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7 Last Minute Christmas Shopping Tips

December 21st, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 6 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips

With Christmas at the door, maybe your presents aren’t. In other words, you still have a few gifts to buy and send which means you’re almost out of time.

Christmas CartLast minute shopping means last minute shipping, a costly, but possible endeavor. Indeed, even the United States Postal Service (USPS) can deliver a package on Christmas day, but for a price. A steep one at that.

Don’t let the lateness of the shopping season distract you – you can still finish up in time to make sure that your gifts are found under faraway trees on Christmas morn. (see The New York Times | Last-Minute Help for Those (Mostly Male) Holiday Shopping Slackers)

1. Shop Today – Yes, today is December 21st which means that most retailers use this date as the cut off for when items can be purchased, wrapped, packed, and shipped. Choose two-day delivery to assure enough time for your gifts to be processed and sent. Don’t bother choosing back order gifts at this point because they won’t ship until after Christmas if ever.

2. Christmas Cheer – If your gift recipient enjoys wine, you can stop by your local wine seller, pick up a few bottles and hand deliver them. If they live faraway, you may be able to ship these items from the store or you can ask them to package everything and take it to the USPS for delivery.

3. Holiday Home Baking – Your prized Christmas cookies are the delight of your family and friends. Why not whip up a batch of cookies, place them in a festive cookie tin, and send these off at once? These days, so many people don’t take the time to bake. Your gift beats out store bought any day.

4. Tickets or Passes – Tickets to a play, opera, or movies can be a nice gift to give. Also, consider passes to a ski resort, theme park, or museum. Some places allow you to order your tickets by phone or internet and can be picked up by the recipient on the day of the event. Find out if they’ll send a confirming e-message to your recipient too. (see Kiplinger | Give the Perfect Last-Minute Gift)

5. Magazine Subscription – Why not give the gift of reading this Christmas? Magazines are welcome especially for shut ins. Discount sites dominate the internet, making it possible to send a three year subscription for the price of one year. Most will send out a subscription card announcing your gift too.

6. Gift Cards – You know who their favorite retailer is, but you have no clue what this person wants. Besides, you can’t imagine yourself rubbing shoulders with influenza influenced shoppers this time of year. Instead, head over to the website of their favorite retailer and order the card online. Macy’s, for example, allows customers to order and customize cards right online. Add a photo if you like or order an e-card as late as December 24th (1 p.m.) to arrive in time for Christmas.

7. Cash – Some people think that giving cash or writing out a check is tacky, while others are grateful for your generosity. Teenagers love receiving money because that means they can decide what they want to buy and where they’ll buy it. It sure beats receiving an unwanted or inappropriate toy!

In the event that the weather socks you in or you just can’t get to the store today, go ahead and contact the USPS, UPS, and FEDEX for their last minute shipping options. You’ll pay more, but at least your package will arrive in time for Christmas. (see The Wall Street Journal | Holiday Shopping Tips)

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What You Need To Know About Christmas Gift Cards

November 12th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 6 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips

All week we’ve been examining how to get the most out of Christmas this year. On Monday, it was all about getting your Christmas shopping done early. On Tuesday, we reviewed five Christmas shopping tips for savvy shoppers while on Wednesday we looked at rethinking your Christmas giving altogether.

Gift Cards

gift cardsToday, the discussion turns to gift cards and what you should know about these immensely useful and thoughtful presents. Not everyone likes to give them, preferring to buy a special item and wrapping it themselves, but for many recipients a card is the preferred gift as it allows them to decide what they really want. Honestly, gift cards can be a bit of a mystery, especially since their “rules” vary from retailer to retailer. Personally, there are some shops I would never buy a gift card from, fearing that they’ll tack on a fee that will diminish the value of the gift or in some cases the retailer may be headed for bankruptcy rendering the card and gift worthless.

