Days

"This most recent week started strong as consumers spent $733 million on Cyber Monday, which was followed by three consecutive days where spending surpassed $700 million," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. "However, strong sales subsided towards the end of the week, eventually resulting in a 17-percent gain versus the corresponding time period last year -- in line with the growth rates we've experienced for the season-to-date."

Video Games & Consoles Still Surging Since Last Year

Video games, consoles & accessories continues to be the hottest online retail category, rising 145 percent in November versus the corresponding days last year, while furniture, appliances & equipment (up 45 percent) and sport & fitness (up 30 percent) are also performing well. Three of the most popular holiday season categories, toys, consumer electronics, and books & magazines, are each growing at 17 percent, coinciding with total online retail spending growth.

  Fastest Growing Retail E-Commerce Categories by Dollar Sales
  Non-Travel (Retail) Spending
  Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
  November 1-30 vs. Corresponding Days in 2006
  Total U.S. -- Home/Work/University Locations
  Source: comScore, Inc.

                                         Percent Change in
  Retail Category                    Category Spending ($)
  Video Games, Consoles & Accessories                 145%
  Furniture, Appliances & Equipment                    45%
  Sport & Fitness                                      30%
  Toys                                                 17%
  Consumer Electronics                                 17%
  Books & Magazines                                    17%
  Apparel & Accessories                                16%
  Computer Hardware                                    15%
  Music, Movies & Videos                               14%
  Home & Garden                                        14%

  comScore 2007 Retail E-Commerce Forecast

  Online Non-Travel (Retail) Holiday Consumer Spending
  Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
  Total U.S. -- Home/Work/University Locations
  Source: comScore, Inc.

                                                   Billions ($)
                                                                    Pct
                                     2006            2007        Change
  January - October                 $77.5           $93.6           21%
  Holiday Season (Nov-Dec)          $24.6           $29.5*          20%*

  *comScore forecast



  About comScore

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. This capability is based on a massive, global cross-section of more than 2 million consumers who have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that captures and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Through its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of behavior and attitudes. comScore analysts apply this deep knowledge of customers and competitors to help clients design powerful marketing strategies and tactics that deliver superior ROI. comScore services are used by more than 800 clients, including global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, BBC, Carat, Cyworld, Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Financial Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestle, Starcom, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, Verizon, ViaMichelin, Merck and Expedia. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com/.

Web site: http://www.comscore.com/

BALTIMORE, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Seventy-four percent of those who shop for the holidays say they finish their shopping at least a few weeks before the holidays in a poll conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Prime Retail.

"We've noticed a dramatic increase in shoppers taking advantage of the deals, sales and one-of-a-kind bargains typically offered at the start of the holiday shopping season," said Paula Rowland, chief marketing officer, Prime Retail. "We quantified our observation, finding that nearly three-quarters of today's holiday shoppers are indeed getting out and completing their holiday shopping earlier than before, putting to rest the notion that all Americans shop for holiday gifts last minute. We are a nation of planners and our shopping habits are no different."

According to Rowland, Prime Retail guests view shopping as a passionate sport, equating Black Friday, the day the holiday shopping season starts, to that of the Super Bowl or the World Series. That is why 15 of Prime Retail's outlet centers will open at midnight after Thanksgiving celebrations on Thursday, November 22, officially kicking-off the traditional holiday shopping season for their savvy and proactive customers.

Prime Outlet locations that will open for After Thanksgiving Midnight Openings include:

  1.  Prime Outlets - Birch Run, Michigan
  2.  Prime Outlets - Ellenton, Florida
  3.  Prime Outlets - Gaffney, South Carolina
  4.  Prime Outlets - Grove City, Pennsylvania
  5.  Prime Outlets - Gulfport, Missouri
  6.  Prime Outlets - Hagerstown, Maryland
  7.  Prime Outlets - Huntley, Illinois
  8.  Prime Outlets - Jeffersonville, Ohio
  9.  Prime Outlets - Lebanon, Tennessee
  10. Prime Outlets - International, Orlando Florida
  11. Prime Outlets - Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
  12. Prime Outlets - Queenstown, Maryland
  13. Prime Outlets - San Marcos, Texas
  14. Prime Outlets - St. Augustine, Florida
  15. Prime Outlets - Williamsburg, Virginia

Known for housing a collection of top-name brands, Prime Retail's outlet locations define successful holiday shopping not only by the wide selection of merchandise to choose from, but also by the ease and convenience to complete the annual task at their one-stop locations.

About Prime Retail

Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Prime Retail is the parent company of Prime Outlets and one of the largest and most successful owners of retail centers in the U.S. Its portfolio spans approximately 15 million square feet throughout major markets of the United States and Puerto Rico. Adding nearly two million more square feet to its portfolio over the next several years and introducing category-defining shopping concepts, Prime Retail is positioned to become the leading retail outlet company in the industry. For more information, please visit www.primeretail.com.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States from September 6- 10, 2007 among 2,542 U.S. adults ages 18 and over. Results were weighted as needed for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the U.S. adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to be invited to participate in the Harris Interactive online research panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

Source: Prime Retail

Web site: http://www.primeretail.com/

In the first part of the article series 10 vital tips to make your online shopping with credit cards safe and better we learned about 5 safe online shopping tips. In the second part of this article we look at 5 more tips to make sure that your online shopping experience doesn't land you in any kind of trouble.

1. Credit card information with PIN

Many websites simply don't ask for a PIN when they tell you to submit your credit card number. A PIN is a security measure provided by the credit card agency to make sure that the person using the credit card is a genuine one and is not using a stolen credit card. This process of verification of identity while submitting credit card numbers is a good practice and care should be taken that shopping on sites which do not offer this feature can be risky.

2. Credit card information matching

Some online shopping websites match the user information such as name, date of birth and address with the one on the records of credit card company. This way even if your credit card is in wrong hands it cannot be misused unless the holder has all the details about you. It is always good to shop with websites which have this feature.

3. Referrals

We live in a connected world and there is a great possibility to have a friend or relative who has done online shopping. It is a good practice to ask about their experiences with a particular e-commerce website. This feedback will give you a first hand experience of the security and reliability of a particular online shopping website.

4. Customer Feedback

A dissatisfied customer is a great asset for you. He will tell you about all the problems he faced while dealing with a particular website. Check for customer feedback on the site. And you will get a vital insights about security and reliability.

5. Listed with trusted agencies

BBB (Better Business Bureau) and other State and local consumer agencies do keep a track of companies which follow good and secure business policies. If a particular online shopping or business is listed with such trusted agencies, it is good to bank upon it and chances are good that you won't be duped in any way.

Online shopping has opened a new world of convenience, cost-effectiveness and consumer friendly environment. Online shopping websites are doing their part in keeping the shopping experience a safe and rewarding one but there are precautions to be taken on the consumer's end. Keep the facts listed in this two part article series in mind and your online shopping experience with credit cards will be on the safer side.

