Park Carefully: 10 Frugal Tips for Post-Holiday Shopping

If you plan to hit the malls tomorrow, here are 10 tips that have saved me time and money:

1. Find original packaging. You'll have a better chance of returning merchandise if you present the original box.

2. Collect your paperwork: Come armed with credit-card receipts, store receipts and tags. With the right paperwork, I've received dollar-for-dollar value for returned items in the form of cash or a credit on my account. Without receipts, you could lose money. Here's the scenario: You paid $35 for the dish set. But in the post-holiday markdown, the set has been reduced to $18. With a receipt, you'll get $35 back for the return. But without the receipt, you'll receive an $18 store credit.

3. Don't give up if you lack documentation. Many stores offer flexible return policies, even if you don't have a receipt or the original packaging. However, without a receipt you'll only get store credit, at best.

4. Collect names: If you have problems returning an item, start a new paper trail at the store. Collect names and speak to a manager if necessary. Remain polite.

5. Stay home: I save the most when I skip the post-holiday sales.

6. Get a head start: December 2008 is only 12 months away. Holiday merchandise will be marked down. Pick up gifts for steep discounts. Shop with a list.

7. Wait 'til January: If you think prices are low now, just wait until January. From thrift stores to upscale chains, January is a great time to pick up bargains.

8. Eat before you shop: Don't shop on an empty stomach. If you're hungry, even the little box of Godiva chocolates will look like a good deal. Trust me: Once at Macy's, I was so hungry that I purchased super-rich chocolate for an amount that could have been applied to a college fund.

9. Park near the stores you will visit: Limit your walks through the mall. I know one bank analyst who parks near the exterior doors of each door he plans to visit. This discipline makes him less vulnerable to impulse purchases because he spends less time walking through malls.

10. Start a gift closet. Instead of returning unwanted presents, why not just stash them away in a re-gifting closet? Build an inventory for the future. This step will accomplish two things: 1) you'll save money on future presents and 2) you won't be tempted to spend more money during your latest shopping trip.

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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in May of 2008 by DPL Press.
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Previous Posts

Today:

Holiday Zalute to Zo (Miami Heat!): 10 Reasons To Cheer for Alonzo Mourning

How to Recycle Christmas Trees: Mulch Conversion
Yesterday:
Life Lessons from Oscar Peterson: Tribute to a Jazz Man
Beyond Fruitcake: 25 Frugal Things To Do When You're Bored After Opening Presents
Sell Your Home Faster with DIY Home Staging: Make Your Home Look Like a Hotel

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How to Recycle Christmas Trees: Mulch Conversion

After the holidays and the eggnog, don't toss away the live evergreen tree. Many municipalities offer Christmas tree recycling programs in which post-holiday evergreens can be converted into fragrant mulch, according to a report in the Miami Herald.

Throughout the U.S., various organizations have tree recycling programs at different municipal trash and recycling centers. Some public parks also provide a chipping service for undecorated trees. And some programs last through mid-January. Earth911.org has an online search for tree recycling centers in your area.

Here are links to articles with details about recycling Christmas trees:

Recycling Christmas Trees


Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Recycle your Christmas Tree (TreeHugger)

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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in May of 2008 by DPL Press.

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Previous Posts

Yesterday:

Life Lessons from Oscar Peterson: Tribute to a Jazz Man

Beyond Fruitcake: 25 Frugal Things To Do When You're Bored After Opening Presents

Sell Your Home Faster with DIY Home Staging: Make Your Home Look Like a Hotel

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Beyond Fruitcake: 25 Frugal Things To Do When You're Bored After Opening Presents

Your living room looks like a field of discarded boxes and ribbons. Your teeth are gritty with sugar and you've even eaten the fruitcake. Now what? Here's my list of 25 frugal things to do when the boxes are untied and you're undone.

1. Hold a gift swap: Your sister received a soap on a chain. You want it; she hates it. Why not swap? This gift swap works best with a large circle of friends, relatives and neighbors. Agree in advance to a no-feelings-hurt swap. Re-gift with care.

2. Recycle paper, cards and ribbons. Salvage what's usable. Some cards can be turned into postcards; ribbons and bows can be re-used. Look for paper and gift bags that may have a second life.

3. Build a box city for the kids. It's true: The boxes are much cooler than the actual toys. When we were kids, my siblings and I played for hours in old gift boxes.

4. Read a book. During holidays, it's easy to get peopled-out. Recharge your emotional batteries by retreating with a book.

5. Start a family blog or an online scrap book. Take pictures and upload them for all.

6. Visit relatives and friends. Phone calls are also treasured. Share the emotional wealth.

7. Go for a walk or hit a nature trail. Get exercise.

8. Play boardgames. Start a Boggle or Monopoly tournament.

9. Start a re-gifting closet. Quietly and discreetly tuck away presents that you want to recycle. Make a list; check it twice in order to avoid a re-gifting disaster, namely re-gifting the person who originally gave you the present in the first place. Re-gift with care.

10. Deliver food baskets to EMT crews, the fire station or others who have to work on the holiday. Suggested contents: fruit and pre-packaged goodies.

11. Make a scrapbook or finally put family photos into a scrapbook.

12. Visit an old aged home or a homeless shelter.

13. Bake cookies. Make candies, breads and other goodies.

14. Write Thank You notes and letters.

15. Purge. Make room for new clothes and toys by putting together a give-away bundle for a thrift store or nonprofit organization.

