An annual supplement to

Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Thursday, November 22, 2012

&Tri-CountyShopper

A1 GIFT GUIDE ‘12 BS

2 Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012

In 2010, holiday spend-ing forecasts were bleak. Groups like that

National Retail Federation were predicting that 2011 holiday spending would increase only by roughly 2.5 percent from the previ-ous year. Such a forecast unnecessarily worried retailers, who ultimately had prosperous sales that exceeded expectations significantly — increas-ing somewhere between 5 and 6 percent.

Many of the shoppers who ventured out that holiday year may have overspent despite poor economic predictions sim-ply because they didn’t want to do without during the holidays. A 2011 study from Cardhub.com found that consumers accumu-lated $16.8 billion in credit card debt in the third quar ter alone. Holiday debt is a condition that can be prevented.

In order to avoid join-ing the growing number of people accumulating massive amounts of credit card debt, holiday shop-pers must establish a shopping budget. A bud-get helps shoppers control their spending, and the following are a few tips shoppers can employ to establish a budget that ensures this holiday sea-son is as debt-free as it is festive.

• R e m e m b e r t h e Alamo. While the Battle of the Alamo may have nothing to do with holiday

spending, shoppers who have found themselves with a mountain of post-holiday debt in the past should learn from their histor y so they aren’t doomed to repeat it . Look back on the previ-ous year’s spending habits to determine where you could have saved money. Keep this year’s receipts so they can be examined next year. Gaining an understanding of your spending habits is a great way to discover which of those habits are unhealthy and which you can build on to become a more responsible shopper.

• Take shopping year by year. Just because you spent thousands of dol-lars last year doesn’t mean you should do so again this year. Let the past

year dictate how much you can spend on holiday shopping this year. Shop-pers who purchased a new home since last year, for instance, should not feel obligated to spend as much as they did last year, and neither should men and women who lost their jobs or took a pay cut since last year’s holiday season. When establish-ing your budget, take all of the events of the last year into consideration. If you’ve had an especially successful year financial-ly, perhaps this year you can spend more than last year. Just remember a holiday shopping budget should always be fluid and you should not feel pres-sured to exceed or equal the spending of previous years.

• Don’t set a spending minimum. Many shoppers feel guilty if they don’t spend X amount of money each year on gifts for friends and family mem-bers. But shoppers should not feel guilty if they come in well under budget, nor should they keep spend-ing if they have purchased gifts for everyone on their list and spent less than they anticipated. Do not enter the holiday shop-ping season feeling you have to spend a minimum amount of money to show your loved ones how much you value them.

• Do set a spend-ing maximum. Shoppers should, however, estab-lish a maximum amount of money they can spend during the holiday season. A host of factors should be considered when deter-mining how much you can safely spend. Those factors include your cur-rent financial situation and your job security. If you presently have a substan-tial amount of debt, eradi-cating that debt should take priority over holiday shopping. And if your working part-time or on contract or have reason to believe your job is in jeop-ardy, then you should, as much as possible, avoid holiday spending entire-ly. Once you have estab-lished a maximum amount you can spend for the holi-days, do not exceed that limit and do your best to come in under budget.

How to establish a holiday budget

Establishing and adhering to a holiday shopping budget is essential to making it through the season debt-free.

Tablets are the must-have portable computing device

of the moment, making them a top holiday gift. In just a few short years, the number of people with tablets has increased dra-matically.

Within a year of the iPad’s introduction into the technological lexicon, 11 percent of Americans already owned one. As other tablets and upgrad-ed versions of the iPad entered the market, tab-lets became more and more popular.

A study from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journal-ism in collaboration with The Economist Group found that the majority of tablet owners (77 per-cent) use their tablets every day, using them for an average of about 90 minutes.

When shopping for a tablet, there are many different features to con-sider.

• S i z e : Tablets come in different sizes, weights and screen offer-ings. When the iPad was released, it set the standard screen size at around 10 inches, weigh-ing slightly more than a pound. Tablets made by other manufactur-ers range in sizes from 12-inch screens to 5-inch screens, giving shoppers the ability to choose a device that is as mobile as they need it to be.

• Battery life: Many

tablet users are interested in the portability of the device. Battery opera-tion makes that portabil-ity possible, so it makes sense that battery life is a big draw for consum-ers. Many tablet reviews citeAndroid products and the iPad as the best for battery life.

• Flexibility: Flex-ibility is also important to prospective tablet buyers. Tablets that are only able to connect to the Internet via a Wi-Fi service will be much more limited in use. Many tablets now come with 3G or Wi-Fi capabilities, enabling the device to work even when you are away from home or a Wi-Fi connection.

• Storage: Some con-sumers are interested in the amount of data they can store on their tablets. Some reviewers have complained about the inability to add more storage space to the Apple iPad, forcing con-sumers to purchase a more expensive device just to add more storage. Android and Windows-based tablets have remov-able storage options and may be better buys for those who need to save a large number of applica-tions or photos and video.

• Price: As with any purchase, price is often a big component of deci-sion-making. Therefore, the tablet that offers the most features at the most affordable price may win out.

Tips on shopping for tablet computers

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Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012 3

Have we become a society that is too busy for gift

wrap? When a bir thday arrives or the holidays come around in fu l l force, where do most people tur n? To the u l t ra -convenient g i f t bag, that’s where.

Gift bags have large-ly taken over the party aisles at most stores, where rows and rows of gift bags in all shapes and sizes are not uncom-mon. If you’re tr ying to find a roll of wrap-ping paper, good luck. For bir thdays, anniver-saries and even baby showers, paper designs have essentially become obsolete.