Cynthia Stewart an expert author and credit card consultant,provides great Advanta credit card tips. Read more credit card articles at his credit card website.

cynthia stewart may be contacted at 18823, Birdseye or cynthialstewart@gmail.com

by Kyle James

Gosh I love a good deal! You can really get some great deals online when you use coupons. For example, last year I bought a leather office chair at OfficeDepot.com for $49. The original price on this chair was over $100, but with an online coupon plus a sale that they were having I got a fantastic deal! The idea of coupons has always been a love/hate relationship for many consumers. You love them if you have them but you hate the effort it takes to use them. In the past, to use coupons you needed to find them in newspapers, magazines, etc., clip them out, and sort them so they could easily be found. This often took up more time than it was worth. But now that we live in a digital world, using coupons is as simple as typing in a code while checking out of your favorite online retailer. This code is known as a ‘coupon code’ or ‘promotional code’ and many of the most popular online retailers have them available to the public. These retailers include practically every store you might see walking through a major mall and some that are only familiar to avid online shoppers.

What Exactly is an Online Coupon Code? A ‘coupon code’ is offered by retailers to encourage spending and customer loyalty. The coupon might read like this ‘Free shipping on your $25 order, enter coupon code ‘FREESHIP’ at checkout’, or ‘Save 10% off your $50 order, enter coupon code ‘10OFF’ at checkout’. With the tough economy that we are experiencing and the increasing costs of shipping, online coupons can be a real life-saver to families, especially around holidays and birthdays!

Where Do I Get These Online Coupons? How do you find most things on the Internet? You search for them and coupons are no different! Let’s say you are shopping at JCPenney.com and you find that perfect outfit that you can’t live without! Perhaps you are thinking it is a little more than you wanted to spend. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a coupon for free shipping or $10 off your $75 order? This is what I call a ‘Coupon Moment’! Simply go to your favorite search engine (I prefer Google.com) and type in “JCPenney Coupons” and presto, you will immediately be bombarded by sites that collect and organize coupons for you! Some coupon sites are better than others as they are updated daily and rarely have out-dated coupons. I recommend bookmarking or adding your favorite coupon site to your browser ‘Favorites’.

I Have My Coupon Code, Now What? Once you have found your coupon, just enter the coupon code into the appropriate box during the checkout process on the retailer’s website. Remember, the location where you enter your code varies by retailer. You will be prompted to enter your coupon code anywhere from the 'shopping cart' page to the 'billing' page. Look for a box saying coupon code, promotional code, promotional discount, discount code, or any variation of these terms and enter it in the corresponding box.

~More Important Coupon Tid-Bits~ 1. – IMPORTANT – ‘Make sure your discount/coupon is reflected in your order total before you confirm or finalize your order’, otherwise you are up a creek without a paddle. In other words, the retailer will have no sympathy for you if you forget to enter the coupon code or fail to realize that the code you entered has already expired. There is nothing worse than paying full price when you don’t have to. 2. - Worried about using your credit card online? Always look for a little locked padlock (often yellow) at the bottom of your browser window. Secondly, always verify that the url (web address) at checkout changes from http:// to https://. These two security checks verify the site has gone through the appropriate measures to ensure their site is SSL Secured and is safe to enter your credit card information. 3. - Always print out your receipt for your records just in case any problems arise with your order.

Follow the advice I have given you in this article, and I ensure you your wallet will grow! Once you start using online coupons, you will never go back to paying full price!

by Thomas Fisher

The Internet can be a shopper's paradise, as long as you know how to shop safely and avoid hidden fees. Here are some tips to make sure your online shopping experience is a positive one.

Make sure the web site is reputable.

If you're shopping on a new site that you've never done business with before and it isn't a brand name you recognize, take the time to do a little homework before you share any sensitive personal information. Look around the site to see if there's a third-party seal of approval posted from a trusted source like the Better Business Bureau Online, or Trust-E. Membership in these organizations means the web site has agreed to be held to strict standards in how they handle personal information, as well as customer complaints.

You can also enter the name of the web site or business into your favorite search engine to see what comes up. If someone has had a bad experience with the site, it may be mentioned in a user forum or consumer information site.

Only shop at sites that use secure technology.

When information is passed between your computer and the shopping site's server, it should be encrypted. If a shopping site's server uses encryption technology, your data will be scrambled into something like 'secret code' and then unscrambled when it reaches the shopping site's server, to prevent unscrupulous hackers from capturing the information during transmission.

When a shopping site asks you for any kind of personal data, there are two things to look for to know that it's using encryption technology:

- An icon of a small locked padlock will appear in the bottom right of your monitor's screen.

- The URL of the web page should begin with "https:", which also indicates that it's a secure web page.

Know what your shipping costs will be before you check out.

A reputable site will make their shipping costs easy to find, before you check out. Take the time to look for this information, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Data collected from surveys of online shopping experiences consistently show that the one thing online shoppers dislike above all is shipping charges. While it's unavoidable that you have to absorb the cost of shipping one way or another, smart retailers will try to keep these costs to a minimum. Sometimes they'll do this creatively by offering you incentives to purchase more, to help offset their costs for discounted shipping charges.

And while reputable sites will have a liberal return policy in the event you're not happy with your merchandise, be aware that in most cases you won't be reimbursed for the shipping charges to return the item.

Make sure you understand the return policy.

Never purchase anything from a web site without reading the fine print - particularly the fine print about its return policy. Good retail sites will allow you to return items you're not completely happy with, but sometimes there are stipulations that you should be aware of before you order.

Is there a restocking fee? This charge can be anywhere from 5%-20% of an item's purchase price, and is meant to discourage customers from returning merchandise. Also make sure you know how much time you have to return an item in order to receive a refund. Some companies seem to allow an almost unlimited return window, but in some cases it can be as little as one week after you receive your order. You may still be able to return an item after this period, but will only receive a store credit instead of a full refund.

Shop with confidence.

Online retail sales in the U.S. amounted to $65B in 2004, and predictions for 2008 expect that figure to rise to $117B. An unbelievable variety of merchandise is already available on the Internet, and as time goes on the choices will be even greater. But to take advantage of this shopping paradise, consumers still need to be savvy shoppers. Shop securely and read the fine print, and then enjoy the savings and convenience of online shopping!

Shopping Center Mall - Save up to 40% on your next online purchase. Over 700 stores to choose from. Get $2 just for signing up and get paid to refer others!

Thomas Fisher may be contacted at http://www.shoppingcentermall.com/ or thomas@myarticleannouncer.com

Do You Indulge In Retail Therapy? Here is how you can shop without going broke!

by Janice Wee

Whenever I am depressed, I go shopping. Retail therapy has always been one of my favourite ways to destress.

The lure of the hunt. For that special something that catches your eye, priced unbelievably low, or at such a huge discount. 70% discounts at stores often turn normally lady like women into wild beasts. Everyone grabbing for that last piece from a coveted designer must have, priced at 70%, or even 90% the normal price.

It always works for me.. initially. As long as I can still make ends meet after these binges. I just love the thrill of buying things, and knowing that I got them at below the regular retail prices.

Leave me alone in a mall for 10 minutes, even with 2 preschool kids, I guarantee you. I'd be carrying bags of shopping, kids in tow, when you get back.

There is the thrill of the hunt. Going to a sale, not knowing what fantastic buy you might spot. Then you see it. That coveted designer brand normally beyond your budget, suddenly priced low enough for you to comfortably afford. You try it on. You love the way it looks on you. You buy it. That sense of satisfaction is indescribable. You move on to the next store. That high lasts until you see your credit card bill.

