More Than 9 in 10 Shoppers Have Had to Buy Last-Minute Holiday Gifts

RetailMeNot (www.retailmenot.com), the largest digital offers marketplace in the United States, announced the latest edition of its Shoppers Trend Report, which found that even as the holiday shopping season started earlier this year, nearly 1 in 3 (30%) consumers typically wait until the week of Christmas to do the majority of their holiday shopping.

Why the procrastination?Last-minute holiday shopping is more common than you think. More than 9 in 10 (91%) Americans have bought last-minute gifts during the holidays. The reasons for this behavior vary:

• More than 4 in 10 (44%) were undecided on what to get the recipient
• Close to 1 in 3 (30%) became busy and ran out time
• Over 1 in 5 waited to see how much money they had left (21%), received an unexpected gift (21%) or simply forgot (21%)

Of the last-minute shoppers, close to 6 in 10 (58%) prefer to shop in-store versus online. Why? In order to avoid the worry of on-time delivery (69%); preferring to bypass expedited shipping costs (53%); and the feeling that shopping in-store presents better last-minute deals (34%).

Shipping expectations"While some retailers have extended their free shipping deadlines, shoppers should be mindful of shipping cutoffs and unforeseen weather interruptions," said Marissa Tarleton, chief marketing officer, North America, RetailMeNot, Inc. "Shopping in-store helps eliminate the stress of arrival dates of packages, and retailers have become savvier in listening to customer needs and providing options like 'buy online, pick up in-store' and price-match guarantees."

More than 1 in 3 consumers (34%) believe they will receive their online order on time without paying expedited shipping costs if they order within one week of when the gift is needed. With more people shopping for last-minute gifts online this year compared to 2014 (42% vs. 32% respectively), shoppers should be mindful of shipping deadlines and unexpected weather delays. RetailMeNot suggests consumers take advantage of Free Shipping Day, on December 18, where over 600 retailers will guarantee delivery of gifts by Christmas morning without expedited shipping costs.

Those shoppers who miss free-shipping deadlines are planning to go to great lengths to avoid expedited shipping costs:

• Close to 1 in 2 (47%) would "buy online, pick up in-store" (BOPIS)
• More than 4 in 10 (44%) check other retailers for the same item to see if they might offer free expedited shipping
• Over 1 in 3 (36%) search online for free-shipping coupons
• Nearly 3 in 10 (28%) go to the physical store even if that means not getting their first choice of gift
• 27% pick a different item at a retailer that offers free expedited shipping

Last-minute presentsIn some cases, last-minute gifts are inevitable. Holiday shoppers (64%) deem gift cards (physical, digital or gift certificates) as the most popular last-minute gift, followed by accessories like gloves and scarves (9%) or wine or other spirits (7%). Shoppers who wish to avoid the crowds can opt to purchase digital gift cards, make DIY presents or give an experience like wine tasting or cooking classes.

AmericanFlags.com Reminds Holiday Shoppers That Flags Make Great Gifts

Still searching for that perfect holiday gift? AmericanFlags.com encourages consumers to give American flags as gifts this holiday season. "A well-made American flag is always the right color, the right size and sure to delight patriots of all ages," says AmericanFlags.com President/CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds.

Veterans, active service members and their families always appreciate a fresh American flag, as do new homeowners interested in demonstrating their patriotism with an American flag set for their porches, gardens or yards. American flags are also a great gift for children of all ages, and help instill pride in one's country, sparking a patriotic fire that will last a lifetime.

 
 
 

American flag sets make the perfect gift for homeowners of all ages.

 
 
 

"At a time when customers wait outside big box stores to buy disposable trinkets and toys made in China, we want to remind folks of the importance of buying American-made products," adds Dr. Reynolds. AmericanFlags.com sells only American-made US flags and carries them in dozens of sizes and materials for both indoor and outdoor use.

Reynolds says that while July 4th, Memorial Day and Veterans Dayalways bring brisk flag sales, the holiday shopping season has become increasing important to his company over the years as consumers look for more meaningful keepsakes. "Flags make great gifts and this year, we've had dozens of companies that have purchased flags to thank their clients, schools that have bought them for students and families that are buying them for neighbors, friends and loved ones," said Reynolds. "That's why we're offering deep discounts this holiday season and have expanded our product offerings to include a full line of patriotic gifts, including outdoor flag sets, garden banners, military keepsakes, patriotic Christmas ornaments, patriotic plaques, Americana-themed clothing, home decor and traditional toys proudly made in America."

At Home Lists Top Gift Picks For Mother's Day

 At Home™ , the décor superstore, announces the brand's top gift picks for Mother's Day. Whether your mom's style is on-trend or traditionalist, At Home's large product assortment allows her to affordably update any room in her house.  