16. Make goals for next year.

17. Memorize a poem. Write a poem. Read a poem.

18. Start a journal. Write down everything that happened from breakfast through late evening.

19. Take family videos. Holidays provide a classic backdrop for memorable videos.

20. Watch family videos.

21. Go to the movies.

22. Create a family skit.

23. Listen or play music

24. Dance to 70s music or classic rock: Par-tay! Here's a link to my favorite old school mix. Enjoy!

25. Get fit & meditate. Have a family yoga class.

Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach:How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere, which will be published in May of 2008 by DPL Press.

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Frugal Gift Guide: Pretty DIY Baskets (Last-Minute Specials)

Pre-packaged gift baskets: $45 and up. DIY: $10 and under. I once made gift baskets that were placed in a little gift shop in an area hospital and a little boutique. I kept my day job, but I learned a lot about gift baskets.

BTW: This post was prompted by a post called: Lack of Time = Crappy Christmas Presents? From Make Love Not Debt .

Cheap, Easy and Pretty Gift Baskets

(aka Last-Minute Gift Ideas):

1. Pick a theme: Movies? Home Spa? Cheese 'n Fruit? Candy? Coffee and Tea? Gardening?

2. Shop for ideas. Get visual tips from magazines, catalogues, floral shops and online.

3. Buy inexpensive baskets: Dollar stores have festive baskets for a buck a piece. Thrift stores also have lots of baskets (new or in good condition) for super cheap prices. Also craft stores have periodic sales on baskets.

4. Shop the sales. Hit the clearance section for high-end treats at low prices. For example, at Marshall's I've found gourmet coffee beans, candies and designer bath supplies at super cheap prices. These items look elegant and expensive when arranged in a pretty basket. Also shop the sales at high-end gourmet food shops and natural food stores. Even Starbucks has discounted mugs and trinkets at the sales table.

Other specialty stores also feature rotating sales of chocolates, wines, cheeses and other gourmet treats that are perfect for holiday baskets.

6. Consider the recipient. If a friend is really into baking or gardening, create a special basket with accessories or treats based on their hobby. For instance, for a gardener: seed packets, garden supplies, gardening gloves or a small-how to book on gardening.

7. Buy pretty wrapping supplies: Cellophane paper, ribbons and tags (homemade or otherwise) can really make or break a gift basket. It's not hard to make it look pretty and professional. I have found super cheap wrapping supplies on eBay.com

8. Set up an assembly line: When we make gift baskets, we line up the supplies on our dining room table and set up an organized system for filling, stuffing and wrapping. This division of labor is efficient and everyone gets very professional about filling their specific function.

Here's a proposed shopping list for a bath spa gift basket:

1. Basket $1

2. Pretty soaps: $1-$3. On amazon.com, I spotted gift soaps with prices starting at 72 cents. I have also found great deals at Walgreens, CVS and Marshalls.

3. Bath crystals: Available for under $1.50 in pretty packets.

4. Bath oils (see photo): I found a set of 12 for $3.75 (use all or split up the package and use for several baskets).

5. Bath brushes & other trinkets: Here's a pretty set for $5.25 and I have seen lower prices.

6. Scented candles: $1 . We once found a great sale on scented votive candles for 20 cents each.

Other gift ideas:

1) a mixing bowl packed with fresh baked cookies, recipes and assorted kitchen tools.

2) a large clear cosmetic bag stuffed with body creams, elaborate soaps and other day spa treats.

Recent Posts

Today:

Permanently Parked: How & When to Ditch the Old Car

Yesterday:
What's More Than a Hummer, Beemer or Mercedes? Why We Ditched Our Old Car

Don't Shake & Eat: A Holiday Health Guide to Save $500 & Up
Financial Points from D-Wade's 31-Pt Eclipse of the Suns

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Don't Shake & Eat: A Holiday Health Guide to Save $500 & Up

A few Decembers ago, medical costs sliced (at least) $500 from our budget, excluding lost wages. To avoid seasonal germs, I have a long list of tips for holiday parties, public events and travel.

The Back Story: Several Decembers ago, three out of the five members of my family became very ill. Walking pneumonia/bronchitis and other ailments struck our home. One of my kids missed a month of school and was almost hospitalized. It was during that period when SARs was big in the news and my mom suspected that we may have had a taste of that bug.

In my case, an all-night marathon of work clearly weakened my immune system. But my sons and I became ill after going to the movies. I think we must have picked up germs from the handrail or other contact with a contaminated surface. I was always a big hand washer, but I must have fallen down on the job during that movie visit. Going forward, I've been even stricter about washing hands. Here are my rules:

1. Don't eat while shaking hands: Either socialize or eat. But don't eat after you've shaken hands with anyone. Here are the options at cocktail parties, holiday gatherings and other events: 1) Network & starve or 2) Wash hands, eat & be a hermit. Don't try to do both options at the same time. But if you must eat while networking: Feed yourself with the (clean) hand that no one has touched.

2. Don't eat after touching money: When buying snacks at a mall or movie, don't touch your food until you've washed your hands, especially if you've handled money. And never, never accept food from a vendor who touches money and then touches the (unwrapped) food that you will eat.

3. Don't touch any surface in a public restroom: Take a paper towel to touch door handles, faucet handles, dryers, etc.

4. Use handle railings with care. If possible, I try to avoid holding onto the handrails on stairs and escalators in stores, malls and movie theaters. If I worry about falling, I lean on the railing with an elbow or I'll use a tissue as a barrier.

Likewise, these health guidelines from the Dec. 24 issue of First for Women magazine are great, especially for the high-contact holiday season.

1. Don't use other people's cell phones.

2. Avoid makeup testers at stores ("germ hot spots")

3. Don't use public pens at banks, stores or the Post Office. Nearly 3,000 people may hit the checkout counter during a typical shopping day in major stores.

4. Clip your nails. The list of potential germs under long nails sounds really awful, according to one study cited in the magazine article.