Worse still, those outfits you buy may be worn once or not at all, before you give them away.

It is something like going on an eating binge. You diet for ages trying to lose weight. Then suddenly, you just throw caution to the winds. You eat like a pig, gobbling down all the yummy, calorie laden desserts, snacks and favourite foods you have deprived yourself after so long.

Retail therapy, uncontrolled, can leave you broke. Especially with easy access to credit cards, you can chalk up a major debt if you are not careful.

Still, like calorie laden desserts, you can still indulge in retail therapy and stay within your budget.

Like eating less or even skipping a meal after you binge at a grand buffet, and eating less in the following days after it, you can indulge in retail therapy, if you spend less in the days after it.

There are things you have to buy anyway. Why not focus your retail therapy on what you actually need.

Make a list of the things you actually need.

Do you need a brand new jacket for work, to create a better impression in the board room? You could use your next retail therapy session to hunt down that ideal jacket when you need that boost.

You could even have your retail therapy in your favourite supermarket, buying the food you and your family actually need, sourcing out the deals. Again, make a list of what you actually need and stick to that list when you go shopping.

Or if you spot a gorgeous luxury item like a very expensive bag, you might want to save up for months first before you actually splurge on it. By the time you have saved enough money to buy the bag, you might even have lost interest and could put the money to better use.

The trick here is to spend only what you have. Credit cards give you the illusion you have far more money to spend than you actually have. Buy now pay later is a very dangerous way to think. Many people have ended up bankrupt after that.

Yes, you could always use that card to pay for whatever you want, and then pay the credit card bill in installments for the next few months. Meanwhile, the credit card company gets to make money off you in the interest charges which could be as high as 24% per annum (2% per month adds up to a lot in the long run).

Can't pay the bill in full? Roll it over to the next month. Get another card to pay off some the debt in the old card and more spending power.

Before you know it, your debt is so high, you can't imagine how you could possibly clear away all that debt.

Personally, I am a webmaster with a sometimes uncontrollable urge to splurge. I would usually buy something whenever I step out of my home. Nowadays, I tell myself to hold off the purchase. I can get a better deal on the web.

Retail therapy extends online too. Online stores can offer even better deals than your usual retail store. The brick and motar retails stores have to pay rent for all that shopping space. Online stores have far less overheads and can afford to pass their savings to us. Their customers.

Every now and then, online stores would have discounts of some items, or short term promotions where you can save a substantial amount of money off your order. Some stores even have coupons which you enter into a box when you check out, for free shipping or a certain percentage savings off your purchase. Take your time to make use of these savings and get the most of your online shopping experience. I love buying jewelry online for gifts and I always do it online.

The best part about online stores is that you can take your time to shop, without some pesky sales person trying to pressurize you into buying something you really don't need. Ok, some stores have pesky live help pop up windows, but you can always close those windows so you can shop in peace.

The writer is the webmaster of http://www.womanht.com/discounts/ . This site features items that are currently priced below retail prices. It is also where you can also get coupons to use for savings in a number of online stores.

You'll find more information about this topic and great prices on related products at www.cheapestsale.com

Janice Wee may be contacted at http://www.cheapestsale.com/

4 reasons why you should shop online

by ian tham

The widespread acceptance of broadband now makes online shopping popular. You are no longer charged for internet surfing by usage of the amount of time. Broadband plans have fixed charges and you can surf as long as you want. Broadband also makes shopping easier as the pages download in a jiffy.

Shopping online also allows you customization of your order. At the shop front store, you simply make do with the specifications offered. Whereas online, you can actually choose the exact specification you need.

Ever tried hunting for a particular item at a local shop and be disappointed? Or traveling long distances from shop to shop and yet to your dismay they do not carry your requested item.

What's great is that you don't have to face pushy salespeople who insist that you buy even though you have not made up your mind. You can easily compare prices of different online shops just by a click of the mouse. There's no need to go to another faraway store to check their prices. You can also go to a shoppers' forum and check out comments and feedback by other shoppers and consumers.

Online shopping saves you time and transportation cost. With oil prices skyrocketing , it is wiser to shop online. There's no need to visit several stores by car.

Some stores also offer free shipping if you exceed a certain purchase amount or if you buy selected items.

You get better variety and choices online. If you are looking for a specific book, it is easier to get it online than in a physical shop. For example, Amazon carries 3 million titles while a physical store carries only 80,000 titles. When you are at a physical store, the size of clothes you want may be out of stock. You have access to a greater variety of products too. A store may just offer 2 colors for your product while online you may choose from a wide range of colors.

Ahh.. The wonders of online shopping. You are never restricted by shopping hours or location. A physical shop manned by retail staff have fixed working hours. Online stores are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. You can make your purchase as and when you want it. You are not limited to a few shops . In fact you can choose to shop across borders and contingent.

Some shopping sites like www.shoppingsuzy.com even bring together items from many different shops all over the internet. Other shopping websites like www.cheapestsale.com allow you to compare prices for items across many different online stores. Price Online stores offer lower prices as they did not require staff and retail store. They save on wages on sales staff and rent on the physical store and passing saving to the customers.

Manufacturers are now able to sell direct to consumers thereby cutting off retail intermediaries and passing the cost savings to consumers.

The writer is runs the online store Hooked on Liverpool Football Club Sports Fans Store

The writer is the webmaster of digiteevee.com which covers the use of technology in your daily life.

ian tham may be contacted at or webmaster@digiteevee.com

Men and Christmas Shopping Don't Mix

by Jan Andersen

Let’s not beat about the bush. Men hate shopping. Unless they are searching for some sort of power tool for themselves.

Only this morning, my other half breezed enthusiastically into our home office brandishing his latest gadget-like purchase. At the time, I was sitting gazing at a blank PC screen searching for inspiration, which arrived instantly in the form of a Bosch Router.

“Look at this!” he enthused, as he waved this heavy metal object menacingly above my head. “Remember me telling you about how I wanted an edging tool, so that I could get a nice profile on the borders of furniture, like this desk for example?” he said, running his middle finger across the perimeter of his recent creation and then swiftly removing it when the razor-sharp edge sliced through his flesh.

“Well, now that I’ve got this, I can do that”, he gushed, as I ducked to avoid this now identified flying object swooping precariously past my cranium, whilst he gave a charades’ type demonstration of the action that one would employ when using such a contraption.

Mention the words B&Q, Do-It-All, Homebase and, above all, power tools and his face lights up like a Halloween pumpkin. Mention any other type of shopping, for anyone other than himself, and his features contort into an expression on a par with someone who’s just stepped, barefooted, into a pile of dog excrement.

Naturally, from a man’s point of view, Christmas is the worst time of year to engage in the tedious pastime of shopping, not just for one person, but for a miscellaneous assortment of friends and relatives, some of whom you only hear from once a year via a brown paper package containing a home knitted garment.

This loosely-woven hand knit is generally a ferret-coloured sweater that would fit a cross between an anorexic chicken and monkey, sent with much love from someone with a name like Auntie Beryl, who always has stale, tea breath, who wears rancid, Eau-de-Skunk perfume and whose Orang-utan lipstick overflows the outline of her lips and invades the rest of her face in a haphazard pattern. Oh, and she always seems to forget that you’ve matured somewhat, mentally and physically, since you were a mere six years old.