It’s tr ue that wrap-ping paper seems to make a rebound come the ho l iday season , when stores begin to devote aisles of space to ho l iday supp l ies . But even when shiny foils and smiling Santas beckon customers from the tightly packed rolls, many people still choose gift bags.

Gif t bags do have many advantages. They ar e eas i ly por tab le , generally inexpensive and come in some very clever designs. They’re also touted as a “green” product because they can be reused.

But there are plenty of people who feel that the elimination of intri-cately wrapped presents takes some of the magic out of the holidays. Care-fully wrapped gifts show that a person put in time and ef for t to present a gift in a way that is sen-

timental and personal. Although it may take mere minutes to pr y away the paper and find a treasure inside, there’s something to be said for paper-wrapped gifts. It means the gift-giver sat down, pondered the paper design and care-

fully chose the bow or ribbon with the recipient in mind.

Before you eschew wrapping paper for a gift bag this holiday season, think about all of the advantages to spend-ing some time and reac-quainting yourself with

the art of gift wrapping. Here are some reasons to save the gift bag for another time.

• Wrapping can be green, too. Wrapping paper can be reused if it is carefully removed from a gift. You also can create your own wrap-ping paper by decorat-ing brown postal paper with a rubber stamp or having children color their own special murals. Don’t overlook news-print as wrapping as well.

• Paper is more cost-ef fective. You are bound to get more bang for your wrapping buck by choosing wrapping paper. Although there are scores of discount s tores that se l l low-priced gift bags, often the qual i ty isn ’ t the same, and the handles could tear after one or two uses . Wrapp ing paper per inch is defi-nitely more af fordable than gift bags, par ticu-larly when purchased on sale.

• Wrapping paper lets you be creative. Cover a box wi th a patchwork of dif ferent paper scraps, choose to stagger colors of paper with boxes towered one on top of another or tie on the biggest bow you can find.

• Paper is traditional.

Look back to the classic stories of yuletide and you are bound to find images of Santa Claus pulling wrapped boxes out of his enormous gift sack. Also think about how depar tment stores used to (and some still do) offer complimentary gift wrapping.

• Wrapped gifts travel better. When carr ying your bounty of gifts to friends and family, care-fully wrapped boxes tend to stand up to travel bet-ter than gift bags. No one wants to receive a gift bag that has been wrinkled and cr ushed into some amorphous shape. Plus, wilted tis-sue paper can be off-put-ting.

• There’s something magical about wrapping paper. The anticipation, the drama, the build-up to peeling aside wrap-ping paper and reveal-ing the gift has brought smiles to children’s (and adults’) faces for gen-erations. It is hard to improve on something that has been successful for years and years.

Al though the pub-lic may be swept up in rushing back and forth, there are traditionalists who appreciate sitting down and spending time creating holiday magic by way of beautifully wrapped gifts.

Has holiday gift wrapping become a lost art?

Many people have turned their backs on wrapped gifts in favor of gift bags. However, there’s something to be said for intricately wrapped presents under the tree.

One thing that should be on your holiday shopping list this year

is a reminder to watch for and avoid imitation products. Fake electronics and toys can be untested, uncertified and unsafe.

The Canadian Standards Association Group, a leader in anti-counterfeiting efforts,

offers gift-givers an easy check-list for safe shopping:

• Check the packaging: Counterfeit packaging often has poor design, misspellings and unclear printing. Ensure there is contact information for the manufacturer in the event that there is an issue with the products.

• Check the name: A

product with no brand identifi-er or trademark may be a coun-terfeit. Reputable companies want you to know whose prod-uct you’re buying. Buy from reputable retailers with clear exchange or return policies.

• Check the “look and feel”: Fake products are often too light and flimsy.

• Check for the mark:

Avoid electrical products missing a label from a rec-ognized certification orga-nization such as The Cana-dian Standards Association Group.

• Reality check: If a bar-gain seems too good to be true, it probably is.

More safety tips are avail-able online at csaholiday.com.

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4 Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012

Some people are a cinch to shop for come the holiday sea-

son, while others can be more of an enigma. When it comes to the latter, shop-pers should determine what tickles their mys-terious friend or family member’s fancy, such as a favorite hobby or even something to do with his or her profession.

Food is a passion for many people and provides holiday shoppers with a great opportunity to make a loved one’s holiday sea-son even more special. Perhaps thanks to the increase in cable networks focusing on food, food-ies, those people with an appreciation and passion for cuisine, have grown in number in recent years, and holiday shoppers with foodies on their lists have a host of potential gift options at their disposal.

• Cooking class: Many foodies don’t just like eating food but cook-ing their favorite cuisine as well. For those who like to get their hands dirty before filling their bel-lies, consider paying for a cooking class. Many com-munities have cooking classics for various types of cuisine, so consult your friend or family member, asking them which cuisine they’d like to learn and when they’re available. Or let them find their own class and then pay for the class. This can be a great way for foodies to learn something new and meet fellow food afficionados along the way.

• Specialty spices: Spices can make the dif-ference between an ordi-nary meal that’s void of flavor and a meal that’s so flavorful it won’t soon be forgotten. When spic-

ing things up for a foodie this holiday season, don’t just buy regular spices at the grocery store. For example, instead of stan-dard cinnamon, buy a spe-cialty spice like Mexican or Vietnamese cinnamon. Such specialty spices can add extra flavor to a meal while becoming the go-to spice for the home chef among your friends and family members.