5. Zip then flush in public toilets. I don't know how to say this politely, but get fully clothed before flushing in public bathrooms. Hint: Beware of spraying toilets.

6. Avoid putting personal possessions on public bathroom sinks. I try to avoid public surfaces altogether.

7. Carry handwipes.

8. DIY cleaning service: Use wipes on airline trays, even before you put down your laptop. Even before you touch the little "release knob." Consider this factoid: "Research presented at this year's meeting of the American Society for Microbiology found that 60 percent of airplane tray tables harbored the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA."--Dec. 24 issue of First for Women

9. Avoid the mini-fridge in your hotel room. Not only are the prices expensive, but so many people may have touched that mini-fridge and handled the food/beverage items.

Recent Posts:

Today:

Financial Points from D-Wade's 31-Pt Eclipse of the Suns

Yesterday:

Steroid Sale Prices: Bogus Sales at Big Name Stores

5 Reasons Why I Have a Crush on My Parents' Retirement Magazines
What to Do After Losing a Job or Before the Pink Slip Arrives
Holiday Family Activities & More at Carnival of Family Life

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Steroid Sale Prices: Bogus Sales at Big Name Stores

Steroids have hit the sales racks. Many so-called sales (even at well-known stores) are a total fake-out, according to the ShopSmart's December/January 2008 issue.

ShopSmart --a Consumer Reports publication --has put together a sharp analysis of holiday sales. And the results confirmed some of our suspicions: Some discounts are fake.

"The next time you find yourself salivating over a 60-percent-off sale, don't scramble over to the store so fast. Those deals may not be as good as they appear," ShopSmart reports.

The magazine discovered that stores will inflate a price tag and THEN take the discount. As such, the so-called "original price," may be pumped up higher than even the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).

ShopSmart tracked advertisements for three stores -- Kohl's, Macy's and Sears -- and, YES! there were some true bargains, but there were also many examples in which the discount seemed larger because of an inflated original price. The best shopping protection: Check out the prices online through a shopping portal before you go shopping.

Here are a few examples of sales on steroids.

Kohl's

Item: 12-pc knife set

MSRP: $130

Store Price: $220

Sale Price: $99

Store Discount: 55 percent

Actual Discount on MSRP: 24 percent

Macy's

Item: iron
MSRP: $30
Store Price: $50
Sale Price: $25
Store Discount: 50 percent

Actual Discount on MSRP: 40 percent

Sears

Item: Blender

MSRP: $20

Store Price: $23

Sale Price: $20

Store Discount: 13 percent
Actual Discount on MSRP: 0 percent

source: ShopSmart's December/January 2008 issue.

Previous Posts Today:

5 Reasons Why I Have a Crush on My Parents' Retirement Magazines

What to Do After Losing a Job or Before the Pink Slip Arrives

Holiday Family Activities & More at Carnival of Family Life

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Holiday Family Activities & More at Carnival of Family Life

Limiting the holiday advertising pull on our kids is one of several excellent posts at the Carnival of Family Life #3, which is hosted by The So Called Me. It's a fun lineup of stories, including several with a holiday themes and frugal holiday activities for families. Thanks to the host for including one of my posts.



Here are a few articles that caught my eye. Please visit the carnival, there are really some super holiday stories in the mix.

From Being Frugal.net: 5 Ways to Keep the Gimmes Away This Christmas. I like the tips about limiting kids' exposure to marketing pitches on the TV. Being Frugal even recommends tossing the toy catalogues that are stuffed everywhere like Thanksgiving turkey.


Isabelle Boulay presents The 5 Warning Signs of Staph Infection Should be Known by All Parents posted at Medopdedia. This one touches a nerve. My daughter had a few blisters on her thumb. Of course, with the recent bout of staph infection in our region of the country, she was sent right to the pediatrician's office. Not to worry; her thumb was just bruised. But we should all be familiar with the symptoms. This is a helpful post.



Tiffany Colter presents Don’t know what you’ve got, till you get it back. posted at Writing Career Coach.This is another keeper, I really enjoyed this refreshing post. It made me really think about all of the people, circumstances and gifts that I have taken for granted.

The Baglady presents The Cost of Living in Paradise Redux - A Financial Project All Young People Could Do posted at The Baglady. This post involves a school project in Hawaii, but the lessons in budgeting are applicable to all of us.




Previous Posts Today:
5 Reasons Why I Have a Crush on My Parents' Retirement Magazines
What to Do After Losing a Job or Before the Pink Slip Arrives


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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
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Package Deals: Shipping Cheap; Shipping Fast

I've had a busy afternoon trying to get a five-pound package from Miami Beach to Brooklyn during the holiday season. Fortunately, there are many options, ranging from $3.50 to $95 for the same package.

My advice: Ship early and ask questions. The various shippers, including the U.S. Postal Service, provide online calculators. (Calculate Postage) However, keep the various toll-free numbers handy for your inevitable follow-up questions.

To find the cheapest rates you have to exercise a bit of patience and persistence. For example, when I phoned Federal Express and United Parcel Service, I had to select additional voice-mail options to get the expanded menu of prices and deadlines and, even then, my questions weren't answered. I sought out human operators and requested their cheapest rates for ground shipping.

The U.S. Postal Service offers a ''media mail'' package rate that is available for shipping books, music, scripts and other forms of media. Those rates begin at $2.13 for a one-pound package but shipping can take several weeks.

Allow extra time for the holiday crunch. For example, cards have to be mailed by Dec. 20 to arrive by Christmas Eve.

This is from latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.

