Every year, Americans spend many months saving money for the holidays. From Christmas trees to holiday parties, and the countless number of gifts, it is easy to lose track of spending and unknowingly subject yourself to years’ worth of overwhelming credit card bills. This year, before you head out to the malls consider these 5 tips for sensible holiday shoppers:

1. Use Cash Whenever Possible – Carrying cash allows you to track exactly how much money you have, and how much you’ve spent. Using cash also serves as a precautionary measure for potential overspending., since you can’t spend more than you have in your purse or wallet. While using credit can be useful, and is necessary in certain situations, the less you use it the better chance you have for staying out of debt.

2. Ask Questions – Companies are all trying to win your business and will run a wide variety of advertising campaigns and promotions to try and grab your attention. If you are uncertain as to the price of an item or a sale item in a flyer, be sure to ask a store employee. Before you pay a service fee for your gift card or disregard that mail-in rebate, find out all the facts about the cost of your purchase.

3. Build a Holiday Budget – Household budgets help us organize our financial lives on a weekly basis, and the same process can help guide us through holiday spending just as easily. Visit www.consumercredit.com to download a free Holiday Budget Worksheet, and plan out exactly what you can afford to spend on gifts, decorations and holiday parties.

4. Read the Newspaper and Circulars – Many popular gifts go on sale to during the holiday season. If you are on a holiday budget, it’s a good idea to look through the newspaper each week to begin comparison-shopping. Although the item you want may be on sale at one store, its competitor might just be charging $5 dollars less and that is $5 you can use to buy Christmas cards instead.

5. Utilize Free Services – The holiday season is intended to be a time for giving, and many stores and shopping malls will offer you free gifts and services in exchange for your patronage. From free gift wrapping to $10 gift cards, these store perks can save you money in the long run, so take advantage as often as you can.

Tom Palange

Education Programs Specialist

ABOUT ACCC: American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to regain control of their lives through education, counseling and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers’ financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nation’s leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to http://www.consumercredit.com

Ever walk out the door in the morning on your way to work feeling like a freshly-baked cake without the icing? Your shoes don’t go with your handbag or you couldn’t find a matching scarf even after pulling your entire wardrobe apart. So, not only must you try to get through an entire day feeling like you’re not quite put together properly, but then you’re faced with the daunting task of tidying up your bedroom when you get home.

Accessorizing introduces that personal touch and brings it all together to make you look and feel your best. Here are a few tips and reminders to help assist you with your selections:

• Suede and leather shoes, belts and handbags in neutral colors are always good choices since you can mix and match them generously amongst your attire.
• Keep things balanced by wearing beads and bangles which add color and context but try not to overdo it. For instance, too many bracelets tend to distract from the overall image, unless of course you’ll be performing your Gladiator routine at the Roman Coliseum during lunch break.
• Watches, necklaces and ear-rings should not pinch or choke. Look for gold, gold-plate or silver to prevent skin reactions.
• Clutches and Minis can be used to carry small assortments of necessities such as wallets and lipstick when stepping out for functions, dining or dancing.
• Shoulder Bags, Hobos and Satchels can store many other items for everyday use.
• Totes, Messenger Bags and Backpacks have lots of space for extra clothing and books.
• Look for durability and quality usually signified by double-stitching and stainless steel buckles, snaps, hooks and zippers.
• Wear sunglasses that provide UV-A and UV-B protection and which complement your features. Invest in a case to store them when not in use.
• Footwear, including tennis shoes and flip-flops should always fit properly and not cause foot, leg, back or neck pain. Replace or repair shoes when the soles have worn down.
• Scarves and gloves add a touch of sophistication and complete the ensemble. Several sets may be necessary due to seasonal weather conditions.
• Waterproof and condition your leather goods for optimal performance and long-lasting use.

Learning how to accessorize is fun and easy. Be creative and unique and don’t be afraid to add vintage styles and classics to your collection. Most of all, be yourself, decorate that cake and enjoy your day!