Bankrate Advice

To help matters, we’ve turned to Bankrate.com a leading aggregator of rates and financial information for a variety of financial products including gift cards. Bankrate notes that gift cards have been the number one gift for the past five years, something not likely to change this year. However, they’re quick to warn consumers that reading the fine print is important before making a purchase, taking into consideration the following data as well:

  • Beware of fees on your major credit company gift cards if you don’t spend the card after the first 12 months: Three credit issuers charge a $2.50 monthly maintenance fee after 12 months of inactivity on their gift cards;
  • All store gift cards don’t charge a fee for purchasing their card in-store (Starbucks charges a $1.50 handling fee for cards purchased online), however all credit issuer gift cards charge a $3.95 fee upon purchase;
  • Keep an eye on your credit issuer gift card’s “Valid Thru” date: While it’s not an expiration date, your gift card will have date on it which indicates when it’s valid through (reportedly due to the shelf life of the magnetic strip). Gift card owners will have to call the issuing company to swap that card for a new one to use it;
  • When buying a retailer gift card, make sure that the card you’re buying can also be used online. While most retailers do allow online purchasing, major retailers such as CVS, T.J. Maxx, and Marshall’s do not allow their gift cards to be used online;
  • February 2010’s Credit CARD Act will also have an impact on the gift card industry: While the CARD Act does not prohibit an inactivity fee, it does mandate that gift cards cannot expire in less than five years;

Shop Now!

Gift cards certainly come in handy, but not all cards are equal. Know what you’re buying and the restrictions of each can certainly make a difference. Of course, if cards are used right away, then a number of issues disappear just as fast, therefore encourage your recipients to hit the stores ASAP in order to find bargains and get full use of their gift cards.

Source: Bankrate.com

Photo Credit: Ivan Prole


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Is It Time For You To Rethink Your Christmas Giving?

November 11th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips

4 ways to look at Christmas a bit differently.

Christmas is the season where Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior for mankind. It is also a time when everyone else gets in on the action, whether they have a particular religious motive or simply want to partake in a season of giving and receiving. Yes, Christmastide makes for an odd blend of religious and secular celebrating, but it also unifies people in some unexpected ways including examining their own reasons for giving.

Christmas Giving

Christmas presentYes, the new austerity is here which means that although many people still plan to shop, they aren’t giving like they did just a few years ago. The 2008 financial collapse followed by long term economic have caused a lot of people to examine Christmas giving. Perhaps you’ve already made some changes or maybe you’re still weighing your options. No matter, the following are some seasonal tips to help you celebrate the season with joy instead of dread:

Budget It – This is the year when you’re going to live within your budget, right? I know, it is so tempting to overspend especially when you consider all of the people you will see this season. But a few moments of pleasure seeing a friend or family member open up your gift can be soon overshadowed by months of paying off high interest credit card bills if you spend beyond your means. Stick with your budget and begin to set aside money now for next year’s Christmas shopping.

Kids Only – For large families with parents, numerous siblings, cousins and other relatives, buying gifts for everyone is sheer lunacy. There are two ways you can wisely handle this situation besides not giving gifts at all: purchase presents for children only or have a gift exchange where everyone chooses one or more names out of a hat to determine who buys what for whom. Immediately following Thanksgiving dinner is when some families make their selections, heading out on Black Friday to make their purchases.

Gift Cards – One way to ensure that you stay within budget it to simply give people on your list gift cards. This means if you’re planning to spend $25 for each of your nieces and nephews, you can get a gift card to their favorite store to allow them to make post Christmas season purchases themselves. A few things to keep in mind: avoid those cards with expiration dates as well gift cards which rack up fees if not used within a certain period of time. Importantly, do not buy a gift card or gift certificate from a retailer who is having financial problems as that card may be deemed worthless if they file for bankruptcy.

Helping Others – What do you buy for the person who has everything? Perhaps nothing. Or, at least a donation to a favorite nonprofit organization in their name. If your aunt insists on “no gifts” this Christmas, ask her if she would appreciate a donation to a charity instead? Some people simply do not want gifts, but a contribution to those who need assistance might still be appreciated.