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Green & Frugal Holiday Tips from Natural Wildlife Federation

Use recycled holiday paper, DIY paper and LED lights. Those are a few of the green & frugal holiday tips & gift ideas from the Natural Wildlife Federation. Here's the list:


"Green Holiday Tips:

Christmas Trees and Lights Buy an organic, locally grown Christmas tree. Trees provide habitat for wildlife and absorb carbon dioxide while they are growing. A better idea is buy a living tree in a pot, plant it and enjoy it for years. New generations of affordable and stylish LED holiday lights are safe and use less energy than ever.

Save Paper Holiday cards and wrapping paper are two paper-heavy holiday traditions. Green your holiday this year by using cards and wrapping paper made out of recycled materials. Get the kids to make your own wrapping paper or cards. Have some fun and use recycled paper decorated with colorful holiday stamps, stickers or freehand designs for a personal touch.

Entertaining Make your holiday party earth-friendly by serving organic and locally produced foods. Visit local farmer's markets or natural grocery store for heritage breed turkeys, or really have an impact by going totally vegetarian for the holiday.

Holiday Decorating Buy an ornament and a portion of the cost goes to wildlife conservation or to plant a tree. That’s a simple way to “green” your tree. Don’t forget about the classics like popcorn, cranberries and ginger bread men to give your tree a nature friendly, homey and nostalgic look.

Nature Friendly Gift Ideas: (my disclaimer: some of these gift ideas are great, with obvious links to nwf.org's product line. Use your own judgment. Shop around or DIY, but the concepts are great.)

Bird Houses and Feeders: These inexpensive gifts add personality to any yard and give wildlife a place to call home. Or how about a “do-it-yourself” family project like homemade edible ornaments that will make your yard look festive and feed the birds at the same time?

Wild Birds Unlimited has a great product line and is an enthusiastic supporter of NWF’s Green Hour project.


Organic, Sustainable and Free Trade Products: From coffee and wine to wreaths and flowers, many programs deliver “green” and environmentally friendly products.


Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' National Wildlife Blend is a fair-trade organic coffee that helps protect migratory bird habitat by using shade grown coffee beans. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters offers coffee, sweet treats, gift baskets, brewer systems.


Frugal options: go to the Health food store or an organic farm and makde a DIY basket of organic products. Buy sale products or special promotions.

Organic Bouquet is the premiere floral resource for holiday wreaths. Organic Bouquet offers the finest floral gifts sourced from growers that are committed to the highest social and environmental standards. Each bouquet in the collection is hand selected and shipped fresh from the farm, ensuring optimal product quality upon delivery.

Carivintas Winery's Natures Wine Club collection celebrates the natural beauty and diversity of nature. Bottled from environmental-friendly vineyards.

Magazine Subscriptions for Kids Get the kids away from the video games with engaging magazines like NWF’s classic, award winning Ranger Rick . It’s fun and interactive just like Wild Animal Baby and Your Big Backyard for the younger kids.
Unplug the kids and get them connected to nature! ( http://www.rangerrick.org/ )

Adopt Wildlife or Wild Places From polar bears to sea turtles, symbolic adoptions offer gift givers and recipients the knowledge that the donations are being used to help protect imperiled wildlife and habitat across America. Check out the Adoption Center.

Experience Nature Technology can help you experience nature too. Take the new Identiflyer on a nature hike to identify the calls of 216 birds and frogs. For the less tech savvy, NWF field guides are a traditional way to connect with nature.


Recycled Products From fashions to tableware to yard art, there is new life from what was once headed to the land fill. Recycline’s Preserve line offers a host of green gifts for everyone on your list. The new Preserve Kitchen line includes: recycled plastic cutting boards, colanders, and food storage containers.

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$75,000 Robot & Top 10 Expensive Gifts w/Photos & Frugal Tips

One expert on self-made millionaires has issued his own list (with eye-popping photos) of the most extravagant holiday gifts and his advice: Forget the hype & shop within a real budget. It's a fun list with great visuals. (see below) I have one question: Who buys this stuff???

Here's the guest post with photos, prices and tips (after the photos):

"Americans are expected to dish out a staggering $474.5 billion this year on Christmas shopping, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). Jim Trippon, CPA and one of America’s foremost authorities on the money habits of self-made millionaires, has released his annual list of the most expensive gifts to give your loved ones this holiday season.

“Here is Trippon’s annual top 10 list of the most expensive holiday gifts for 2007:

1. Bugatti Veyron - $1.7 million

2. Neil Lane 15 Carat Diamond Earrings - $750,000

3. Runco 103-Inch Plasma Display- $99,995

4. Swami Conversational Robot - $75,000

5. Tiffany &Co. 109.73 Kunzite Bow Brooch - $74,500




6. Vertu 7.2 Carat Pink and White Diamond Phone - $73,000

7. Fendi Selleria Bag - $38,000

8. 1-Degree North Pole Dogsled Expedition - $37,500


9. Serendipity Frrrozen Haute Chocolate - $25,000

10. Friends of Cashmere Classic Pet Bed - $399

Trippon's Advice:

"Each year it seems that American’s top themselves in spending for Christmas,” says Trippon, “If you can afford the best without going into debt, that’s great! But I think most people forget that this holiday is about being in the right spirit, not getting overloaded with debt, which often produces money arguments the rest of the year.”

The NRF said that Americans plan to spend an average of $923.36 in total this year, up 3.7 percent from the previous year’s statistics. Given the credit card rates that are often at 24 percent and assuming minimum payments, Trippon says that this year’s holiday shopping will cost the average consumer closer to $6458.87 when interest and finance charges are included.

Trippon believes that people avoid arguing about finances when they take the time to become educated about money together.

“Get real and deal with your budget,” says Trippon, “Be honest with each other about your money habits and come up with a plan to spend it as a couple. It will improve your love life!”