• Pressure cooker: Many foodies are fawn-ing over pressure cook-ing, which can cut down on cooking times without sacrificing nutrition. Some recipes may take half the time to prepare with a pressure cooker as they might with a more tradi-tional cooking method, an important time saving element that’s attractive to foodies who want to enjoy their favorite foods but feel pressed for time on weeknights. And while pressure cookers employ steam to cook foods quick-ly, that steam also traps fla-vor, whereas boiling can wash flavor out.

Many foodies also laud pressure cookers for their nutritional benefits. Steaming certain foods

can intensify their flavor, which allows cooks to rely less on potentially unhealthy additions like salt or butter to ensure a meal is flavorful.

• Serving dishes: Of course, many foodies want to share the fruits of their labors with friends and family. For the person who loves throwing dinner par-ties, consider some serv-ing dishes this holiday sea-son. Serving dishes can range from casual (for the foodie who can’t wait to fire up the grill) to formal (for the gourmet foodie), so get a feel of your friend or family member’s prefer-ences before purchasing a set of serving dishes.

• Cookbook: The ideal fallback item for holiday shoppers who can’t seem to find any-thing for their favorite foodies, cookbooks filled with recipes for dishes from their favorite type of cuisine (i.e., Italian, Thai, Cajun, etc.) are sure to please. When gifting with a cookbook, peruse a few of its recipes to determine if there are any special ingredients that appear throughout. If there are, purchase these ingredi-

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Ideas for the food fanatic

Few things make hol-iday shoppers hap-pier than giving a

gift that instantly lights up a loved one’s eyes. All the work that goes into find-ing and securing the per-fect gift becomes worth it and then some when the recipient’s smile stretches from ear to ear.

A great holiday gift often involves someone’s favorite hobby. When gifting the family sports fan, the options are end-less. Sports fans tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, and they’re liable to be just as vocal with appreciation if any of these gifts are waiting under the tree for them this holiday season.

• Magazine sub-scription: Many sports fans feel they can never get enough information on their favorite teams and sports. A magazine subscription to Sports Illustrated or another periodical focusing on a particular sport can pro-vide insider access for a year or longer. Magazine subscriptions are typically inexpensive, but they pro-vide lots of bang for your gifting buck, especially weekly publications. In addition, many magazines now give print subscrib-ers access to exclusive content online, playing to your favorite sports fan’s ever-growing desire for more knowledge.

• Spor ts appar-el: According to IBIS-World, a California-based market research firm, online sporting apparel sales were expected to approach $5 billion in 2012. Driving those sales are sports fans who can’t wait to don the gear of their favorite teams.

Apparel makes a great holiday gift, whether it’s an authentic player jersey, a team logo hoodie or a personalized T-shirt that directly connects fans to their teams.

• Memorab i l i a : Sports memorabilia can be costly, but shoppers can still find great deals on everything from auto-graphed items to relics of a franchise’s fledgling days. When shopping for memorabilia, be war y of auctions, where “shill bidding” can drive up the price of coveted items. Shill bidding occurs when owners bid on their own items at auction in an attempt to drive up the sale price. And authentica-tion can be an issue with regard to sports memora-bilia. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been cracking down on fraudu-lent memorabilia. Shop-pers without knowledge of the memorabilia industry might want to focus on less expensive items that will be a hit under the tree but won’t be a hit to their bank accounts.

• V ideo games: Many sports fans indulge in their love of a favorite sport by playing video games. Like most tech-nology, video games are consistently reinvented, so last year’s game might already be outdated, mak-ing video games an ideal holiday gift. Those who want to go the extra mile can include a new gaming console along with the lat-est video game.

• Tickets: Of course, sports fans might like nothing more than tick-ets to see their favorite teams play. Buying direct-ly from a sports team is a safe bet, but it can also be expensive. Savvy shop-pers can explore the legal secondary market, which includes online retailers like StubHub.com or even league-affiliated programs like NFLTicket Exchange, where they might find more affordable tickets. When gifting tickets, do so far enough in advance of the game so fans have time to plan their trip and, if need be, take a day off from work.

Sports fan essentials

Sports fans enjoy indulging in their love of a particular sport with video games, making a new game an ideal gift for the family sports fan.

Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012 5

Business prognos-ticators once said that layaway would

go the way of the dino-saur. The concept would be archaic and essentially extinct, as credit cards overtook layaway plans. Although many stores dropped their layaway poli-cies for much of the late 20th and early 21st centu-ries when business was booming and credit was easy to secure, layaway has since made a come-back.

Many stores have resuscitated their layaway programs in recent years. Spurred on by the poor economic climate and con-sumer desire to avoid post-holiday debt, layaway is gaining in popularity. Poll-ing through Frugal Living indicates that of the nearly 5,000 respondents, 87 per-cent plan to use layaway this year. The growing number of stores that are offering layaway serves as an indicator of how popular layaway has made a come-back.

Babies ‘R Us, Toys ‘R Us, WalMart, Kmart, Bur-lington Coat Factory, Hall-mark, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx and Sears are some of well-known retailers now offering layaway. In addi-tion, some antique stores, jewelry stores and other merchants may offer their own layaway programs. It doesn’t hurt to ask, espe-cially because layaway can be beneficial to merchants and consumers alike.

• Better-quality mer-chandise: Paying incre-mentally enables many shoppers to afford higher-quality items. Furniture,

appliances or jewelry can be put on layaway and shoppers won’t have to accrue any debt.

While buyers are able to enter stores and shop for exactly what they want — without having to settle for lower-priced gifts — retailers benefit by increased profits on higher-end merchandise. Because there are penal-ties in place if a person defaults on their layaway order, and since merchan-dise is not leaving the store before it is paid for, there is a very low risk assumed by stores who offer layaway.