"At Home offers something for every room, every style and every budget," says Alissa Ahlman, general merchandise manager for At Home. "Our wide selection of products for every room of the home, inside and out, allows customers to find something suited exactly to their mom's individual personality and taste."

Ahlman has outlined giftable items Mom is sure to enjoy on her special day and beyond.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words of Thanks: Picture frames containing family photos are the way to Mom's heart. With collage photo frames, you don't have to narrow it down to just one priceless moment. Print and add a group of your favorites to make the frame ready to hang for instant enjoyment. This eight-photo family frame is $29.99.

Something for the Cook: Any chef will tell you that having a great knife set is imperative in the kitchen – especially for all of the chopping, dicing and slicing that Mom-quality recipes require. If Mom's knife block needs some sprucing up, get her the 12-piece Henckels Knife Block priced at $119.99.

Freshen up the Rooms: A relaxing home extends beyond the eyes, and you can help Mom freshen $2.99. 

up the spaces in the house with one of At Home's 12 exclusive scents including Lime Cilantro, Sea Mist and Island Mango. Home sprays and candles start at

Spruce up the Patio: For the mom who likes to spend time outdoors, these patterned pots are perfect for bringing even more pizazz to her patio. Try a few in the same color for a uniform look, or play with colors and patterns—like chevron— for a brighter display. Starting at $5.99, these can mix and match to fit any budget and style.

If you can't decide what to get Mom for her special day, or need to mail a gift to her, pick up an At Home gift card so Mom can enjoy a shopping spree whenever inspiration strikes.

See more gift ideas by visiting your nearest At Home store or the brand's blog: http://www.athome.com/blog/.    

Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball® brand home canning products, today announced the third and final jar in its Heritage Collection series, the new Purple Heritage Collection Jars, celebrating the 100thanniversary of the Ball Brothers' "Improved" mason jar. Available in pint and quart sizes, the Purple Heritage Collection Jars feature a vintage-inspired purple color and embossed logos on front and back paying tribute to the classic amethyst jars, a collectors' favorite. These limited-edition jars are the final release in Jarden's Heritage Collection series following the success of Blue and Spring Green Heritage Collection Jars which commemorated the "Perfect Mason" and "Perfection" canning jars.

The latest Heritage Collection Jar replicates the rare and coveted purple jars from the early twentieth century. The gorgeous amethyst color originally occurred accidently due to a clarifying agent used in the jar manufacturing process. Once exposed to UV rays, the jars turned a stunning shade of purple, making them extremely popular with canners and collectors. Unlike the vintage jars, the new Heritage Collection jars maintain all of the modern standards for home canning and, like all Ball brand canning jars, are Made in America and BPA-free. A few recommended preserving recipes to pair with the Purple color include Beet & Onion Pickles, Blueberry Syrup and Cherry Pie Filling.

"The Do-It-Yourself, canning, and creative communities cherish the Heritage Collection Series Jars and we're thrilled to provide one last edition in a color beloved by all of them," said Steve Hungsberg, Director of Marketing at Jarden Home Brands. "Many of our community members requested purple as the final color for the Heritage Collection Series and we're excited to see what folks make and share in their jars this canning season."  

The perfect addition to any kitchen for fresh preserving, food storage and decor uses, the new Heritage Collection jars are produced only in 2015 and will be available while supplies last in retailers nationwide and on FreshPreservingStore.com  for $9.99 - $12.99.

For more information on all Ball brand canning products, visit www.FreshPreserving.com or the brand's social media channels including Facebook (www.Facebook.com/BallCanning), Twitter (www.Twitter.com/BallCanning) and Pinterest 

Selfless Giving Shifts to Selfish Shopping Post-Holidays: More Than Half of Consumers Plan to Shop for Themselves During After-Christmas Sales

Even after the holiday craziness is over, the shopping continues! According to two recent surveys by digital offers destination RetailMeNot, the majority of consumers surveyed (81%) plan to shop end-of-year sales, and of these shoppers taking advantage of post-holiday savings, more than half (63%) plan to shop for themselves! Millennials are especially interested in after-Christmas sales, as 92% of respondents 18 to 34 years old said they plan to shop during this time. 

While lower prices (66%) and deals (59%) are top motivators for end-of-year shopping, nearly a quarter (23%) of survey respondents indicate they shop post-holiday sales because they are ready to indulge on themselves after completing their shopping for others. And selfish shoppers are not sparing any expense – these consumers are willing to spend an average of $160 on themselves and $179 on gifts for others. Men plan to spend substantially more on themselves during end-of-year sales than women ($197 vs. $131).

What is your return policy?

Returning holiday gifts is on the decline! According to the survey, only 32% of shoppers indicated they typically return gifts that they receive from family and friends for the holidays. In 2013, close to half (45%) of shoppers admitted to typically returning gifts.*

When it comes to returns, respondents prefer to get money back from the store (40%). Less favored were getting gift cards/certificates (16%), exchanges for other items at the store (13%) and store credit (11%).