Trippon is the author of the Amazon best-seller, How Millionaires Stay Rich Forever: Retirement planning Secrets of Millionaires and How They Can Work For You and the upcoming title China Stock Guru.

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Festive Frauds & Seasonal Scams: A Rundown of Holiday Crimes

From fake e-cards to bogus charitable pitches, there are many of seasonal scams. This list --from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service -- is excellent. The tip about getting anti-hacking firewall software info from Consumer Reports is also excellent. (see below) Feel free to chime in with scams that you have seen.

"Holiday scams are often delivered by bogus e-mails, direct mail or phone calls in order to gain access to personal financial and account information. Consumers can help safeguard their finances with the following tips:

Discard fake e-cards – These e-mails look like a holiday greeting from a family member, friend or well-known company, but these fake messages are simply "phishing" for information by posing as a legitimate communication and then querying the recipient for personal information, which can be used to access financial accounts.

Beware of charity pleas – Scammers capitalize on consumers’ generosity during the holiday season by sending out mass e-mails or placing professional-sounding telephone solicitations, disguised as well-known charities. Don’t be fooled into giving any personal information, such as making a gift via credit card that requires disclosure of card numbers, expiration dates and/or security codes. The best bet: initiate direct contact oneself to make a donation to a trusted charity.

Ensure retail Web sites are secure – When shopping online this holiday season, type in the Web site address rather than following links from an e-mail, which may lead to a bogus site built by a hacker trying to access personal information. Before providing a credit card or other account information to an online retailer, look for a small lock in the lower right-hand corner of the computer screen or an address that starts with https:// instead of http://.

Research before buying — When in doubt, investigate a retailer’s profile through the Better Business Bureau or other credible organization, and do not ever purchase anything from a company unless it has a physical address and phone number.

Watch for false credit card offers – Scammers often try to lure consumers into fake credit card applications – requiring the disclosure of personal data – when they think consumers need it most, such as the holiday buying season.

Seek product guarantees — Purchasing from reputable companies that provide written guarantees and/or warranties helps ensure more worry-free holiday shopping.

Keep good records — Always print receipts for items or services purchased online, including the price, date, time and purchase confirmation number, in case this information is needed later.
Install a firewall — Sensitive information like tax records, bank account information or credit card numbers are often available on one’s personal computer, and online hackers can be quick to access them if an Internet firewall is not installed on the computer.

Visit http://www.consumerreports.org/ for free guidance on firewall hardware and/or software options.
If needed, file a complaint – According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Web site, consumers who suspect a business may have broken the law can file a complaint by calling the FTC toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov ."


Source: Consumer Credit Counseling Service
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Vacation Brain Drain:We Wasted $92 Before Fixing the Shopping Cart

Going to visit my parents can be a challenge. Mom & Dad are wonderful—love you guys!--but the Super Target near their home is a problem. The store is great: It has candy, food, yoga blocks, children’s shoes, skirts, makeup and a little silk purse that looks like a takeout container of Chinese food. So cute! I love the magazines and the dollar store section. So cheap!

And that’s a problem because when we visited my folks in late August, we went to Target and spent $92 and I don’t know you what we bought.

We had a bad case of vacation brain drain. We bought a lot of candy from the serve-yourself dispensers. I think we purchased about $30 worth of candy. Here’s the math: 15 pounds @ $2 per pound = $30.

We also bought flip flops and makeup. I had forgotten the grooming products that I needed for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. But honestly, I don’t remember what else we purchased for $92.

Even in the parking lot, we looked through the bags and scratched our heads. Where did our money go? Even with the receipt and quick mental math, we were lost in parking lot purgatory.

Here’s what we did wrong:

1) Overspent on candy bags. Bad for the diet & budget.

2) Shopped without a list or a plan. That’s always a danger during vacations. Our normal discipline went on an extended holiday.

3) Did not pack or plan properly. Not only did we spend $92 at Target on that outing, we later shopped more to replace the dress-up clothes that we had forgotten for my older son.

But we learned from that mistake. For Thanksgiving, we went back to Central Florida and Super Target. We spent far less this time. (Under $30.)

Here’s how we fixed our vacation shopping cart problem.

1) Before the trip, we decided how much we were going to spend on different items and activities. More importantly, we actually followed the travel budget.


2) We downsized the candy bags—by a lot—and if any of the kids went over budget, they had to pay the difference. With their own money, they’re more frugal.


3) We shopped with a list.


4) We packed better. My daughter helped us pack by mapping out a list for the trip. We forgot fewer items and did not have to shop for urgent replacements.


5) I sat in the car. When others went shopping on Black Friday and on Sunday, I stayed away from temptation. During one Target run—on the way home—I even sat in the parking lot. I finally broke down and purchased a $3 tall latte from Starbucks.* But it was a very cheap shopping date for me.

*Also I no longer feel guilty about an occasional Starbucks treat because I found out that the company pays its employees great benefits, including health insurance for only 20 hours of work each week. I wrote about my Starbucks health care fantasy in this post. My latte, I believe, helps pay for someone’s health care. Okay, that’s just an excuse, but it sounds good.

Here are a few excellent posts from other bloggers about controlling the shopping impulse:

From Single Ma: A Quick Fix to Control Holiday Spending
From Not Made of Money: 2007 Black Friday - Some Thoughts and Strategies

From Million Dollar Journey: How I (try to) Save Money During Christmas



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Reader Asks: Did You Really Find Bargains on Black Friday?