• Disappearing lay-away fees: Increased competition for layaway shoppers has led many retailers to remove tradi-tional layaway fees. Stores may waive deposits on layaway accounts, mak-ing layaway an even more attractive option to shop-pers.

• No risk for credit card debt: Once the bal-ance on a layaway account is paid in full, the merchan-dise can be taken out of the store. Unlike shoppers who pay for items with a credit card and get stuck paying down that holiday debt for months and years to come, consumers who choose layaway are debt-free once the account has been paid in full. Although layaway isn’t risk-free, any fees tacked on to the account for failure to pay are likely to be less expen-sive than fees and penal-ties implemented by credit card companies.

• Layaway attracts shoppers: Stores looking to increase foot traffic may

want to consider institut-ing a layaway option. Lay-away requires a shopper make several trips to a store, and each of these trips presents the oppor-tunity for a retailer to offer new merchandise or deals for shoppers, who may be inclined to increase their layaway tally. Layaway gets shoppers into the store, increasing the likelihood they will spend more and more money.

• Teaching adults and children alike: In a world where buy now/pay later has become the norm instead of the exception, layaway reinforces the fis-cally responsible trend of only getting what you can pay for, a valuable lesson for kids and adults alike. Taking children along to make layaway payments can teach them the con-cepts of budgeting and liv-ing within your financial means.

Layaway has reemerged as a sensible way to pay for holiday gifts and other big-ticket items without being racked with post-holiday debt.

Layaway has many benefitsMany merchants, including jewelers, have once again instituted layaway programs to entice consumers.

Many people con-sider pets great holiday gifts. But

in spite of their popular-ity as presents, pets do not always make the most appropriate holiday gift.

Giving a pet as a pres-ent seems like a great idea, but shoppers might want to give it more con-sideration before giving a gift that is such a consider-able responsibility. A puppy at Christmas or a bunny at Easter may be given with good intentions, but that well-meaning senti-ment can easily backfire, ending with the pet being given up for adoption when recipients don’t feel up to the task of raising a pet. In such instances, the com-panion animal pays the steepest price.

Accor d ing to the Humane Society of the United States, most pup-pies and kittens born in the United States never reach their second birth-days. They die from being hit by cars, are euthanized by their owners, succumb to starvation, or suffer fatal injuries in fights with other animals.

Though it often is, buy-ing a pet should not be an impulse purchase. You see sad eyes looking back at you from behind a cage door and want to give that animal a new home.

However, introducing an animal into a family is not a decision to take light-ly. You must factor how well the pet will fit in with the family dynamic. Do

schedules allow for quality time spent with the animal? Is it a financially good time to care for an animal that will cost money? Are you aware of how long the pet will live?

Making those big deci-sions for a person on the receiving end of your well-intentioned gift may be crossing a line. Would you want to have such a life-changing decision made for you?

Furthermore, the holi-day season is not one ideal-ly suited for making careful decisions. People are often swept up in emotions and even stress, and shoppers may not be thinking ratio-nally.

The hectic nature of the holiday season can be a dif-ficult time for a pet to grow acclimated to its new envi-ronment. He or she may be frightened to assimilate or take longer to settle down. Pets often need sev-eral weeks of quiet and constant care to become comfortable in their new environments.

Here are some other reasons why the holidays are not a good time for new pets.

• Holiday visitors may frighten the new pet and he or she may become weary of strangers at the outset.

• The activities in the household may pose safety hazards for the young ani-mal. An abundance of rich foods and various decora-tions could be ingested, potentially causing illness.

• New pets should

be carefully supervised around children to see how they behave. A child may not be accustomed to handling a puppy or kitten and could injure the ani-mal. Similarly, the pet may be skittish and lash out at the child. Adults busy with holiday obligations may be easily distracted and miss how their child is interact-ing with the new pet.

• Once the glow of the holidays wear off, children may be disillusioned with the new responsibility that has fallen into their hands. They may not like the responsibility that comes with being a good pet owner.

Reputable pet breeders and animal shelters often discourage individuals from adopting or purchas-ing pets as holiday gifts. Many organizations and animal businesses require a careful vetting of potential pet parents to ensure the animal will be placed with a family and in a home that is suitable.

Animal welfare groups warn that an estimated 50 percent of pets adopted during the holidays end up right back at shelters. This can scar the pet.

Avoid the temptation of giving a companion animal as a present. If it is your intention to gift an animal, talk to the gift recipient and discuss the pros and cons beforehand. Then you can work together and make the right decision for all parties involved, including the pet.

Think twice before giving pets as holiday gifts

The hectic nature of the holiday season can be a difficult time for a pet to grow accli-mated to its new environment. He or she may be frightened to assimilate or take lon-ger to settle down.

A5 GIFT GUIDE

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Everyone wants to get the perfect gifts for people on their holi-

day shopping lists. Shop-ping for a child with special needs can make gift-giving a bit more difficult. After all, buyers want to ensure the gift is practical as well as thoughtful. However, there are many great gift ideas for special needs chil-dren.

Buying gifts for kids with a disability or other special needs make take a little more time, but shop-pers who consider a child’s developmental readiness as well as personal interests can still find the perfect gift.

• Consult with par-ents and caregivers. Parents often know best when it comes to their own children and will make the most reliable source as to which gifts to buy for spe-cial needs children. Parents may have a list of items a therapist or teacher has

suggested, and these learn-ing tools could make good gifts, particularly if parents’ own budgets are stretched. If you’d like to make the gift a surprise for every-

one involved, go directly to a therapist or teacher and ask for suggestions. There may be classroom aides that can be bought to con-tinue the learning experi-

ence at home.• Assess develop-

mental level. When it comes to special needs children, age does not always dictate the proper

developmental level. A pre-teen with special needs may not be on the same level academically and socially as his or her peers, while some spe-cial needs children may be more developed in a particular area than other special needs kids their age. Assess a child’s devel-opmental level to help you select toys that he or she can play with. For exam-ple, a nonverbal child with autism who likes marine life may benefit from a col-orful picture book where he or she can point to the animals.