As far as men are concerned, Christmas shopping is best left until an hour before closing time on Christmas Eve. This is the “panic and buy anything for the sake of having to” hour and trying to secure the best of what is remaining on the spartan shelves. The tacky choice generally includes a cellophane wrapped set of Lavender fragranced talc and bath cubes, a pair of musical Santa socks, a reduced price window candle arch, with two faulty bulbs and a Popular Christmas Songs album, by some obscure artist sporting a coat hanger grin, Grecian 2000 hair and a diamond-patterned pullover.

The only time that my partner enjoys the shopping experience as a couple, is when we visit select underwear stores, allowing him to sidle off and rifle lustfully through the transparent lingerie and waggle his fingers through the gap in crotchless panties. When shopping as an attached man, he can conduct himself in this manner without question. Unaccompanied, he would give the impression of either being a pervert or of harbouring a secret fetish for cross-dressing.

Last week, accompanied by our one-year-old daughter, we visited a shopping mall in Bristol to “tentatively” search for some Christmas gifts. Led by my “likes to be in control” partner, we skirted past 101 women’s clothes’ shops before I barely had time to drool longingly through the window at some over-priced, flirtatious little number, as it hung perfectly from some unbelievably stick-like, plastic dummy. And no, I don’t mean Pamela Anderson.

Suddenly, without prior warning, my beloved quickened his pace to the equivalent of having had a large stick of dynamite lodged up his behind, before veering sharply to the right and cutting across the paths of innocent pedestrians. He must have assumed that I was following, since not once did he glance over his shoulder to check that I was trotting dutifully behind.

Darting in and out of a bustling crowd of people, who all seem to be travelling at right angles to you, is not so much of a problem when you are not weighed down by any sort of baggage. However, when you have a mind-of-its-own pushchair and a large, golfing umbrella that has a habit of piercing unsuspecting victims in the nether regions, life becomes a tad more difficult.

After playing skittles with the pushchair and mobile human targets and ruining a nice young man’s reproductive capacity with my umbrella spike, I spotted my eager sidekick disappearing into a store that had “The Gadget Shop” emblazoned across the entrance.

Typical.

He spent more time in this store excitedly twiddling with knobs (imagining they were nipples, no doubt) and pushing various buttons, than we did in total looking around the entire mall. After declaring, “I’ve got to get one of these” at least ten times, he announced, “Well, that’s about it then. Not really much else here is there?”

“So aren’t we actually going to do any Christmas shopping today then?” I enquired.

“No, I think I’ll take a day off work in December”, he said.

“When, exactly?” I asked.

“Oh, probably Christmas Eve”, he replied……..

---

Jan Andersen is a British freelance writer and mother of four children. Her youngest three children are aged 17, 15 and 3. Jan's eldest son, Kristian tragically died on 1 November 2002 at the age of 20, as a result of which she has just launched a new supportive website for families who have lost a child to suicide: http://childsuicide.homestead.com.

Jan specializes in humorous, satirical and thought-provoking articles, essays and columns on diverse topics, from relationships, parenting and women's issues, to psychology, health and social issues.

She also owns and run Mothers Over 40, an inspirational and supportive site for older parents and those considering midlife pregnancy. www.mothersover40.com http://worldwriter.homestead.com

John Lewis Tops Poll of Britain's Favourite Stores

by Michael Hanna

"John Lewis" came out tops in an industry poll of British shoppers favourite stores. The department store was voted the best in what turned out to be a strong showing for John Lewis, with the groups' supermarket store "Waitrose" take second spot.

The poll of 6,000 shoppers by the analyst Verdict covers all kinds of retail outlets, from DIY stores to shoe shops, and measures satisfaction in a range of categories. The annual survey takes into account a number of criteria, including customer service, satisfaction, product range and quality. Price, ambience and store layout are also considered on a different level. John Lewis knocked Ikea from the top spot, with discount fashion retailers "TK Maxx" and "Matalan" coming in 3rd and 4th respectively.

Big movers included branded shoe store "Schuh" and toiletries outlet "Savers". Britain's largest supermarket chain "Tesco" didn't make the top ten, but fared relatively well at 33rd position.

The biggest losers of the survey were "Ikea", who fell to 5th position following three consecutive years at the top of the poll.

The survey, which is in its sixth year, measured categories for the 67 most popular shops used by the consumers surveyed. It also indicates a shift in shopping habits as the majority of top performers are traditional high street retailers, with out of town retail outlets faring less well than in previous years. The survey also shows a strong representation for online retail with "Amazon" moving from 16th to 6th place in the poll.

Here you can see the top ten retailers that the poll has come up with (and last year's position in brackets):

Top 10 Retail Stores

1. John Lewis (last year - 2)

2. Waitrose (20)

3. TK Maxx (4)

4. Matalan (10)

5. Ikea (1)

6. Amazon (14)

7. Savers (39)

8. Schuh (31)

9. Wilkinson (23)

10. B& (7)

Source: Verdict Survey

Author: Michael Hanna

About Michael

Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

Contact details:

E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com Phone: 0131 561 2251
Michael's Website: Belfast

Michael Hanna may be contacted at http://www.gransha-taxi.co.uk

Cut Your Grocery Bills by HALF - Eight Essential Techniques for Every Shopper!

by Faye Prosser

Want to Buy Much More for Less? Imagine filling your cart with your favorite groceries, but only paying a fraction of the total cost. By mastering the eight essential techniques, every shopper who buys groceries can get the most out of their hard-earned money.

1. Learn the art of couponing. Smart shoppers know, without question, that using coupons wisely is the greatest money saving technique when it comes to buying groceries. They know how, when and where to use those little pieces of "paper gold" and they know just where to find the best coupons for the products they prefer to buy. Their coupons are well-organized and accessible so they don't ever miss an unadvertised sale. Smart spenders pay for a good portion of their groceries using coupons and save more than 50% off their weekly budgets each and every week.

2. Compare apples to apples. How do you know whether something is really a bargain just because it is on sale? By developing a Price Book, you are able to compare the price per unit of one size package to another. This allows you to compare the 200-ounce box of warehouse club bran cereal to the 20-ounce bag of the same type of cereal from the grocery store. Smart spenders know the surprising news that often, the smaller container is less expensive per unit than the bulk container when used in conjunction with coupons and sales.

3. Gain leverage from sales flyers. By reviewing the sales flyers that stores issue every week, you can plan your weekly menu, decide where to shop, determine what to include on your grocery list, and choose the best money-saving coupons to use at the store. Smart spenders realize that the key to the greatest savings is purchasing the best sale items listed in the weekly flyers and then using coupons for those items.

4. Be a proud card-carrying member. Sign up for the frequent shopper rewards cards at the stores you shop. Without them, you won't be offered the sale prices or special incentives and you may lose out on thousands of dollars in savings a year. Many stores will even mail great money-saving coupons to members throughout the year. Smart spenders take advantage of the sale prices by using their rewards cards every time they shop.

5. Savor store brand savings. Companies have worked hard to improve their private-label brands and often the taste is just as delicious as the national brand. Store brand products are generally 20% less expensive than the national brands, which means everyone should consider them as a money-saving option. Smart spenders understand that store brand items are another effective tool to lower their grocery bills and they don't let a little brand name loyalty stand in their way of savings.