A reader named Michael R. from Seattle has a question about so-called Black Friday deals in electronics. He read this column from me and his questions: Do the deals really exist? Other bloggers have posted an assortment of insights. Links are below:

While shopping for a plasma TV, Michael from Seattle found a price spike on Black Friday. Here's his experience:

"I bought a Panasonic plasma TV (42PZ77U) at Best Buy during the first week of November so I would be able to get price matching through New Year’s day based on Best Buy’s 60-day price match policy. The 42PZ77u lists for $1799. That first week of November, I bought it for $1619 (Best Buy on-line price matched at store).

The day after I bought it, Best Buy and Circuit City had it on-line for $1499. Mid-November, Best Buy had it on-line for $1299. The Saturday before Thanksgiving, Sears had it on-line for $1199 (although I couldn’t get the price match on that because it is special delivery in my area). Of course the on-line prices also included various discounts and/or freebies on various bundles and/or installation services.

On Black Friday, I checked Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears and Video Only on-line and in-store and found that the lowest price on the 42PZ77U was $1499 (in-store Video only), and at Best Buy it was back up to $1619 in-store and full price with no significant bundle option on-line.

I wonder if the higher Black Friday prices on my TV was an aberration based on the strong sales for this particular product and/or the relatively strong economy in Western Washington, or if this was some sort of national trend that deeper discounts were actually available before Black Friday, and what that might mean for Christmas and after Christmas prices.

I hope you’ll do a column on whether the forecasts were accurate and what that suggests for the rest of the holiday season.

Regards,

Michael R.
Seattle, WA

I'll check around for answers. Meanwhile, I'm asking others to please leave a comment or write to me with feedback about your Black Friday/Cyber Monday experience.

Here's a roundup of what other folks are saying about early holiday shopping:

From Boston Gal's Open Wallet: My Black Friday Adventure

I wanted to get my parents a laptop computer and after watching the sales leading up to black friday I realized some great deals would be available this year. My guess was right....

From Generation X Finance: A List of Some 2007 Cyber Monday Sales

This year, plenty of online retailers are offering some good Cyber Monday sales, so if you enjoy shopping online, Monday might be a good day to do it. So, here is list of some of the online Cyber Monday sales that I’ve come across. Obviously, some deals are better than others, but these are just some that I’ve noticed this weekend. If you know of any other good deals, please let others know in the comments.

From Seeking Alpha: LCD TV Black Friday Sales Reported Solid

From Mapgirl's Fiscal Challenge: Holiday Weekend Spending Report



From We're In Debt: Day 573: Did You Shop Black Friday Sales?
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Why I Hate Valentine's Day: Let Me Count The Money-Draining Ways

At the risk of sounding like a bitter broad, I have to confess: I hate Valentine's Day. In my heart of hearts, I think Valentine's Day is just another money scam.

My dislike started in kindergarten when we had to buy boxes of those stupid little cards and then pass them out to the class. Fast forward to my high school years when carnations and roses were sold as fundraisers for Valentine's Day. Unhappily, I remember lots of thorns; no flowers. At least with bake sales, I had cake to eat.

Here are my bottom-line reasons for disliking Valentine's Day.

1. Deadlines. I face deadlines in so many areas of my life. Why do I need another deadline for mailing cards and saying: I Love You?

2. Emotional extortion: Valentine's Day is another shake-down holiday where money spent is often equated with loved extended.

3. Holiday shopping hangover: I'm still delivering December Holiday '06 presents to my extended family. Valentine's Day makes me feel really behind schedule.

4. Past ghosts: I have depressing memories of past disappointments on Valentine's Day. I don't like the yearly reminder of past heartaches.

5. Cherry center chocolates: I don't like mystery chocolates in red shiny boxes, especially the bonbons filled with red squishy syrup.Yuck! But if you have to buy me candy, buy me Godiva truffle chocolates in the gold box. Thanks.

6) The Pretty Woman Factor: I liked Richere Gere and Julia Roberts in the movie Pretty Woman. But the concept of money for love on Valentine's Day or any other day is a little, well, cheap.

Bottom Line: I believe in money; I believe in love. But the two are separate accounts.





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Making the Season Meaningful

Here's my latest column from the Miami Herald. It's a different twist on the search for last-minute gifts.

The goal is not about frugal choices or money-saving tips, but to break outside the gift-wrapped boxes of commercialized holiday spending.

Cheers!




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Posts I Liked Last Week

Frugal Weddings, DIY holiday baskets and financial role models are on the lineup today as I look at some of my favorite posts from other bloggers. I could spend hours reading, because there's a lot of great info out there.

Get Rich Slowly offers this excellent primer and behind the scenes look at the nuts and bots of blogging. He spends about 40 hours a week on his blogging habit. I enjoyed this piece very much. I've just bookmarked it.


Blueprint for Financial Prosperity has a fun piece about why he hates paper checks. He taps into some strong arguments for doing away with old school checks: stamps are expensive, your account number is on the check. It's a great read.

Single Ma offers an insightful piece that addresses this question: "Are personal finance bloggers role models?" I appreciate her honesty. We're on the same page:

I have a limited income.
I like to shop.
I have debt.
I have made bad financial decisions.
I do not possess any special skills or abilities.
I am not an expert.
Most importantly (gotta CYA), I am NOT a licensed financial adviser.---Single Ma

Binary Dollar provides wonderful tips about
planning weddings and saving money. Lots of good frugal options: don't wed on Saturdays or in June; get married in the morning and skip the over-the-top dress. I was married in June, but we picked a Sunday service at noon and I wore my sister's dress, with a few modifications.

I'd love to chat with the author for a future print column.

No Limits Ladies has a cute, fun piece about DIY holiday gift baskets. She reads upscale catalogues and then duplicates the idea with items from the supermarket. Really, really fun piece.


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Trading Gift Cards: My Chat with Golbguru

This is how my latest column begins in the Miami Herald:

Like the stock market, trading has also become brisk for gift cards that recipients don't want.

