If you can’t rhyme off at least one bad gift you’ve received over the years, consider yourself extremely lucky. Most of us have been on the receiving end of one too many horrible presents and as a result are very careful now when it comes to buying for others.
New-York based Stupid.com has taken the opposite approach and built an entire business around stupid stuff including gifts, toys and candy. Here are some of their stupidest gift ideas, complete with our smart alternatives that won’t leave you in the dog house this holiday season!
Underwear Repair Kit
We don’t know about you, but even with the Credit Crunch there are plenty of other things we’d gladly part with before giving up our fresh tighty whities. We suggest you put together a comfy bedtime set for your special someone instead. For the woman in your life, there are plenty of girly pyjamas, cozy slippers and comfortable housecoats to choose from. Or if something a little more risqué is what you’re after, a piece of sexy lingerie would certainly put a smile on her face (and yours!) Men love to cozy up too, especially in the cold winter months, so perhaps a flannel nightshirt or comfy cotton bathrobe would be in order for the man on your list?
Gin and Titonic Ice Cube Tray
This gift will most certainly kill the recipient’s buzz by making them think of all the lives lost during that fateful night on the cold Atlantic. It would be much smarter to buy something they could use without welling up, like a set of crystal wine glasses, festive martini glasses or a drying rack for wine glasses. For a nice added touch, include a bottle of their favourite beverage and some yummy snacks.
Bacon Wallet
It’s not that the joke isn’t lost on us, but who wants to be tempted to eat that often during the day? To avoid getting egged by the recipient (two can play that game!), it’s probably best to get a designer wallet or stylish Guess handbag for her or a classic leather wallet or messenger bag for him.
Buy Cheap Gift for holiday seasons
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Best ways to pay cash for Christmas
By Liz Pulliam Weston
A debt-free holiday is within your grasp.
It wasn't necessary to start saving last January. You don't have to give up the mall or make all your gifts. You may not even have to leave your credit cards at home.
There are at least 10 ways you can come up with the money to pay for your December celebrations without adding to your debt:
1. Adjust your withholding
Most taxpayers get some kind of refund every year, and the average amount is well over $2,000. Chances are you could crank way back on your withholding for the rest of the year, seriously boosting your take-home pay, and you'd still wind up getting at least some money back in April. Kiplinger has an easy-to-use withholding calculator that shows how much more you could get in your paycheck throughout the year by claiming extra allowances; the Internal Revenue Service has a more detailed version that can help you fine-tune your withholding to maximize your December paychecks without risking having to pay on April 15.
If you're going to do this, don't wait; you'll need to submit your new W-4 in time to adjust your remaining checks. Make a note to re-evaluate your withholding in January; you can switch back to your old habit of over-withholding, or you may decide to keep the extra money throughout the year rather than getting a refund.
2. Use your miles
More than 120 million Americans participate in at least one frequent-flier program, according to Randy Petersen of WebFlyer. You typically can't turn miles into cash directly, but you have options beyond trying to use them to get a free flight.
Many plans allow you redeem your miles for merchandise, for example. The exchange rate on these deals isn't all that great, but if you have a surfeit of miles, the miles are about to expire or you won't otherwise use them, it's certainly an option. Northwest Airlines allows you to redeem WorldPerks miles for magazine subscriptions, for example, while elite United Airlines mileage-program members can trade miles for portable DVD players and other electronics. Check your plans' Web sites for details.
Another alternative is to convert your miles into a program you do use. WebFlyer has a mileage converter to help you explore your options. For example, you can convert 20,000 American Airlines miles into 40,000 Hilton Honors points, which will pay for one or two nights in a Hilton property. If you were planning to stay in a hotel anyway over the holiday, let your miles pay for it and convert the money you would have otherwise used into cash for the holiday.
3. Ransack your rewards
Most credit card offers these days come with some kind of rewards program -- frequent-flier miles, cash back, points toward travel or merchandise. Many cards allow you to convert rewards into merchant gift cards, which you can use to buy real gifts.
Check your cards' Web sites or call their toll-free numbers to see what your rewards will get you and whether they're running any special offers. Right now, for example, Discover Card is running a "Holiday Mall Promotion" that offers $20 gift cards for every $200 you spend on your Discover Card at select malls around the country.
Tell us: What's your budget for kids' Christmas presents?
One big caveat: If you're already carrying credit-card debt, don't add to it. Pay cash for the holidays. You should be particularly wary of adding any charges to a card that already has a balance, because there's no grace period -- interest charges on these new purchases start immediately.