Plus size fashions are fun and trendy too! Visit http://www.plussizegoodies.com for a large selection of online plus size clothing, lingerie and fashion accessories found online.

You’ll find plenty of trendy, fun plus size fashions to help you look and feel great!

Tags: plus+size+clothing, plus+size+clothing+stores

Most children have a natural passion for sweets, so a candy present is almost the first thing come to mind when selecting birthday gifts for your kids or teens. There are a countless number of candy birthday gifts to choose from – chocolate candy, candy bar, candy cane or sugar free candy. Parents, however, are often worried about bad cholesterol and saturated fats from candy. A candy birthday can actually be unique, healthy and sweet, of course.

Children always like chocolate gifts. Chocolates are available in many different flavors and shape, and are perfect gift choice for kids. In fact, chocolate candy does not raise the bad cholesterol (LDL) as other saturated fats do. It also contains healthy antioxidants – the same types found in a glass of red wine. Antioxidants improve and strengthen kids’ immune system besides tasting great. The darker and more pure forms of chocolate contain the most antioxidants. Chocolate candy does not contain as much caffeine as you might think either besides the fact that chocolate is a rich source of phosphorus and magnesium too. An average serving of chocolate candy has far less caffeine than a cup of coffee. Magnesium helps to maintain muscle and nerve function, is good for strong bones, and supports a healthy immune system and more. Phosphorus is important for bone and teeth formation in children and for works with calcium to keep bones strong and healthy for us throughout our lives. Chocolate gift delivery is convenient if you place the order online.

Sugar free candies taste like ordinary candies without saturated fats. Sugar free chocolate candy bars, in fact, have more antioxidants than red wine or even green tea. Chocolate contain flavonoids that is good for the heart. It thins the blood platelets and prevents clotting. In addition, flavonoids may be helpful in the prevention of cancer. Sugar free chocolates aren’t the kinds of chocolates popularly available in the market – high in calories. They’re low in calories since they’re sugar free.

Rock candy is easy to prepare, just dissolve sugar in water and boil stirring continuously with a wooden spoon until the solution grows clear reaching a rolling boil. Rock candy is one of ideas for candy birthday gifts for kids. Rock candies aren’t as fancy as chocolates, but they add fun and surprise to birthday celebration. Put the mixture in a jar and cover with waxed paper with a string or skewer suspended in it, and after one week you will have rock candy as the water evaporates.

A childhood isn’t really sweet without candies. Candy doesn’t have to have negative impact on children’s health if chosen properly.

Natalie Aranda writes on kids and family. Children always like chocolate gifts. Chocolates are available in many different flavors and shape, and are perfect gift choice for kids. In fact, chocolate candy does not raise the bad cholesterol (LDL) as other saturated fats do. It also contains healthy antioxidants – the same types found in a glass of red wine.

Stress is a large part of everyone’s life. It can often seem like the demands of the world are constantly increasing. As a result, how one deals with stress is becoming very important to living a healthy life. There are many different ways to deal with stress. Some people work out, others listen to music. Some people play video games or clean up the house. One very simple way to deal with stress is to make use of stress balls.

Stress balls are objects that can be squeezed repeatedly to relieve stress. They can be filled with different substances, but sand is a very common filling. Stress balls can also come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Stress balls also have unique designs. Some may have patterns, while others have smiley faces on their outside.

Stress balls relieve stress by allowing the user to occupy his or her mind with something other than what is stressing them out. Muscles are also put to work, and the rhythmic squeezing motion can be very comforting to the user. Some stress balls may have nice scents, which can help to soothe the mind of someone who is feeling strained. Stress has a lot to do with being out of one’s comfort zone. Every little mishap seems to be a major problem. Simply holding a stress ball can be very comforting to many.

Stress balls are very convenient because they can be used while at work, watching TV, or doing many other activities. Not everyone always has the time to go for a walk, or take a trip to the gym. For people who are extremely busy all the time, stress balls can serve as a quick and easy way to reduce stress. Heart disease and many other health problems are often related to stress. Regular use of stress balls can help to reduce these types of health problems.