With gift-card sales expected to reach $24.8 billion this year, chances are high you'll be a recipient. If you get a gift card from a store or sector that holds little interest for you, there's a market for unexpired gift cards.

You can trade or sell that unwanted gift card at a number of websites, according to Golbguru, author of the popular website, Money, Matter and Musings (www.TheTaoOf MakingMoney.com).

I was inspired to write that column after hosting the Festival of Frugality and spotting Golbguru's column about giftcards. I had read other pieces and information about the secondary market for gift cards and it was a topic I wanted to tackle.

So via email, I interviewed Golbguru. Here's the reply he sent me:

Q. What should a consumer worry about with these card trading services?

Golbguru: If you directly sell your cards to the websites, there is not much risk involved. The websites are up and running to do business and they take effort to see that they don't earn a bad name early on and usually they will address all problems quickly. However, make sure that the website has a phone number in place where you can call and ask questions if things go wrong. I would not do business with a website that does not have a customer service email and a phone number displayed.

PayPal Protection

-Even if you sell your cards in auctions or to a third party through these websites, you do not have too much to worry about since all buyers will have to pay (usually through PayPal) before the transaction is considered complete. So there is no such thing as "I didn't get paid for the card I sold." Also since most third-party transactions will be through Paypal, some seller protection is available. You can read more about this on Paypal's website.

-Before you sell your cards, make sure they are not "non-transferable" and also that they are not expiring soon. Usually, websites will have clear guidelines on these issues, so check these guidelines first to avoid getting into trouble.

Buyer Protection

-If you are a buyer, then you need to be more careful when you deal online. If you are buying your card from an auction on one of these websites, make sure that you buy it from sellers who have a positive feedback. Potential problems here are with buying gift certificates that are no longer valid or buying gift certificates that do not have the full promised value (for example, you buy a $50 gift certificate but later realize that it has only $30 balance on it).

For such instances, most websites will offer some kind of a buyer protection. The buyer protection amount varies from website to website, so you need to check that before you start buying. Again, most of these transactions will go through Paypal and there are some buyer protections in place.

Fees

-Most websites have some fees associated with buying/selling/trading transactions. These fees are either percentage basis (based on the value of your card) or a fixed value basis (say $3.99 per transaction irrespective of the value of the card). Usually, for selling low value cards websites offering percentage basis fees are preferable, whereas for selling high value cards, fixed fee websites are preferable.

-Some gift cards have transaction fees, closure fees and "no-activity" fees associated with them. Make sure you are aware of these fees before buy/sell you card through these websites. The trading/buying/selling websites are not responsible for these fees and they won't be able to help you later if you loose the value of your cards through such fees.

The most important thing:
-Always read the fine print.
-Golbguru of Money, Matter and Musings

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Avoid Air Travel With Gifts. Ship Early; Ship Cheap!

A few weeks ago, I went to my high school reunion in New Jersey. I traveled by plane and while going through airline security, I lost my toothpaste. It was confiscated. My little tube didn't clear security because it was a 4 oz container instead of the 3 oz standard required under the new TSA rules.

So I faced the cost of the buying a new tube in order to show up at my reunion looking fresh and bright. This experience contributed to my latest column in the Miami Herald.

What would have happened if I were shipping holiday gifts that did not meet the airline security requirements? That's the question that I was asked by my editor Kathy Foster. Here's the column I wrote in response to her question:

When traveling with holiday packages, you can easily become a bundle of nerves, especially if you're headed for the airport. Even basic gifts such as fruit cakes and scented candles are subject to higher levels of scrutiny from the Transportation Security Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

How strict are the guidelines? Gifts should remain unwrapped so that security officers can inspect your package. And don't even attempt to carry on gift sets of food, toiletries or perfume that exceed three ounces. As carry-on bundles, toiletry gift sets or food items must fit into a single quart-size plastic bag with a limit of one bag per passenger.

Bottom line: Ship your presents before you leave home and leave enough time to meet the most affordable rates for domestic shipping. The post office says ground-package rates are the cheapest; delivery time ranges from two to nine days.

Of course, after clearing airport security, you can always shop for gift sets and other items in the shops near your ticket gate, but you might not find the cheapest deals.

Here are some suggestions from the TSA about carry-on and checked gift items. Of course, each airline may have additional size and weight requirements, so check with your carrier before departure. TSA has also prepared a free holiday travel publication, which you can download at www.TSA.gov.

• Do not wrap gifts. Security officers may want to inspect your package. Wrap at your destination.

• Food gifts -- salsa, jams, syrups and other edible products -- must not exceed three ounces and must fit into one quart-sized plastic bag. TSA recommends shipping food gifts before you travel.

• Scented candles, perfumes, snow globes, oils and toiletry gift sets must be three ounces or less. TSA recommendation: Ship gift sets before you travel.

WHAT'S ALLOWED

You can carry on: cigar cutters, corkscrews, toy robot transformers, umbrellas, walking canes, camcorders, PDAs, laptops, cellphones and tools such as pliers that are less than seven inches long.

WHAT'S FORBIDDEN

The following cannot be carry-ons: kitchen gifts with sharp objects, baseball bats, hockey sticks, ski poles, golf clubs, hammers and saws.

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Updated Version of the Festival of Frugality!

**Festival of Frugality: Updated with additional comments and links!***

Wow! The Frugal Holiday Gift guide (Plus More!) is here at the Festival of Frugality. Personally, I feel so smart this morning, because I have been reading Festival entries. I've separated the entries into bite-sized categories: Back to Basics, Food, Holiday Shopping/Saving; Generic Shopping, Medicine, Cars/Gas/Energy, Green Living and more.