• Think about inter-es ts . Most chi ldren gravitate to certain types of toys and have specific interests when it comes to play. A music lover may enjoy a learner’s guitar or keyboard. Those who like to build would probably like a Lego or Mega Bloks set that can be trans-formed into cars, trucks

or even space stations. Most children benefit from art sets where they can explore their creativ-ity and also master greater dexterity and imaginative thinking.

• Consider making a financial donation. Some children with spe-cial needs require the use of specialized equipment, such as braces or wheel-chairs. Such equipment can be expensive, and the child’s family might ben-efit from a financial gift. A monetary gift to be put toward medical supplies, travel, gear, or even a charitable donation to an association would make fine gifts.

Special needs children are just like others in that they look forward to the bounty of holiday gifts. Choosing presents that pertain to their interests, needs and developmental readiness can ensure that this holiday season is a

6 Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012

Special needs children are just like others in that they look forward to the bounty of holiday gifts. But be careful to choose presents that pertain to their interests, needs and developmental readiness when shopping for them.

Holiday giving for special needs children

Many people enjoy holiday shopping, anxiously antici-

pating the look on their loved ones’ faces when they open their presents. But holiday shopping is even more enjoyable for shoppers who can save a little extra money. The fol-lowing are a few tips for shoppers who still want to give the perfect gifts but don’t want to break the bank.

• Stop paying for shipping. Many people now do their holiday shop-ping online. Online shop-ping can be more conve-nient and give consumers

more options. But some shoppers still shy away from online retailers for fear of high shipping costs. However, some retail-ers offer free shipping to consumers who spend a certain amount of money. In addition, savvy shop-pers can scour the Inter-net for free shipping codes they can use at checkout. Some retailers even offer free shipping during the holiday season (last minute purchases might not be eli-gible) to entice customers.

• Empty your wallet of gift cards. Gift cards are popular gifts come the holidays, but many gift

card recipients fail to use their cards prior to their expiration dates. Many cards expire 12 months after their initial pur-chase date. If your wallet is filled with gift cards you received last holiday sea-son, use them to buy gifts for friends and family now before they expire.

• Make a list. Santa Claus is renowned for mak-ing a list come the holiday season, and holiday shop-pers should follow his lead. Prior to your first holiday shopping trip, make a list that includes the names of friends and family to buy for and what you want to

buy for each one of them. Doing so decreases the chances you’ll forget some-one and be forced to drive back to the mall. Reducing the number of shopping trips you have to make will conserve fuel and save you a substantial amount of money and time.

• Pay in cash. If you’re not a fan of online shop-ping, then use only cash when shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. Paying with cash eliminates the risk of overspending with credit cards, which will come back to haunt you in January when the bills are due. Take a predetermined

amount of cash with you when shopping, and once that money is gone, then it’s time to go home.

• Don’t be tempted by retailer credit cards. Retailer credit cards can be very tempting, especially when the cashier offers an immediate 20 percent discount if you sign up for the card at the register. But that discount comes at a steep price down the road. Not only will you be receiv-ing a bill after the holiday season, but that retailer credit card will most defi-nitely feature a high inter-est rate that can negate the initial discount at the reg-

ister — unless you pay off the balance in full.

• Create spending parameters with your immediate family. The economy has yet to fully recover from the down-turn that began nearly half a decade ago. As a result, many people still approach the holiday shopping sea-son with a degree of trepi-dation. Get together with your immediate family and establish spending parame-ters so no person feels like he or she has to spend too much money on holiday shopping. Agree that no gift should cost more than $25.

Save when shopping this holiday season

A6 GIFT GUIDE

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Just because a consumer can find great deals dur-ing the holiday season

does not mean he or she should jump at the first deal that comes his or her way. In fact, consumers should con-sider a host of factors before buying a big-ticket item dur-ing the holiday season.

• Rebates: Rebates can turn a good deal into a great deal, and many electronics manufacturers offer rebates even if the merchants are unaware. Inexpensive items are not often associated with rebates, but costly items like televisions, computers and cameras may be eligible for manufacturer rebates. If you find an item on sale but the merchant knows noth-ing about potential rebates, contact the manufacturer prior to purchase. You might save money by purchasing a slightly more expensive item that of fers a rebate instead of a heavily discount-ed item that does not come with a rebate.

• Returns: Merchants compete for business during the holiday season, and such competition benefits the consumer. Before purchas-ing a big-ticket item, talk to a merchant about the com-pany’s return policy. Some merchants will offer a full refund if an item is returned within a certain time period, while others may only offer a partial refund. But some merchants might be willing to work with you if you pur-chase an item only to find it is being sold for less money by another retailer. Some will match the lower price and refund you the differ-ence.