And of course, shopping for stress balls should not be stressful at all. The best advice is to be informed when browsing online stores. Doing a bit of research beforehand will help ensure that you find the stress ball that’s right for you (or for whomever you’re buying it for).

Many companies offer custom stress balls, so there are a variety of options available. Customizing a stress ball is a great way to individualize the product for the particular needs or theme of any given organization. Selection at online stores can vary from the basic “little round stress ball” to more niche products like the “golf ball stress ball” or “Christian fish stress ball”. In any case, a good stress ball provider will have plenty of options available for your club, sports team, or company.

John Hanksworth recommends QualityLogoProducts.com for custom stress balls.

Well the answer is, “it can be” and sometimes even safer. “Well, I just don’t believe that”, you might say and if you read my article in it’s entirety I will try to explain my stand on this.

First let me tell you a little about my online shopping background. I am an experienced online shopper and yes I have had my credit card information stolen but, believe it or not, it was stolen before I ever used it online. I have been on both sides of the fence also; I have purchased products online and sold products online (both as a storefront and on auction sites). I will be happy to say I have had very few instances where I have been skeptical about purchases I have made online and never has my skepticism outweighed the money I save by shopping online. Below you will find the major points to online shopping safety.

1. How do I decide whether a shop is legitimate?

Determining whether a store is legitimate comes down to some of the same principles you use in brick-and-mortar stores. Can I easily contact someone if there is a problem? Does the location seem safe? Does the shop look professional? Do they accept safe forms of payment (discussed later)? These questions should also be used when shopping online. Always check their contact information and make sure it is readily available. Read about their history if it is available. Make sure they have a return policy, and a privacy policy (you can usually find these at the bottom of most stores sites). The store should appear to be a store you would feel safe buying from but this cannot be completely relied on without the other principles.

2. What can I do to make sure that I don’t get ripped off?

Just like in the real world, there is no guarantee that you will never be ripped off. However, there are things you can do to eliminate the chances of it happening to you. Make sure to read all terms of service, privacy policies, and shipping policies on a shops site before making a purchase. When purchasing from a shop and you are to the point where you are filling in personal information (i.e. address, credit card number, etc.) make sure that there is a little lock icon at the bottom right hand side of your browser and that the start of the address is “https://” instead of just “http://”. This shows you that you are making a transaction over a secure and safe connection. You can even click the lock to get even more information about the security. Always read all the fine print when making a purchase and make sure to print your receipt or confirmation as this could be your proof of purchase when making an inquiry to the store if there are any issues with your purchase.

3. Should I pay with cash that way they can’t get their grubby little hands on my credit card number?

I always use a credit card to make purchases online because I have the added protection of the credit card company. Credit cards are the absolute safest way to purchase because you have the legal right to dispute transactions made on your card. Along with my bank, the credit card companies will usually just return your money to you and go after the store or person who made the fraudulent sale. You should check with your card provider and I think you will find that they have a great policy on settling fraudulent transactions for you.

When you use cash or a money order with a fraudulent company or individual, they can essentially “take the money and run”. Does this mean I should never use a check, cash, or money order? No, it doesn’t. It just means you don’t have as much recourse if you end up getting ripped off and extra precautions should be taken.

4. What do I do if I do get ripped off?

First thing you do is cancel your credit card number if you think your credit card info has been jeopardized. This can be a simple call to your bank and explain to them your situation. They will usually work with you and pursue the store or individual who committed the fraudulent activity. If you used cash or a money order there are still things you can do but getting your money back may be a bit tougher. You should always report fraudulent activity to the proper authorities including the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org), the National Fraud Information Center (fraud.org), and anywhere else you can file a complaint.

If you believe there is an identity theft problem visit http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/ for more info on what to do.