6. Refuse to be overcharged. Many grocery stores carry 30,000 or more items. It is not hard to imagine that there may be a price mistake or two at the register. Before you leave the store, thoroughly review your receipt to make sure you weren't overcharged. If you discover an overcharge, head straight to customer service and explain the error. Many stores have a price scan guarantee, which means that you will receive the entire cost you paid for the item and get to keep the product. Yes, this means you will take home the product for FREE! Smart spenders never leave the store without reviewing the receipt and requesting the price scan guarantee, when applicable.

7. Enjoy delayed gratification. Yes, it's just what you were thinking -rebates. You buy an item that offers a rebate, fill out the form exactly as required, send in the UPC, receipt or other necessary proof of purchase and, after a short delay, you get your money back in the mail. If you are thinking that it doesn't sound so difficult - you are right! But surprisingly, many people don't take advantage of the amazing rebates available for everything from beef to toothpaste to pies. Smart spenders recognize that the savings opportunities are huge, if they are willing to fill out a little form and wait patiently for their gratifying reward.

8. Stick to your strategy and avoid the tactics. Do you smell the fresh cookies baking in the deli? Did you taste those free samples of cereal when you walked into the store? Welcome to the world of store tactics. Their job is to make money marketing the products they sell. Your job is to steer clear of the tactics and stick to your grocery list. Don't be enticed by the sale signs when you know something isn't a good deal. Don't go to the store hungry and don't impulse-shop (unless it's a good unadvertised buy, of course!). Smart spenders come prepared to shop for the items that will save them the most money and they avoid the clever methods designed to persuade you to part with more of your paycheck than you should.

These aren't the only money-saving techniques used by the shopping experts, but they are the basis for the very best buys. With a little discipline and organization, your grocery bills will shrink dramatically and your pantry will be overflowing!

Faye Prosser is the author of "The Smart Spending Guide", December 2005. Her mission is to help others become effective advocates for themselves and their hard-earned money. She teaches people how to budget, reduce debt, and save tremendous amounts of money on groceries and everyday purchases. For more information on "The Smart Spending Guide", the Smart Spending Coupon Organizer or Smart Spending Workshops, visit www.SmartSpendingResources.com.

Faye Prosser may be contacted at http://www.smartspendingresources.com or saving@smartspendingresources.com

Gourmet Coffee Online - Get the Best Bean for your Buck!

by Thomas E. Slaughter

Buying coffee online is not what it used to be. Just like everything else these days, the coffee business has attracted the entrepreneur. This is both good and bad, yet generally not in your best interest.

Your goal is to eliminate as many middlemen as possible, not only to get the Best Price, but also the Freshest Coffee. Too many people between you and the roaster will sacrifice either time (freshness) or money (yours!).

In a drop-ship world, quality control is an important factor. When buying coffee online, knowing what goes on behind the website is the key. Is the website just a front to collect orders and send them on somewhere else ? Are the coffee beans roasted in-house or locally, or are they shipped from across the country to sit on a shelf waiting for orders?

When you surf around the website, can you easily find information on: the history of the company, the ownership, and most importantly - contact information? If you can't find - at the very least - a phone number and a street address, it is time to shop elsewhere. There also needs to be an explanation of where the coffee is roasted and a little info about the packaging and shipping process. And finally, the website should clearly state the "returns" policy.

Just as you can never judge a book by it's cover, the price of the coffee is not the final answer. What about the Shipping and Handling charges? Do you have several options on how it is shipped? FedEx, UPS, and even the U.S. Postal Service do not deliver to all locations. For a while FedEx Ground was not delivering anywhere in New Orleans, not even to the areas unaffected by the storm. Certain rural areas do not have local delivery by the USPS - these folks have to pick up their mail at the local post office when they "go to town".

While most websites offer reasonable shipping rates, others advertise low-priced products and then make up the difference with the shipping charges. After going through most of the online shopping process, some folks just go ahead pay hefty shipping charges just because they want to get on with life. The "Topper" award for the highest shipping price so far is - drum roll - please... $4.45 for a single (one) Mighty Leaf Tea pouch! The tea pouch does not even weigh an ounce; the combined weight with a typical bubble mailer would still be less than one ounce!

Last but not least, is the website shopping cart a "secure" site? When you get into the final stages of purchasing the product, look for the "lock" or "key" symbol at the bottom of the webpage. If you don't see a lock or key, you should think twice about entering your credit card information on a website where the security of your financial information is in question. If the lock or key exists, double-click on it to verify that it is active and valid. You should see the actual dates the "Security Certificate" is valid - make sure they are current.

While you have the Security Certificate window open, click on the Details tab and then click on the Subject field. This will show you more information about the Certificate owner. If you see that the Certificate is issued to a third party, then the website owner may be trying to save a few hundred dollars per year by "sharing" a certificate with another entity. This could also mean that you have been "redirected" to another site, again another reason to exercise caution. Buying Gourmet Coffee Online is fun, easy, and often the best way to get Fresh Roasted Coffee to your home or office. You can be successful if you simply shop at a website that provides the following:

** Physical Address, Phone Number, and Email Address
** Details on the roasting process and location of the roaster
** Reasonable Shipping Rates
** A Secure Website
** The impression that Quality, Customer Satisfaction, and
Great Coffee are a High Priority!

Tom & his wife, Nancy, are the Proprietors of Carolina Coffee and Tea Company and are part of a long line of merchants - going all the way back to the early 1900's with N.H. Slaughter Fancy & Family Groceries. As connoisseurs of great coffee for over 30 years, they specialize in bringing you Fresh Roasted Goodness right to your home or office. Working directly with local roasters, they are your direct link to Great Tasting Coffee . You can visit their online store at http://www.carolinacoffeeandteaco.com
They have the Good Stuff!

Thomas E. Slaughter may be contacted at http://www.carolinacoffeeandteaco.com

Status of the Do Not Call Registry

by Terry Brandon

Although the National Do Not Call Registry is currently the subject of litigation, it remains the intent of many states to protect the privacy of citizens who signed up -- 6.1 million out of the 50 million telephone numbers.

On September 25, 2003, the federal court in Denver barred the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from implementing the National Do Not Call Registry claiming provisions of the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) violate the First Amendment. The FTC is appealing the court ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and expects ultimately to resume operation of the national registry. Forty-four states filed a "friend of the court" brief urging the court to allow the National Do Not Call Registry to resume operation immediately.

In the meantime, whether or not you are signed up for the Do Not call Registry, you can reduce your unwanted telephone solicitations by doing the following:

1. When you receive calls from telemarketers tell them you do not wish to be called.

By law, telemarketers are required to keep company-specific "do not call" lists. This applies to all telemarketing calls, including calls from companies with which you have done business and telemarketing calls on behalf of charities. Be sure to keep a record of each company's name, telephone number, the caller's name and the date. This can be used to report any violations.

2. Sign up with the Direct Marketing Association.

Many major telemarketing companies use this “Do-Not-Call” list. Send your request, with your Name, Address, and Telephone Number (don't forget your area code) to:

Telephone Preference Services
Direct Marketing Association
PO Box 9014
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014

Or if you'd like to sign up on the web there is a $5.00 fee. Go to the DMA website.