• Warranties: When

purchasing a big-ticket item, a store representative will likely try to sell you an extended warranty for the item. On the surface, such a precaution seems like a wor-thy investment because, in theory, it’s offering added protection for an item that’s costing you a lot of money. However, most electron-ics and appliances already come with a standard manu-facturer warranty, and the extended warranty, which can cost several hundred dollars, might just be dupli-cating coverage you already

have.If you’re leaning toward

purchasing an extended warranty, know exactly what it does and does not cover before buying it. Many of today’s appliances are built to last years, and the extended warranty might not cover problems that result from normal wear and tear. Research the prod-uct, including consumer reviews, so you know what problems to expect from it. If the problems are minor, then the extended warranty is probably not worth the

investment.• Price: The price of

an item is the determining factor for many buyers. If the price is right, consum-ers will buy an item. If not, they’re likely to move on. But even if the in-store price for a big-ticket item seems like a great deal, it’s still in a consumer’s best interest to shop around. Many retail-ers offer better deals online than they do inside their brick-and-mortar stores, and you might even be able to pick the item up just as you would if you bought it in-store. In-store pickup can save you the cost of ship-ping, which can amount to considerable savings. Don’t be too quick to purchase a big-ticket item no mat-ter how deep the discount. Be patient and comparison shop. Doing so might save you hundreds of dollars.

• Reputation: A good deal is only a good deal if you’re getting an item that’s wor th buying. Do your homework before buying a big-ticket item, research-ing its pros and cons. Con-sumer reviews can be an especially valuable resource, as consumers like you have no incentive to embellish or mislead others about a product. The product’s reputation among industry professionals and fellow consumers should bear considerable weight in your decision-making process. A heavily discounted piece of junk is still a piece of junk.

The holiday season is a great time to find bargains on big-ticket items. Edu-cated consumers can come away with a great deal and a great product.

Things to consider before buying big

Consumers can often find great deals on big-ticket items, including washing machines, during the holiday season.

The holiday sea-son is one firmly ensconced in the

tradition of exchanging gifts. To address stor-age issues, some families choose to make charita-ble donations of some of their past holiday finery in preparation for the arrival of new gifts and goodies.

The average person has many belongings he or she may not need. According to the Self Stor-age Association, there are 2.3 billion square feet designated to self-storage space in the United States, and one out of every 10 households in the coun-try rents a unit. Many of the items relegated to self-storage units across the nation could be holiday gifts from years past. But rather than store items that will never see the light of day, why not help a good cause and donate such items to charity?

• Make it a tradi-tion: Families can make donating items prior to the holidays a tradition so that it is something that every-one anticipates and looks forward to.

Much as you would decorate the home or shop for fancy holiday clothing, you can set aside a day for sorting through infrequently used items and preparing them for donation. Doing so can teach children the ben-efits of generosity, which often goes hand-in-hand

with the season.• Work with an

organization: There are certain organizations that gather used or new toys and other items to give to the less fortunate. Begin with churches and synagogues and inquire if they sponsor or host a collection program.

• Set limits on new gifts: Encourage fam-ily members to give back while gifting as well. While one or two new items will be appreciated, you may want to specify that donations to chari-ties that you support, or helping to fund extracur-ricular activities, is your preference.

• Organize storage spaces: Once clutter has been removed, use this opportunity to install new closet organizers, storage bins, shelving, and any other methods of orga-nization that you prefer. Sort and categorize exist-ing toys and items so that new ones can be added neatly.

• Involve children in the donation pro-cess: When donating items, bring the kids along so they can see how their former toys and books will be put to use by other children who may not have the same advantages. It will serve as a good lesson and may help children walk away with a heart-warming experience.

Do good by donating older gifts

A7 GIFT GUIDE

The Perfect Restaurant To Meet At During The Holiday Season

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Tri-CounTy Shopper • WedneSday, november 21, 2012 Christmas Gift Guide The daily diSpaTCh • ThurSday, november 22, 2012 9A9 GIFT GUIDE

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A r o o m r e n o v a -tion is a gift the entire family can

enjoy. Research indicates that kitchen and bath improvements reap the highest rewards in home value.

There are many chang-es that can take place in a kitchen, but none that impact functionality of the space as well as upgrad-ing appliances. Manufac-turers include new fea-tures on kitchen applianc-es every year, and those upgrades are aimed at making food preparation and storage easier.

An induction stove is a relatively new innova-tion that uses magnetic energy to induce a cur-rent and eventually heat food. It works by way of a copper wire that is underneath where you’d place the cooking pot. An alternative electric cur-rent then goes through the copper wire, creating a magnetic field. This cre-ates an electric current in a ferromagnetic metal pot (one that a magnet would stick to). The cur-

rent flowing through the pot generates the heat in the pot and the pot alone. The food cooks, but the actual heating element of the stove remains cool to the touch.

Many home cooks p r e f e r c o o k i n g w i t h gas instead of electric-ity. However, the safety, speed and cooking pro-vided by induction cook-ing methods may make induction stoves more popular.

Fast cooking: Heat is transferred directly with-in the pan’s metal when using an induction stove. That means that little energy is lost between the pan and the heating element as would be the case with other stoves. Pans heated on an induc-tion stove heat up quickly and can cook meals much faster.

Sa f e t y : S a f e t y i s another consideration with induction cooktops. There is no open flame or hot electric element. This reduces the propensity for burns and there is no chance that an errant

towel or other item will catch fire when it is too close to the stove. Also, even if a piece of paper were between the pot

and the cooking element, heat would only be gen-erated in the pot and not cause the paper to ignite. Should a child touch the

heating sur face, there would be no r isk of burns.

Env i r onmen t a l l y friendly: Because of the concentrated heat deliv-er y, induction stoves waste less energy than their electric and gas counterpar ts. In addi-tion, they will not heat up the kitchen while cook-ing, which means hom-eowners or professional chefs do not have to fac-tor cooling systems into their kitchens to com-bat excessive heating. Almost no ambient heat is generated through induction cooking. Fur-thermore, you are using less energy, which means lower electric and gas bills.