4. Use your coins
Raiding the change jar to pay for Christmas isn't exactly new, but Coinstar change-counting machines have made it easier. You can avoid the machine's usual 8.9% fee by selecting one of its gift-card options for merchants including Amazon.com, Starbucks, Circuit City, iTunes and AMC Theatres.
If you don't want gift cards but do want to avoid fees, check with your local credit union to see if free coin counting is available. If you live in the Northeast or southeastern Florida, you can check out the nearest Commerce Bank lobby, which typically offers a free "Penny Arcade" coin-sorting machine. (Call 888-751-9000 for locations.)
5. Get a(nother) job
Plenty of businesses add bodies during the holidays: retail stores, package delivery services, craft stores, ski resorts and temp agencies (to fill in for all those vacationing workers). These temporary part-time jobs can boost your pay, and you may qualify for employee discounts. MSN Careers is one place to start looking.
If you need a more flexible gig, consider a home-based business that doesn't require a big upfront investment. Some possibilities: baby-sitting, tutoring, house-sitting, dog walking, errand running, housecleaning, home organization (garage clean-outs and closet tuneups might be particularly appreciated this time of year).
Check out America's best home-based businesses
6. Sell your stuff
The weather's not ideal for yard sales in most of the country, but you can still cut your clutter and make some cash thanks to sites like eBay, Half.com, Amazon.com and Craigslist. Half.com and Amazon.com are good places to sell books, DVDs, CDs, video games; sell higher-value items on eBay; and list bulky stuff on Craigslist.
Read "Garage sales thrive in online world" for more ideas.
7. Sell someone else's stuff
If you've already turned all your clutter into cash on eBay, maybe you could help a friend who's new to online auctions help sell her stuff in exchange for a cut of whatever you manage to sell. Plenty of businesses have sprung up to do exactly that, and they often take up to one-third of the proceeds.
Make sure you work out in advance and in writing what your fee arrangement will be. Also, keep good records to head off any disputes.
8. Cancel some money suckers
Examine your bills and your credit card statements for recurring expenses that don't make sense anymore. Still paying for a land line when you're always on your cell? Coughing up for a gym you haven't visited in a year? Cancel those money suckers and start redirecting the cash to a savings account earmarked for holiday expenses. (Read "Ditch those money-sucking bills" for more candidates.)
If you run out of recurring bills to eliminate, pick some habitual expenses to curb: Trade in that bottled water for a refillable sports cup (savings: $1 per bottle, or $30 a month for a daily habit); make coffee at home instead of buying it (savings: $2 to $3 per cup, or $40 to $60 for a daily habit); have a beer with friends at home instead of at the bar (savings depends on your alcohol intake). Make a ritual of putting aside the money you save as you choose the cheaper option.
9. Submit your receipts
If you're owed reimbursement for money you've already spent -- from an employer for company travel, for example, or from a flexible spending plan at work that allows you to put aside pretax money for medical or child-care expenses -- submit your receipts now and put the resulting checks aside for the holidays.
Click here to learn more about health savings accounts.
10. Try a 'Buy Nothing (Else)' month
Get the latest from Liz Pulliam Weston. Sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter.
Preferred format:
HTMLPlain TextLearn more about newslettersCommit to buying only essentials for a month and you could wind up with quite a stash of cash. Volunteers from the Your Money message board who tried it typically saved $300 to $400 this way. For more details, read "Could you stop spending for a month?"
A debt-free holiday is within your grasp.
It wasn't necessary to start saving last January. You don't have to give up the mall or make all your gifts. You may not even have to leave your credit cards at home.
There are at least 10 ways you can come up with the money to pay for your December celebrations without adding to your debt:
1. Adjust your withholding
Most taxpayers get some kind of refund every year, and the average amount is well over $2,000. Chances are you could crank way back on your withholding for the rest of the year, seriously boosting your take-home pay, and you'd still wind up getting at least some money back in April. Kiplinger has an easy-to-use withholding calculator that shows how much more you could get in your paycheck throughout the year by claiming extra allowances; the Internal Revenue Service has a more detailed version that can help you fine-tune your withholding to maximize your December paychecks without risking having to pay on April 15.
If you're going to do this, don't wait; you'll need to submit your new W-4 in time to adjust your remaining checks. Make a note to re-evaluate your withholding in January; you can switch back to your old habit of over-withholding, or you may decide to keep the extra money throughout the year rather than getting a refund.