3. Use Voice Mail to screen your telephone calls.

Your telephone company may also be able to assist you with services such as caller ID and Privacy Manager.

4. Get an unlisted telephone number and removal from the telephone directory.

An unlisted phone number often lowers the volume of unwanted calls. A fee is normally charge by the telephone company for this. Sometimes you have to make a request for each service.

5. Have your name removed from Commercial Street Address Directories.

Send a written request to have your information removed. Include your name, address, zip code, and phone number The two major commercial directory companies are:

Haines & Company, Inc.
Criss-Cross Directory
Attn. Director of Data Processing
8050 Freedom Avenue NW
North Canton, OH 44720

Equifax
Attn: List Suppression File
26955 Northwestern Hwy
South Field, MI 48034
(800) 873-7655

6. Get your name off the major Credit Reporting Bureau's Marketing Lists.

The four major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, Innovis, and Trans Union share a single hotline to assist consumers in removing their names. Call 1-888-5OPT-OUT to be removed from all four.

7. Protect Your Telephone Number.

Avoid giving your phone number out for any reason. Do not print your telephone number on your checks. Do not give your home telephone number when signing up for contests or sweepstakes. Consider giving your work number when you must give a telephone number to merchants.

8. Toll-Free or "900" Calls.

If you call companies using 800, 888, 877, 866, or 900 numbers, tell them not to share your name, address and telephone number with anyone. You can also tell them not to call you in the future.

Despite legal opposition, Federal regulators say that they will investigate complaints from consumers who receive unwanted telemarketing calls.

Regulators recommend that you tell the caller you are on the national do-not-call registry and ask the telemarketer if he has that list. Make a note for your records in case you decide to file a complaint.

To file a complaint with the FCC send an email to donotcall@fcc.gov or telephone at 888-225-5322 (888-CALL-FCC). The complaint should include your name, address and daytime telephone number, the telemarketer's involved in the complaint, and as much specific information as possible.

© 2003 Terry Brandon, TheOfficeCompany.com. All rights reserved worldwide.

Terry Brandon may be contacted at http://www.TheOfficeCompany.com Terry@TheOfficeCompany.com. Terry Brandon is owner of TheOfficeCompany.com website -- a learning community providing workplace resources for computer users and those working in home, traditional, or mobile office environments. She publishes the Workplace Survival Tactics newsletter.

WEDDING GIFTS

Wedding Gifts

by Ajay Pats

When and how did the "wedding gifts" originate? One has to go back in history as far back as Athenians and their practice of offering presents to those who are about to enter into an agreement "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, for sickness or for health,". Also the practice of wedding gifts dates back to the period when men no longer bartered their wives for their horses; and when mutual friends offered articles that would go far, toward making the housekeeping of the newly-wedded more comfortable.

The Grecian historians have more to tell us on wedding gifts. The wedding gifts used to form a gorgeous display and that friends and relatives competed with each other in offering the best of their wedding gifts that excel in elegance. - wedding gifts include vessels of gold and silver, precious jewels, vases, articles of ornament, magnificent wearing apparel, as well as couches, tables and other household appurtenances.

Today wedding gifts are an all-important part of the ceremony or etiquette of marriage. Times have changed and to think of the historical way of giving wedding gifts like the examples above, is impractical. Present practices of offering wedding gifts limit to more useful things rather than items of display. Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com/winbidbuy/id30.html for gifts and gifts related articles.

Best Way to Get Last Minute Gifts

by Ajay Pats

These days, a lot of people email an online gift card to their friends and family as a last minute gift idea, and with good reason. Selecting an online gift card is now easier than ever, with an ever-growing number of merchants offering their products online. Also, it seems that the more selection people are given, the more selective they become in what they really want. Now, giving people what they really want is easier than ever.

With an online gift card, the worries of finding just the right size and the hassle of standing in line-ups for hours trying to return an unwanted gift are things of the past. Today's retailers have made the process so easy and simple, that it's possible to do all of your holiday shopping in a few hours... from the comfort of your own home. Never in history has shopping for Christmas, birthdays or even weddings been so fast, so simple.

Once the recipient has their online gift card, it can be redeemed in-store as well as online. That way, if the person you're shopping for does not like shopping over the Internet, or just prefers to have the product in their hands, they will still enjoy receiving your gift.Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for greetings and gifts.

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall. Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.

Creating & Maintaining a "Gift Chest"

by Stacie Dahl

With all of the weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, etc. it seems there is always a gift needed at the last minute. Do you have cash in your wallet to slip in the card? Do you re-gift a gift certificate? Do you run to the store and buy on a whim?

Why not solve the last minute rush of gift giving once and for all by creating a "gift chest" full of gifts ready to give.

To create your "gift chest," start by identifying what types of gifts your family needs. Are you invited to a lot of weddings? Do you have kids and get invited to birthday parties? Do you have a lot of friends having babies? After identifying what types of gifts your family is in need of, start by purchasing inexpensive cards for the occasions you are invited to most. Most drug stores have a $0.99 section or what about buying a prepackaged stack of cards with a cute cover and blank insides (buying in bulk is always less expensive).

Next where do you store all these gifts and cards but are still able to find them later on when you need them most. I have an under-the-bed plastic storage bin where I can store the gifts. For cards I use a 13 divider plastic storage accordion file. The dividers can be divided by month and you stick the cards in for the appropriate events in each month. Or you can label your dividers by event--new baby, girl birthday, boy birthday, adult birthday, wedding, etc.

Here are some of my suggestions to start building your gift chest: 1. Young Girls-purses, sparkly stuff, stationery, fun pens & pencils, tea sets, and anything mini and dainty. 2. Young Boys-cars (matchbox to medium size), noise making action figures (be careful of trends and try to pick one that is more timeless), spy kits, small animal sets (farm, dinosaur), people sets (cowboys, army), and camping kits. 3. Generic Children-books, puzzles, crayon packs, activity/coloring books, craft/activity sets, and food making toys--like snow cone maker, chocolate mold maker. 4. Teenagers-fast food gift certificates, journal, books (particularly those to improve their own self image), and a certificate for a one year subscription to a magazine of their choice. 5. Weddings-glass goblets, serving platters/trays, candles with candle holders, cloth napkins with matching table runner and/or placemats but be sure to use a neutral color like white or beige so it doesn't clash with each couples color scheme. 6. New Baby-Get something unique other than an outfit like blankets, bibs, burp cloths, small baby toys. New moms have a hard time remembering who gave what outfit but they will always remember who gave them baby's special blanket for instance.

There are some free activities you can find online as well. For boys and girls, I particularly like http://www.makingfriends.com You can print them out for your kids or grandkids. Or you can even slip them in a card for someone else to enjoy. They can print, cut and make their own paper dolls. These are fun because kids or adults can present a play with their creations, retell a story or glue them to cards for gift giving.

Now when I go to my gift chest I am ready to wrap and don't have to put my life on hold to find a gift. Don't forget to keep your gift chest well stocked but not over-stuffed and overflowing! Try not to buy big bulky items that will use up all your space.

Make sure to keep a budget on gifts and don't overspend. By keeping your gift chest well stocked you can actually save some money by being able to get the items on sale throughout the year and not buying a more expensive item on impulse because you're already late for the party!