Christmas Joy

We’ve lost sight of what Christmas is all about as the holiday has become a retailing feeding frenzy. We need not return to the days when our Puritan ascendants banned the celebration out of disgust over worldliness, but we may want to rethink what Christmas is all about and a good place to begin is with our Christmas shopping list.

Photo Credit: Kym McLeod

Adv. — 2009 is nearly gone with 2010 waiting in the wings. Might this coming year be the one where you will buy or launch your own business? The work of an entrepreneur isn’t easy, but it can be tremendously rewarding. If you have ever considered starting your own business, then please contact the National Association of Certified Business Brokers for assistance. “Helping Business Owners Succeed” is our motto — please stop by to see what we have to offer to you!


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5 Smart Tips For Savvy Christmas Shoppers

November 10th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 6 Comments | Filed in Consumer Tips

Christmas ornamentYesterday, we examined a number of good reasons why you might want to do your Christmas shopping sooner rather than later. Today, we’ll dig a little deeper to look at some ways you can get the most out of your shopping experience in a bid to avoid getting stressed out later on. After all, Christmas should be a celebration – not an endurance test!

Save Receipts – A #10 or small manila envelop is a good place to keep all of your holiday shopping receipts. Jot “Christmas” on the cover and save everything in one convenient, easy to find location. In addition, place gift receipts in with each present just in case the recipient needs to make a return or exchange later on. My goodness…how on earth could you possibly know that your Uncle John put on 20 lbs since you last saw him? That “L” shirt is much too small now for his noticeably expanding girth!

Mark Receipts – In addition to saving receipts, are you certain that your early purchases permit you to make returns and exchanges well into January? Stores more often than not liberalize their return policies for Christmas, by allowing any gift purchased months earlier to be returned for as many as thirty days post holiday. Just to be safe, you may want to ask a manager about their return policy and have them sign your receipt accordingly. Retailers who bend over backwards to accommodate shoppers are worthy of your business. As for everyone else, not so much.

Use Credit Cards – Undisciplined use of credit cards is never wise especially during the Christmas season when sentimentality runs high and the urge to spend, spend, spend increases accordingly. However, your credit card issuer may offer to you an important benefit which you may not be aware of: purchase protection. You’ll need to review your card agreement for specifics, but many card providers will insure your purchases against theft, loss or accidental damage. This can come in handy if you’re at the mall and someone plays the role of an unrepentant Grinch and breaks into your car and steals Christmas out from underneath you.

Shop Online – You already hate shopping at the mall, so why not do some of your Christmas shopping online? Online retailers fully expect that customers will continue to search the internet in a bid for bargains, but not every deal online is worth it. Some things to look for: free shipping, tax free purchases, and an easy to understand return policy. Some retailers may not offer free shipping to your home, but they may offer it when your purchase ships to their store nearest your home, which means you can stop by at your convenience and pick up that item.

Consider Extras – Inasmuch as finding a good buy is important or shopping from the convenience of your laptop does wonders to help remove stress, don’t forget to look out for certain extras this season. In a bid to get the lion’s share of your business, some retailers are offering consumers gift cards for reaching certain spending levels. Of course, don’t bust your budget to attain higher thresholds but if you can spend your $200 at one retailer and receive a $25 gift card on top of it, then don’t split your purchases by going to two or more retailers. Other extras worth considering: free wrapping of your gifts, concierge shopping service, and donations to your school or favorite charity when you patronize the business at certain times.

Finally, shop with a list and stick to it. Each of the mentioned tips can be quickly undermined if you go over board by spending beyond what you planned.

Adv. — With Christmas just six weeks away, you know that time will suddenly seem to vanish. Why not take some of the pressure off of yourself by shopping online this Christmas season? The nBuy Shopping Plaza offers gift bargains galore as well as a terrific way for you to plan your shopping accordingly. Choose from more than 5,000 stores!

Photo Credit: Vicky Gill


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