2. Use your miles
More than 120 million Americans participate in at least one frequent-flier program, according to Randy Petersen of WebFlyer. You typically can't turn miles into cash directly, but you have options beyond trying to use them to get a free flight.
Many plans allow you redeem your miles for merchandise, for example. The exchange rate on these deals isn't all that great, but if you have a surfeit of miles, the miles are about to expire or you won't otherwise use them, it's certainly an option. Northwest Airlines allows you to redeem WorldPerks miles for magazine subscriptions, for example, while elite United Airlines mileage-program members can trade miles for portable DVD players and other electronics. Check your plans' Web sites for details.
Another alternative is to convert your miles into a program you do use. WebFlyer has a mileage converter to help you explore your options. For example, you can convert 20,000 American Airlines miles into 40,000 Hilton Honors points, which will pay for one or two nights in a Hilton property. If you were planning to stay in a hotel anyway over the holiday, let your miles pay for it and convert the money you would have otherwise used into cash for the holiday.
3. Ransack your rewards
Most credit card offers these days come with some kind of rewards program -- frequent-flier miles, cash back, points toward travel or merchandise. Many cards allow you to convert rewards into merchant gift cards, which you can use to buy real gifts.
Check your cards' Web sites or call their toll-free numbers to see what your rewards will get you and whether they're running any special offers. Right now, for example, Discover Card is running a "Holiday Mall Promotion" that offers $20 gift cards for every $200 you spend on your Discover Card at select malls around the country.
Tell us: What's your budget for kids' Christmas presents?
One big caveat: If you're already carrying credit-card debt, don't add to it. Pay cash for the holidays. You should be particularly wary of adding any charges to a card that already has a balance, because there's no grace period -- interest charges on these new purchases start immediately.
4. Use your coins
Raiding the change jar to pay for Christmas isn't exactly new, but Coinstar change-counting machines have made it easier. You can avoid the machine's usual 8.9% fee by selecting one of its gift-card options for merchants including Amazon.com, Starbucks, Circuit City, iTunes and AMC Theatres.
If you don't want gift cards but do want to avoid fees, check with your local credit union to see if free coin counting is available. If you live in the Northeast or southeastern Florida, you can check out the nearest Commerce Bank lobby, which typically offers a free "Penny Arcade" coin-sorting machine. (Call 888-751-9000 for locations.)
5. Get a(nother) job
Plenty of businesses add bodies during the holidays: retail stores, package delivery services, craft stores, ski resorts and temp agencies (to fill in for all those vacationing workers). These temporary part-time jobs can boost your pay, and you may qualify for employee discounts. MSN Careers is one place to start looking.
If you need a more flexible gig, consider a home-based business that doesn't require a big upfront investment. Some possibilities: baby-sitting, tutoring, house-sitting, dog walking, errand running, housecleaning, home organization (garage clean-outs and closet tuneups might be particularly appreciated this time of year).
Check out America's best home-based businesses
6. Sell your stuff
The weather's not ideal for yard sales in most of the country, but you can still cut your clutter and make some cash thanks to sites like eBay, Half.com, Amazon.com and Craigslist. Half.com and Amazon.com are good places to sell books, DVDs, CDs, video games; sell higher-value items on eBay; and list bulky stuff on Craigslist.
Read "Garage sales thrive in online world" for more ideas.
7. Sell someone else's stuff
If you've already turned all your clutter into cash on eBay, maybe you could help a friend who's new to online auctions help sell her stuff in exchange for a cut of whatever you manage to sell. Plenty of businesses have sprung up to do exactly that, and they often take up to one-third of the proceeds.
Make sure you work out in advance and in writing what your fee arrangement will be. Also, keep good records to head off any disputes.
8. Cancel some money suckers
Examine your bills and your credit card statements for recurring expenses that don't make sense anymore. Still paying for a land line when you're always on your cell? Coughing up for a gym you haven't visited in a year? Cancel those money suckers and start redirecting the cash to a savings account earmarked for holiday expenses. (Read "Ditch those money-sucking bills" for more candidates.)
If you run out of recurring bills to eliminate, pick some habitual expenses to curb: Trade in that bottled water for a refillable sports cup (savings: $1 per bottle, or $30 a month for a daily habit); make coffee at home instead of buying it (savings: $2 to $3 per cup, or $40 to $60 for a daily habit); have a beer with friends at home instead of at the bar (savings depends on your alcohol intake). Make a ritual of putting aside the money you save as you choose the cheaper option.