About the author: Stacie is a WAHM with 4 little kiddos and owner of Blankie Bundles, an online gift boutique specializing in babies and young children's gifts. Visit: http://www.blankiebundles.com

How to handle a bad gift?

by Ajay Pats

1 - Do not show disappointment or dismay when presented with a bad gift. Try to remember, it's the thought that counts!

2 - Try to be honest but kind. Don't tell the giver that you love the gift, or how great you think it is.

3 - Thank the giver for the thought, not the gift. ie: "It was so nice of you to give me this", or "Thanks so much for thinking of me", or "These are so popular right now".

4 - Discreetly ask where the gift was purchased. ie: "Where ever did you find this?" Then if possible you can try to return the gift. Most stores will give a credit note or exchange the gift for some other merchandise if you don't have the receipt.

5 - Re-use the gift next time you have to give a present. I keep all these types of "special" gifts in a cupboard and that way I always have a supply of gifts on hand. Just be sure the gift wasn't monogrammed!

6 - If you can't return or reuse the gift. Try to remember to set it out or wear it when the gift giver comes to visit. This is especially important if the gift was from your mother-in-law! Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for greetings and gifts.

Shopping Tips:

Cyber E Newsletter - Shopping Tips 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

by Rick Tangri

Shopping Tips #1

When buying a new car first find out the wholesale price. Base your price negotiations on this wholesale price. Do not let a sales person coax you into putting down a deposit or to buy immediately.

Always comparison shop; never pay full price. Keeping a price book can help you keep track of prices at different retailers.

Shopping Tips #2

Some people spend up to $8,000 for a stereo system. The music that it can produce is very high in fidelity. However, it will not be ten times better than a system that costs one-tenth that. Rule of thumb- above $1,000 the return falls down. Mid-priced systems from $600 to $1000 offer the best value. If you do want the best: expensive speakers should be a priority.

When buying a safe, look for the Underwriters' Laboratories Rating A, B, C, D- ratings are fire resistant. A offers the least fire protection E, F, G, H- ratings are burglar resistant. H offers the highest degree of burglar protection. If you can move it so can a burglar.

Shopping Tips #3

Avoid buying tapes from record clubs. The editions the club puts out are inferior in quality and durability. To avoid them buy only from reputable record and tape dealers.

Self-Focusing cameras cost less than 20% on average of manually focus cameras. If you don't have an interest in developing photography skills a self-focusing camera should be a good buy.

Shopping Tips #4

If you are over 50 you can save hundreds of dollars off of car insurance and hotel stays by joining AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). Also, adding your children to your car insurance policy can also save you hundreds per year too.

If you are an average VCR user, someone who uses their VCR to watch prerecorded tapes from a video store, use a two head VCR. A two head VCR costs up to 50 percent less than four head models. The four-head models mostly perform special features like super slow motion that most people do not use.

One way to save big money when shopping for carpet is buy it directly from the carpet mill. You can save up to 65 percent off retail by buying directly from manufacturer. To find shop-at-home carpet mills that deal with the public look through advertisements in the back of home improvement magazines. The drawback to doing this is you have to pay freight costs; however there is still a substantial cost savings.

Shopping Tips #5

Buy cosmetics from drug stores and discount retail chains such as K-Mart. The same Revlon or Cover Girl lipstick can cost four times more at department stores.

You can save over 75 percent by buying Christmas decorations a week or two after Christmas.

Alkaline batteries are not worth the extra the extra cost if the device is to be used occasionally. Zinc batteries retain their charge well for an occasional use.

Most cars do not need premium gasoline. Also, their is not much difference between different brands of gasoline. Most cars can use regular gas without any problems. If you have an expensive car, read the owners manual to find what kind of gasoline your car needs.

It almost never makes sense to buy an extended warranty. On average only 4 to 15 cents of every dollar paid for this service is spent on service. The rest is just profit for retailers.

Rick Tangri is the author of "Cyber E Newsletter". He has helped thousands of individuals save money. For more shopping tips subscribe to the Cyber E Newsletter at: http://cyberereminder.com/mailstuf.htm

Product Reviews and Buyer Protection Programs

Buyer Guides and Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports is available online at www.ConsumerReports.org. They offer a paid monthly subscription service to receive full access to articles and product reviews.

Internet Consumer Tips for Safe Shopping on the Web

What Makes a Good Site?

Good Content
User-Friendly
Policies Posted

Questions Every Good Online Shopper Should Ask Themselves

Know the company you are planning on doing business with. Is there name familiar? What kind of reputation do they have? Information about online companies can be found from Internet news sources, directories, and ratings services. For more information, go to the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at www.consumer.gov.
Is the company's privacy policy posted on their Web site? What kind of information are they collecting about you? How will they use it? Do they share your information with others? Use extreme caution when you are asked for personal information not needed for purchasing online, like your social security number or bank account number.
What are their terms? Do they post their return policy and shipping rates?
Is there a contact e-mail address for you to notify in case of questions, problems, or assistance needed?

Online Shopping Tips

Pay with credit cards. Under federal law your liability for unauthorized credit card charges is limited to $50. Only use sites with strong security technology like SSL (secure socket layers). If there is an unbroken key or padlock graphical icon in the bottom corner of the Web page, this means the site is safe to use and that your credit card informaation will be transmitted securely.
Do not share your passwords with others.
Print all records related to your online transactions. Keep good records. This way, you have your shipping dates, shipping fees, and any other details about your online shopping transactions.

Shopping Complaints

You can file complaints about fraudulent business practices with the Federal Trade Commission. Call them toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or visit their Web site at www.ftc.gov and click on "consumer protection."

Shopping for Gifts on the Internet

Shopping for gifts on the Web can be quick and easy. The best sites for this make timely deliveries, offer easy returns and exchanges, and customer service / help sections. If you wait until the last minute to order gifts, check to see if two-day express or overnight delivery is an option. Gift certificates are offered on many sites and should remani valid for at least six months so the recipient of your gift has time to make a decision. The best sites have great return policies with a minimum of 45 days to do so.

Consumer Tips on How to Shop Safely on the Internet

Internet Shopping Resources

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by Rachel Webb

10/26/00

Everyone likes to receive money as a gift, but giving money in a card can get boring. Here are some unique ways to give money that will surprise and delight the recipient.

SHOWER THEM WITH MONEY Cut several 10 inch ribbons and tie several dollar bills in the middle to make a bowtie. Next, Tie the ribbon strands to the open spokes of the umbrella. While holding the umbrella partway open, push all of the ribbons and money into the umbrella and close it up so they can't be seen.

DUMP TRUCK Buy a toy dump truck and fill it with unrolled coins then wrap the dump truck as usual. Tie some unused coin wrappers into your bow so that the child can enjoy rolling the coins later after the party. This idea also works great as a whimsical gift for a construction worker or at a retirement party for a truck driver use a semi truck full of money.

IT'S IN THE BANK Buy a toy piggy bank or combination lock bank and fill it with cash as a smart way to teach kids to start saving money. Open a savings account in your child or grandchild's name as another way to give money that will be used wisely.

MONEY TREE Cut a small tree branch with lots of smaller branches coming off the main one. Mix plaster of paris with water for a stiff consistency and add it to a flower pot or other container. If you are using a terracotta pot make sure you cover the bottom drainage hole with plastic wrap or tape before filing it with the plaster. Next, insert the tree branch and let it harden overnight. Using hot glue add spanish moss to cover the top of the plaster. You can also hot glue silk plant leaves to the branches for a realistic effect. Last, tie money bills to the tree branches for a unusual gift.