Easy clean-up: With heat generated inside of the pan or pot, you will not have to worry about spilled-over food burn-ing and sticking to hot cooking elements. Also, there are no grates or grease traps to contend with while cooking. This means that cleaning up after a meal may only

require a damp cloth to clean the cooktop sur-face.

It is important to note that induction stoves can be three to four times more expensive than gas and electric models. That said, homeowners will recoup some of those costs thanks to lower energy bills. You will also need to purchase fer-rous metal pots in order to cook with the stove. Otherwise, a special fer-rous disk will have to be placed between a non-fer rous metal pot and the induction cooktop in order to generate the heat.

Homeowners looking to give the gift of a kitch-en renovation and outfit the room with the latest in appliance technology probably won’t want to pass up on an induction stove. With fast cooking times, improved safety features and the novelty factor of cooking through magnetic energy, these cooktops have quickly become prized posses-sions.

Give the gift of magnetic cooking power

Induction stoves upgrade kitchens with new technology and can be welcome holiday gifts.

College is a time when many students form friendships

and make memories that last a lifetime. College is also a time when students learn to stretch a dollar, and the right gift come the holiday season can have a big impact on a college student’s life. The follow-ing are a few gift ideas that may help make your favorite student’s second semester a success.

• Books and sup-plies: Textbooks and supplies remain one of the biggest expenses for today’s college students. According to the College Board, a not-for-profit organization aimed at helping college students be successful, the aver-age cost for books and supplies during the 2011-2012 school year was roughly $1,200. Such an expense can be daunting for college students, and relatives can help them out come the holidays by paying for a portion or all of their second semester textbooks and supplies. Such a gesture might not make the most sentimen-tal holiday gift, but it’s a practical present that will go a long way toward help-ing a financially struggling student pay his or her bills.

• Travel: College stu-dents who want to study abroad or travel for spring

break must bankroll those travels themselves. In addition, some students struggle to pay for their travel back home dur-ing the holiday season or during other breaks from class. Adults who want to lend a college student a helping hand this holiday season can offer to help pay those travel costs. Men and women who

travel a lot for work might be able to use their airline miles to secure a free or low-cost ticket for the col-lege student in their life.

• Computer acces-sories and programs: Of course, not all gifts need to be financially oriented. Practical gifts like com-puter accessories can also make a great gift for col-lege students. Nowadays, many colleges and univer-sities require incoming students to have their own desktop or laptop comput-ers. Students with their own laptops might appreci-ate new laptop bags that make it easier to trans-port their computers to and from classes and the library. In addition, some majors, such as graphic design, require that stu-dents use ever-evolving and expensive computer software.

• Gaming consoles: Another great gift for col-lege students is the latest video gaming console. Though such a gift might not be as virtuous as new textbooks or computer programs, a gaming con-sole can help students unwind from the stresses of schoolwork. Today’s col-lege students grew up with gaming consoles and many are avid gamers, so a new gaming console can also be a great way for them to make new friends who

Help college students this holiday season

Paying for a portion or all of a student’s second semester textbooks and supplies is a practical pres-ent that will go a long way toward helping a financial-ly struggling student pay his or her bills.

Smiles and laughter may dim when faced with the prospect of

returning unwanted gifts. Few people haven’t had to return a holiday gift once or twice in their lifetimes. In fact, a survey from Con-sumer Reports indicates that 1 in 5 Americans will return a holiday present this year, while retail mer-chants expect about 10 percent of all holiday pur-chases to be returned.

Part of the difficulty of returning items is a result of stores cracking down on merchandise fraud. While there are scores of honest customers simply looking to exchange that paw print set of pajamas for something a little more stylish, there are plenty others who are interested in taking advantage of the holiday season to return items that may have been used, such as a cock-tail dress that livened up Christmas festivities just as much as the spiked egg nog, only to be returned Dec. 26. With the desire to curtail fraud, retail-ers have tightened the reigns on return poli-cies.

Keeping this in mind and being prepared for a conversation with a store’s customer service employee can make the

return process go more smoothly.

• Know the store’s return policy. It pays to go online or call the store to find out about its spe-cific return policy. Being armed with this knowledge could help you avoid a trip to the store and waiting in line only to be turned away. Return policies may vary depending on the item being returned, so be sure to check about the item you have. Requirements often are more stringent on elec-tronics.

• Use a receipt whenever possible. Receipts speed up the return process consider-ably. Whether it is the actu-al receipt or a gift receipt, this small slip of paper is evidence that the item being returned actually was purchased at the particular store on a particular date.

• Bring identifica-tion. Stores will sometimes honor a return for store

credit when you present your driver’s license. Keep in mind that there may be a strict limit on how many items you can return with-out a receipt, and many stores keep track of this information by utilizing the unique scan code on your license. If you are a serial returner, you may find your efforts are for naught.

• Keep bo x e s closed. Restocking fees are charges exacted for items returned that have been opened. Generally they are applied to electron-ics and appliances — some-times 15 to 30 percent of the total purchase price. To get the most value for your return, be sure to keep the box closed.

Cut down on the stress and hassle of holiday returns by knowing store policies and only returning items that are unopened and unused. And whenever possible, bring a receipt, even if it’s just a gift receipt.

Many happy ‘returns’

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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FREE

Offer lasts from Thanksgiving

until Christmas.

*Valid only for services $12 & up.