So yes there are bad things that can happen when shopping online but as with any shopping you can eliminate the risk by making informed decisions on whether you are shopping at a genuine and honest shop. You still haven’t answered how online shopping can be safer than traditional shopping. Well here is my take on that and it is strictly a possibility. You enter a brick-and-mortar shop and you find what it is you are looking for. The shop is respectable and well known in town. You head to the cash register and you hand the cashier your credit a card. He/she then swipes your card and has you sign the receipt. You leave the store. A few days later you find out that the person that was working the cash register was new and somewhat greedy sold several credit card numbers with the personal information that was available as well as copies of your signature from the receipt. This “cashier” step in the transaction process is normally bypassed when making online purchases.

You got to the online store?find your item?make the purchase over a secure connection with your credit card directly through a merchant service to your bank. In a brick and mortar shop it is similar with an additional step like this. You visit the local store?find your item?hand your card to the cashier? the purchase over a secure connection with your credit card directly through a merchant service to your bank. In the second instance an extra set of eyes are in the transaction. This example is not to make you more afraid of traditional shopping just to make you more comfortable with online shopping.

I hope I have helped you understand how to make safer online decisions and please shop safely.

Thomas Jarrell is the owner of several online shopping resource sites as well as a few online stores. The JAC Mall is one example and it’s a large shopping directory that attempts to only list safe and reputable stores and allows visitors to rate and review their shopping experiences. He enjoys running several online ventures as well as informing those not as familiar with Internet technologies.

One of the best ways to choose a gift that will please a recipient, is to consider their greatest interests and loves. Whether it is for Christmas or a birthday, a hobby or interest related gift is likely to be particularly well received, especially if you choose with care, and do your homework. Often, though, the person you are buying for will have an interest you know absolutely nothing about. For example, they may adore horses and go riding every weekend, while you only know about cars. So, what sort of thing can you buy as a horse lover gift and how do you go about it?

The first thing to do is to think about the person you are buying the gift for. Are they just a person who loves horses and anything to do with them? Are they a keen, or even serious, horse rider? Do they love animals in general, including horses? Once you are clear, then you can think more about the actual Christmas or birthday gift you can buy them.

Gifts for horse lovers can be broken down into three main groups, as discussed below

Gifts For Horse Riders

Horse riding is an activity that requires a fair bit of equipment. That means, a wide variety of gift possibilities for the horse rider. There are riding gloves, saddles, saddle bags, bridles and stirrups, all of which are needed by the keen horseman or horsewoman. The you can find books and videos on many aspects of riding horses.

Much of the equipment, though, can be expensive, so you may have to concentrate on the books and videos, plus the other horse lover gift options below. However, if it is a special friend or relative you are buying for, and you want to add to their horse riding gear, then you should first find out what they already have and need, or what may need replacing.You can then check out some prices in the local riding store or online.

Gifts For Non-Riding Horse Lovers

Not everyone who likes horses goes riding; some may never even go near a horse, but just like pictures of horses. There is no doubting the popularity of horses even amongst non-riders. Horse racing helps to feed that interest in horses, though many animal lovers do not like horse racing.

There is a wide range of possible gifts for people who love horses. Apart from the books and videos, there is much in the way of home and garden décor which has a horse theme. Indoor and outdoor horse statues are quite easily found, in all sizes. Then there are place mats, coasters and candlesticks for the dining table which feature a horse picture or carving. In fact, many of the items you see around the house probably have a version featuring horses: towels, plates, napkins, candles, tapestries, and pictures, all are quite easily found with a horse theme.

Horse Toy Gifts

When it comes to younger horse lovers, then horse related toys are a popular gift. In fact, some of the miniature horses and accessories are popular with older horse enthusiasts too, especially collectors items such as hand carved, high quality stables, with model horses and miniature tack. Of course, younger children love cuddly soft toys and soft horse toys are readily available online or maybe in your local store.

Overall, you should be able to find a good choice of horse gifts from which to choose something special as a birthday or Christmas gift.

This horse lover gift article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Gifts For Xmas website, where you will find gifts featured for Christmas and many other occasions.