A DOZEN LONG STEMMED DOLLARS Fold bills in half and roll tightly into miniature roses. Secure the roses with a craft wire or florist tape adding a silk stem and leaves as you wrap. Put the dollar roses in a fancy tissue lined box or beautiful vase with real baby's breath and floral filler for a very romantic way to give money!

PIÑATA PIGGY BANK Not only do piñata's make a fun party game try stuffing it with coins and money as a fun gift idea! Mexican Indians originally made piñata's as a way to depict their idols and worship their gods. But today you will find piñata’s being used around the world and they come in many different shapes. For another unique way to give money, buy a piñata shaped as a pig. You could also easily make your own giant piggy bank piñata. To make a Piñata you will need: 1 - 9" - 25" sturdy,empty helium balloon Optional smaller balloons 12" wide strips of newspaper Decoupage glue Sharp scissors Lots of Coins

Step 1 - Start by inflating the balloon and tying a knot in the end. You can tape several balloons together to create the shape you want your piñata to be but a oval is the easiest shape to work with.

Step 2- Carefully dip the strips on newspaper into the decoupage and gently lay it across the balloon working vertically until it is covered. Continue covering the balloon in the opposite direction horizontally. You can continue adding newspaper strips until the balloon feels solid and firm. When it is dry, use a pin to pop the balloon.

Step 3- Next paint the balloon whatever color you wish and embellish it as desired.

Step 4-Find a place where the a hole will not be easily noticed and cut three sides of a square to create a door that can be opened. Fill your piñata with lots of coins!

Author Rachel Webb designs and manufactures decorative Magnetic Fridge Calendars that help her keep up with her busy husband and 4 small children. Organize your busy schedule for the new year. Visit:http://www.Note-Ables.com or E-mail Rachel@Note-Ables.com

Rachel Webb may be contacted at http://www.Note-Ables.com Rachel@Note-Ables.com. Click here to view more of their articles.
Rachel Webb is a WAHM of 4 and designs write-on/wipe-off Magnetic Fridge Calendars. Made entirely of heavy duty flexible magnetic material, her organizational calendars are guaranteed not to slide off when the kids slam the fridge door! Visit her site: http://www.Note-Ables.com or E-Mail

by Cathi Stevenson

1/26/03

The origin of St. Valentine's day is a matter of some debate. Feb. 14 was the feast day of several Christian martyrs who are credited with being St. Valentine, and each has his own story. The most popular version of the legend describes St. Valentine as a Roman Priest or Bishop who defied Emperor Claudius II (268 - 170 A.D.), when he decreed it illegal for people to marry, or become engaged. The emperor reasoned that marriage distracted men from becoming soldiers and fighting wars. With a soft spot for young people however, Valentine (his real name was Valentinus) secretly married several couples and was beaten and beheaded as a result. To add an even more romantic twist to the tale, it is said that Valentine himself fell in love with his jailer’s daughter and in a final note to her signed, “From Your Valentine”, a phrase that remains popular centuries later. Other versions of the story describe the pair as only friends, and the girl as being blind. In this recounting, Valentine is credited with restoring her sight.

St. Valentine's Day most certainly has its roots in ancient Rome where Feb. 14th was a holiday to honor Juno, Queen of the heavens and Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, Feb. 15, was the Roman festival Lupercalia. Lupercalia is usually credited with being the origin of the modern St. Valentine’s Day, since many sources believe Juno’s festival happened at least a few weeks later in the year, and Lupercalia was a more important celebration. (Records show that Mark Antony was master of the Luperci College of Priests. He also crowned Julius Caesar during the celebration in 44 B. C. It is quite possible that St. Valentine's execution was part of the festival's entertainment. It was common for Roman rulers to be especially cruel to Christians during celebrations of pagan gods.

Lupus, the word Lupercalia is derived from, is Latin for wolf. Wolves lived around Rome in ancient times, killing sheep and sometimes people. Because of these violent rampages, Romans prayed to the God Lupercus, guardian of the flocks, to protect them.

The Lupercalia festivities were quite extensive. Since at that time Feb. fell later on the Roman calendar, it was actually a spring festival. The celebration would begin when the Luperci priests gathered at the cave of Lupercal, where mythology says Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome, were nursed by a mother wolf. At the door of the cave, several goats and a dog were sacrificed. The blood was smeared on the heads of two youths from noble families, then wiped off with sheep's wool dipped in milk. Throughout the day, children laughed and ran through the streets of Rome, thrashing goatskin thongs, called februa, (where the word February comes from). Women who were struck with the thongs believed it would make them more fertile. Woman also wrote their names on love notes and placed them into an urn. Available young men would draw a name and then seek that woman's favors for the entire year. These matches often resulted in marriage.

Early Christians did everything they could to wipe out pagan rituals and celebrations. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius outlawed pagan festivals, but Lupercalia proved difficult to hinder. When the Roman Catholic Church addressed the task of naming holidays in the 1400s, it was decided to retain the observation of Feb. 14, but as a day to remember the martyrdom of St. Valentine. (In 1969 the feast day was dropped from the Roman church calendar.) The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in The Nuremberg Chronicle, printed in 1493. The Latin edition of this book lists the feast day as March 16, but a later German edition says Feb. 14.

St. Valentine's Day customs were gradually abandoned in many countries. In the British Isles though, the day remained popular with lovers, in spite of the churche's attempts to make it a more solemn occasion. The practice of drawing young women's names from a Valentine box persisted and in the 1600s and English diarist Samuel Pepys noted that handmade Valentine notes were exchanged between the sexes. Except for a brief period a period in the 17th century when the Puritans banned the celebrations, the tradition flourished. German and English settlers brought St. Valentine’s Day to the New World, where it quickly became popular. Originally, people sent presents, along with a verse or motto. Eventually the verse itself became the Valentine.

Valentine’s Day cards and gifts are decorated with a variety of icons and symbols, the most popular being the heart. Red hearts have denoted love since ancient times when it was believed that the heart was the center of all emotion; The ever-popular Cupid was the Roman god of love; The rose was the sacred flower of Venus, goddess of love.

Ribbons, also popular decorations of St. Valentine’s Day, became associated with romance during the middle ages, when ladies gave them to their favorite knights as a token of remembrance, when they went to war. The Middle Ages also gave rise to other symbols of romance including lace. Lace comes from the Latin word “laqueus” which means to noose, or snare. Lace was supposed to “snare” the heart of a loved one. It was once also believed that lovebirds and doves mated on Feb. 14, so they also were adopted as icons of the lovers’ holiday. Now you know the whole story.

Cathi Stevenson may be contacted at http://www.authorscafe.com cstevenson@accesswave.ca. Click here to view more of their articles.
Cathi Stevenson is a former editor and journalist who has sold more than 2000 articles world-wide. Her eBook "How To Publish & Market Your eBook For Just $5" made the publisher's best sellers' list within months of its release. Learn how she did it with tips from the Author's Cafe Newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.authorscafe.com. Cathi also owns the highly successful book cover design company: Book Cover Express. http://www.bookcoverexpress.com

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