9. Submit your receipts
If you're owed reimbursement for money you've already spent -- from an employer for company travel, for example, or from a flexible spending plan at work that allows you to put aside pretax money for medical or child-care expenses -- submit your receipts now and put the resulting checks aside for the holidays.
Click here to learn more about health savings accounts.
10. Try a 'Buy Nothing (Else)' month
Get the latest from Liz Pulliam Weston. Sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter.
Preferred format:
HTMLPlain TextLearn more about newslettersCommit to buying only essentials for a month and you could wind up with quite a stash of cash. Volunteers from the Your Money message board who tried it typically saved $300 to $400 this way. For more details, read "Could you stop spending for a month?"
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tips about Christmas Shopping
tips for your holiday :
1. Brand matters
Shop at good quality stores. Christmas is a time to buy gifts for others, so you don’t want to buy cheap goods that will last only a few months. Look for durable items that will remind your recipient of your love throughout the coming year.
2. Stay safe
If you’re buying online; be sure that the website has SSL technology. You definitely want your credit card information to stay secure. Further, if you don’t receive your purchased item, you can contest the charge.
3. Make a list
One way to save money this Christmas would be to prepare a list well in advance. Don’t head out to the store only with your credit card in hand. Impulse shopping can keep you up at night worrying about bills!
4. Special wrapping
Christmas gifts are more than just gifts. They reflect the sentiments of the giver. So save a little money to wrap up your gift in a special way. You can even add a customized note to each family member.
5. Discounts
They can be found at almost every store. Make best use of them! Keep your eyes open for a good bargain. However, don’t compromise on quality!
Christmas shopping don’ts:
1. Avoid weekends
If you want to avoid bumping shoulders with every other shopper then go shopping on a weekday- preferably in the morning. Salespeople are a lot friendlier when they don’t have a crowd to handle.
2. Don’t limit your choice
So you’ve made a list of items to be bought, but you can’t find one or two. What do you do? Plan for this in advance by writing a back up gift option on your list. This will save you a lot of time especially if you’re shopping for a large number of people.
3. Don’t lose receipts
Save all the receipts from your Christmas shopping expedition. You may need it later, when your gift turns out to be faulty or has a missing part. Your gift recipient will be glad you can get a replacement.
4. Don’t wrap right away
Check your item thoroughly before you thrown on the fancy wrapping paper. Also remember to remove the price tag and other purchase particulars.
5. Don’t wait
Christmas shopping doesn’t need to be restricted to December. Shop when something catches your fancy. You can store it away for Christmas day!
1. Brand matters
Shop at good quality stores. Christmas is a time to buy gifts for others, so you don’t want to buy cheap goods that will last only a few months. Look for durable items that will remind your recipient of your love throughout the coming year.
2. Stay safe
If you’re buying online; be sure that the website has SSL technology. You definitely want your credit card information to stay secure. Further, if you don’t receive your purchased item, you can contest the charge.
3. Make a list
One way to save money this Christmas would be to prepare a list well in advance. Don’t head out to the store only with your credit card in hand. Impulse shopping can keep you up at night worrying about bills!
4. Special wrapping
Christmas gifts are more than just gifts. They reflect the sentiments of the giver. So save a little money to wrap up your gift in a special way. You can even add a customized note to each family member.
5. Discounts
They can be found at almost every store. Make best use of them! Keep your eyes open for a good bargain. However, don’t compromise on quality!
Christmas shopping don’ts:
1. Avoid weekends
If you want to avoid bumping shoulders with every other shopper then go shopping on a weekday- preferably in the morning. Salespeople are a lot friendlier when they don’t have a crowd to handle.
2. Don’t limit your choice
So you’ve made a list of items to be bought, but you can’t find one or two. What do you do? Plan for this in advance by writing a back up gift option on your list. This will save you a lot of time especially if you’re shopping for a large number of people.
3. Don’t lose receipts
Save all the receipts from your Christmas shopping expedition. You may need it later, when your gift turns out to be faulty or has a missing part. Your gift recipient will be glad you can get a replacement.
4. Don’t wrap right away
Check your item thoroughly before you thrown on the fancy wrapping paper. Also remember to remove the price tag and other purchase particulars.
5. Don’t wait
Christmas shopping doesn’t need to be restricted to December. Shop when something catches your fancy. You can store it away for Christmas day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)