Plus there is a huge money management section. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the festival and to my education. Thanks to Jim of Blueprint for Financial Prosperity for letting me host.


The posts were great and I have something to say about each one. Next week's FOF host: Penny Nickel of Money and Values.



Back-to-Basics/General Frugal Living

David presents Sometimes the simple things can save the most money. posted at My Two Dollars.
Comment: I really enjoyed this piece about a simplified life. It's a keeper!

Money Walks presents 50 Smart Money Tips That You Never Want to Avoid posted at Money Walks.
FD comment: Great roundup of frugal living! I'm clipping this one.

*****

Car, Gas & Home Energy Tips

Joe Caterisano presents 13 ways to save on gasoline posted at penny pinching.
comment: Short,informative list with gas-saving tips!

The Frugal Law Student presents Share a Ride, Share a Smile posted at The Frugal Law Student.
Comment: Thoughtful piece about ditching the expense of an extra car! I'm a big fan of public transportation, so I loved this one. It comes with thoughts and numbers.

FMF presents Simple Tip to Save on Heating Costs posted at Free Money Finance.
Comment: Sweet, short piece on the energy value of space heaters and ac room units.


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The Food Aisle

Nina presents Save Money by Cutting Down on Food Waste posted at Queercents.
Comment: Loved, loved this piece about wasted food. Lots to chew on!

Mom in Israel presents The wonders of cholent posted at A Mother in Israel.
Comment: This is a yummy story about one of my favorite food dishes. My family eats cholent almost every Sabbath! (Saturday) B"H!!

Binary Dollar presents 7 Ways To Eat Cheap In The City posted at Binary Dollar.
Comment: Super wonderful tips about saving money while dining out. I highly recommend this list for travelers or for those with out-of-town guests.

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Holiday Gift Guides & Season Savings Plans

Jeremy Waller presents 6 Tips For Frugal Gift Giving posted at WallerBlog.com - Simple Financial Advice.
comment: super list; quick list with helpful gifting and re-gifting tips.

Golbguru presents Don?t Like Your Gift Cards? Trade Them Or Sell Them For Cash posted at Money, Matter, and More Musings.
Comment: Oooh! I like this one also and would like to interview the author for a print column!


Dean presents Mr. Cheap Stuff posted at Mr. Cheap Stuff.
Comment: There's a lot of frugal wisdom in this piece about paying for holiday presents with a cheap strategy. This post gives lots of dignity to the word "Cheap!"

Ryan C. Fleming presents Money In The Bank posted at Bryan C. Fleming.
FD comment: Solid how-to and why-for about Christmas Club savings accounts.


Penny Nickel presents Frugal gift-giving: holiday cookies with a personal twist! posted at Money and Values
Comment: An outside the box guide to creating and gifting unusual cookies. Take a bite out of this post.

Frugal Babe presents
More Christmas non-shopping
Comment: Great tips about making and finding frugal holiday card options.


*****
Shopping Bag Tips & Retail Therapies

Silicon Valley Blogger presents A Fantasy Shopping Experiment posted at The Digerati Life.
Comment: I enjoyed this fantasy shopping trip. It's a real exercise in mind over matter. Check it out.


Stephanie presents My shopping trip posted at Stop the Ride.
Comment: I loved this piece about shopping and sell stuff at re-sale shops.


Scott On Money presents Internet Shopping Bargain Challenge posted at Scott On Money.
Comment: Shopping with Scott is fun on the Internet. Plus, he makes a good argument about comparison shopping.


Ben presents Shopping Your Way Out of Debt posted at Money Smart Life.
Comment: This blogger offers a challenge and a game. Super strategy for having your cake and saving it too.

Trent presents Hot Tips On Thrifty Shopping From... The New Yorker?! posted at The Simple Dollar.
Comment: You have to love a blogger who pulls frugal tips out of the New Yorker. I'm going to hang out here.


Yan presents Amazon shopping tips and hacks posted at ProBargainHunter.com.
Comment: Wow! This is an excellent on-line shopping guide. It's one of the best I've seen with real insider tips.




Lazy Man and Money presents Ebay on the Razor?s Edge posted at Lazy Man and Money.
Comment: A concete example of how one frugal man shopped on eBay and saved.



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Family Issues

Jane Chin PhD presents What Causes Elderly Parents to Get into Debt? posted at Parents in Debt.
Comment: Insightful tips about older parents & money. Excellent!


****
Green Living


Clink presents $.05: What do rodents and shredders have in common... posted at Coins On The Pavement.
Comment: Very funny piece about re-using material. Recycle!

******
Medicine & Insurance

Dr Kavokin presents Insurance Expert Discusses Health Care Crisis. Sort of. posted at RDoctor Medical Portal.
Comment: An insiders view about soaring health care costs with some practical suggestions.


Wenchypoo presents “All I Know I Learned Way Back in Medical School” Part Four: The Financial Ties That Bind posted at Wisdom from Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket.
Comment: An inside look at the money side of drug companies and doctors. Ouch! Those conflicts of interest could hurt us all.


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Money Management

Sagar Satapathy presents 101 Financial Tips you Never Learned in High School (but should have) posted at Bankruptcy Reader.
Comment: I wish I read this one in High School. I wish I wrote this also! Great Read.

Joe Caterisano presents How To Budget Your Money posted at penny pinching.
Comment: Helpful list of frugal strategies

Barbra Sundquist presents Outsmart Credit Card Companies at Their Own Game posted at HomeBusinessWiz.
Comment: Great credit card strategies for business owners and consumers.

andy presents Smart ways to save money in a divorce posted at exchange-ingredients.
Comment: Very insightful piece with a link about money & love.


And Finally...

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Ode To Prosperity posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.
Comment: Clever poem!

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