How ready are you for Christmas?
Christmas Eve is a week away. How ready are you? Are you an organized Christmas shopper who already has everything purchased, wrapped and ready to go, or are you procrastinating buying gifts until later this week. Tell us how prepared you are by voting in our poll, then in the comments, tell us why you got shopping out of the way or why you're still procrastinating.
Used responsibly, credit cards can offer extra benefits and protections for your holiday gift purchases.
American consumers use credit cards more during the month of December than in any other calendar month. The Federal Reserve reported that last December shoppers spent over $851 billion on their credit cards. Credit cards have a bad reputation, because people tend to spend more than they can afford, and get into financial trouble when the interest starts to rack up. But when used wisely, credit cards can actually provide consumers with added protections against fraud and theft, and they can extend warranties on purchases. When you're shopping online, your purchases are protected against damaged or missing items. Some credit cards offer price protection, where the card issuer will refund the difference if you find a lower price on a purchase…
Are you gearing up to let your fingers do the walking on Cyber Monday?
Hatboro and Horsham residents who didn’t want to brave the crowds on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday still have one more big chance to save courtesy of Cyber Monday. Similar to the two other major shopping events, Cyber Monday differs in that consumers don’t have to leave the comfort of their own homes (or offices) to take advantage of some pretty big pre-holiday deals. All the bargains laid out for Cyber Monday are for online shoppers only. So how can you find the best deals online this Cyber Monday? While most major retailers that have an online presence aren’t tipping their hats on their online deals just yet, many have splash pages set up that they're inviting shoppers to bookmark in advance of the Nov. 26 shopping holiday. …
Tips for getting the presents they want without having to hoof it from Horsham to the North Pole.
Santa’s awesome, but he doesn’t always deliver the hottest toys of the season on demand to Hatboro and Horsham homes, no matter how nicely we ask. If the kids – or wannabe kids – in your life happen to have their hearts set on presents that are hard to come by, it can be torturous running from store to store only to find what they really want just isn’t available. Whether your little girl has her sights on the latest Lalaloopsy, your son wants a Hot Wheels R/C Terrain Twister or that “big baby” in your life is yearning for a copy of Halo 4, here are some ideas on how to track down what’s in demand without putting miles and miles on your vehicle in the process: Tips for Shopping in Town If you hate ordering online and love the gratification…
If holiday shopping has you thinking about using a layaway plan, a local consumer protection office has some advice before you sign.
Q. Although Black Friday is still several weeks away I’ve noticed that the advertisements have already started promoting stores’ layaway programs. It has me thinking about all the presents that I have to get for the holidays. It seems that layaway is becoming popular again due to the economy. I figure why not shop early so I’ll have time to pay it off before the holidays. I am feeling the pinch this year and am considering shopping using layaway. I have never used a layaway program before and don’t know too much about it. Can you give me any advice? C.S., Warminster A. Layaway can be a good idea when you want to get your shopping out of the way, but may not have the money to cover your purchases upfront. It allows you …
6:50 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
When I was younger I always used the lay-away plans for Christmas and we also used them for school clothing. This can be a lifesaver when on a tight budget. more ›
Hipster Kitty
10:31 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
Do you have a professional source for all of this information, or are you just making it up from your own experience, Sarah? more ›