We wish you & your family a joyous

Thanksgiving & Christmas!

lotion with visit

(252) 430-5734

Henderson-VanceDowntown Development

Commission“Building Our Future

From Our Past”Eugene Watkins • Lorraine WatkinsFax 252-492-5358

email:screenmaster05@gmail.com100 S. Garnett St., Henderson, NC 27536

252-492-8407www.screenmasterofhenderson.com

The Screen Master

• Trophies• Gift Items• T-Shirts• Sweats

• Screen Printing• Embroidery• UPS Shipping• Team Uniforms

Serving Henderson 36 Years!

CHRISTMAS COUNT DOWNMany Styles, All Shapes & Sizes!

404 S. GARNETT ST.DOWNTOWN HENDERSON

252-762-0503

SHOP US AND SAVE!

LARGEST SELECTION OF RECLINERS IN THIS AREA!Rocker Recliners - Wall Hugger - Swivel Recliners - Lift Chairs

RECLINER BLOWOUT!

OVER 100 RECLINERS IN STOCK

50% OFF!

CASH OR

CREDIT!

our original price

Great Christmas Gift Ideas135 S. Garnett St.

Henderson, NC 27536252-436-0037

www.teacherstoreonline.com

TTThThhee TTeTeeeaacaccheheherr StStS rreeeaannndd MoMMoorereree!

The Teacher St reand More!

Children can drop off letters to Santa in the mailbox inside the store, and

Santa will write a letter back!

Vance FurnitureEstablished 1941

LA-Z-BOY® Recliners

Up to 45%

Off

“Quality Furniture At Discount Prices”325 S. Garnett St.

438-3911 • www.vancefurniture.com

Your LA-Z-BOY® Headquarters

Happy

Holidays!

George’s Restaurant

from

Serving a Variety of

Mixed Drinks

Come Try Our Daily Specials!

210 N. Garnett St.Downtown Henderson

(252) 492-0090

Bar Now Available

Call for Holiday Party Reservations!

True Th rift Shop 105 N. Garnett St.

252-430-0054

Amish Handmade Baskets!Perfect for Gift &

Fruit Baskets.Many Sizes to Choose From

128 S. Chestnut St. Henderson, NC 27536

252-433-9222 offi ce 252-433-6247 fax

www.earlyfalsom.com

Residential & Commercial

Rentals

DOWN 2 EARTH HERBS201 S. Garnett St.

Henderson, NC 27536Mon. thru Sat. 10:00 - 6:00

(252) 433-0409

We Are Thankful And Grateful To

Have ServedYou For 15 Years

DISCOUNTS EVERY DAY

Warm Up With Your Favorite Holiday Latté!119 S. Garnett St., Henderson, NC

252-431-4712M-F 9am – 3pm

Wifi Available

First Class Complimentary

Studio Mainstreet Yoga & Pilates

Group and Private Classes AvailableSarah Boisvert Paynter

127 S. Garnett St. Henderson, NC

Studio 252-438-2008Cell 252-432-0376

info@studiomainstreet.com

King James Version and All Modern Translations

Bibles Starting At

$6.99

203 S. Garnett St. • Downtown Henderson

252-492-8555www.bettybsofhenderson.com

Free Name Imprinted While You WaitGift Wrap & Layaways

Gift Cards Available

BETTY B’sBaldwin - Hardware and Ornaments

Lamp Shades, Parts and Repairs

How

ard

Mill

er C

lock

s

Buck Stoves

Aladdin Mantle Lamps

Gas Logs • Stove Parts

Mai

lbox

Cov

ers Candles • Flags

Serving Henderson for 35 years

THE BRASS SHOPPE

240 W. MONTGOMERY STREET

252-438-3776ROBERT TEISER, PROPRIETOR

DaLa Marie’s

Boutique“Making Fashion

a Necessity”

Accessories, Handbags, Ladies Clothing, Jewelry

& Much More!113 S. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC

252-430-0880

“

DOWNTOWN ANTIQUESBuy and Sell

Antiques, Furniture & Collectibles

207 S. Garnett St. Henderson, NC 252-431-0860

ALL JEWELRY40% OFF!

CLONINGER LAW OFFICES,

PLLC

D. Randall Cloninger R. Brian Cloninger

ATTORNEYS AT LAWFREE CONSULTATION

BY APPOINTMENTAccident & Injury

Workers CompensationTraffi c, DWI, & Criminal Defense

Wills & EstatesCome Visit Us At Our New Location.

Happy Holidays!

215 N. Garnett Street, Henderson, NC 27536Phone: 252-492-6553

414 South Garnett StreetP.O. Box 1302

Henderson, NC 27536(252) 438-8414

Greenway’sAuthentic Charcoal Grill

200 S. Garnett St. 252-492-7088 Henderson www.Greenwaysacgrill.com

Gift Certifi cates Available~

Call To Make Reservations for Your

Holiday Party!

Henderson

Light the Night Tuesday, November 27th

at 6:00pm

Holiday Parade Sunday, December 2nd at 2:30pmLighting of the large Christmas tree in

front of 1st Methodist Church

INTERIORS & GIFTS TOO

133 South Garnett Street,Henderson, NC 27536

(252) 438-7166 Fax: (252) 438-2628• Ornaments & Decorations

• Jewelry & Accessories • Stationery • Collegiate Gifts

• Stuffed Animals • Collectibles • Games • Books • Candles • Candies & Cookies

• Potpourri • Household ItemsSomething For Everyone On Your List!

THOMAS’ APPLIANCE SALES AND SERVICE

“SERVICE...That’s Our Commitment To Our Customers And That’s What We Do Best.”

101 S. Garnett St., Henderson, NC252-492-3023

Save $$$ on Cosmetically Challenged New Merchandise

Monthly Payments as low as $25 per month! (with approved credit)

Full Warranty 90 Days

Same as Cash