Gift cards reign supreme

Although once considered an impersonal gift choice, almost half (46%) of survey respondents say their favorite holiday present to receive is a gift card. Proving their popularity, more than 9 in 10 (91%) November survey respondents have received a gift card at least once as a holiday present. These recipients don't waste time cashing them in either! More than 4 in 5 (84%) would not let their holiday gift cards go unused past January.

However, more than half of those who received a gift card don't actually use it on themselves. Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) surveyed in November have used a gift card they received to purchase a present for someone else and more than 1 in 4 (27%) have gifted a card they received to another person. Women are more likely to use gift cards to buy someone else a present, with 44% of women admitting to doing this versus 32% of men. Other respondents have either sold the gift card for the cash equivalent (11%) or used a gift card exchange site (9%).

To make the most of after-Christmas sales, consumers can visit RetailMeNot.com or download the RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone, Android and iPad, to access thousands of offers that can be used online or in-store to save money. Additionally, The Real Deal by RetailMeNot posts a roundup of Can't Miss Coupons every week here: http://www.retailmenot.com/blog/best-coupons-of-the-week.html

References to survey results are to the December survey, unless otherwise noted.

Americans Admit to Holiday Gift Giving Blunders

A new survey from Travelzoo Inc. (NASDAQ: TZOO) finds that 75 percent of Americans receive holiday gifts that seem impersonal or an after-thought; suggesting that, when it comes to holiday gift giving, it's not always the "thought" that counts.

The catalyst is likely an ever-growing gift list that stretches beyond just relatives and close friends. More than 50 percent of those surveyed indicate they also buy gifts for teachers, social groups (i.e. book clubs, mommy groups), co-workers, employees, clients and their boss.

On the receiving end, 73 percent have been caught off-guard by a gift from someone they weren't expecting and then felt obliged to give a gift back. Of these, 12 percent admit to "gift shifting" -- re-allocating a gift that was originally intended for someone else.

It is no wonder that more than three-quarters of Americans (78 percent) find holiday gift giving stressful. Social exchanges like White Elephants or Secret Santa further compound holiday angst. Of the 63 percent that attend such gifting events, 23 percent admit to recycling old gifts or unwanted items.

"It is hard to anticipate the needs, wants and desires of every person on your holiday gift list," said Michael Stitt, senior vice president for Travelzoo.  "But I believe it is impossible to go wrong with a gift voucher to a well-respected restaurant, or tickets to the hottest show in town."

This rationale was the impetus behind Travelzoo's Holiday Gift Guide; a collection of hand-selected travel and lifestyle deals that make perfect holiday gifts.  Each one offers a memorable experience to be cherished.  

"The Wall Street Journal recently reported on a  study by Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, which found people are happier and more grateful when they spend their money on experiences," said Jaime Freedman, group publisher for Travelzoo. "We want to spark more smiles this holiday season and maybe even create a few holiday grab bag heroes with our deals."

Nearly one-third of U.S. consumers plan ahead and keep a secret stash of holiday gifts in case they forget someone. This year Travelzoo hopes these gifters will consider stocking up on experiences that create lasting memories, instead of material possessions destined to be returned, exchanged, discarded, or mentioned on next year's 10 Worst Gifts list. After all, who doesn't prefer a gift voucher for a Michelin-Star dinner, a spa day, a romantic two-night escape, a kayaking adventure or tickets to Cirque du Soleil? 

10 Worst Gifts:

1. Used stationary (personalized with someone else's name)
2. A coffee mug in the shape of toilet
3. Expired/stale food
4. A car duster
5. Socks
6. A shower curtain
7. Halloween oven mitts
8. A trash can
9. Post-It notes
10. Out-of-date calendar/planner

The Travelzoo survey questioned 749 U.S. travelers Nov. 5-19 about their holiday gift giving experiences. For more information about Travelzoo's Holiday Gift Guide, or to become a grab bag hero, visit http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/gifts/.

Tis the Season to Cut Back on Waste: 20 Percent of Americans Will Forgo Wrapping Holiday Gifts

The most wonderful time of the year can often be one of the most wasteful as well. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)1, household waste increases more than 25 percent from Thanksgivingto New Year's Day. Despite all the excess, almost three quarters of Americans (74 percent) plan to do something this season to reduce their waste, according to a survey from ecoATM, the nationwide network of device recycling kiosks. In addition to not wrapping gifts and reusing wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbons from previous holidays, 17 percent plan to use newspaper or other recycled paper to wrap gifts.

Some truly take these waste-cutting measures to heart, with eight percent of respondents not planning to fill any bags of trash with holiday excess: wrapping paper, ribbon, gift bags and product packaging. Nineteen percent are on the opposite end of the spectrum – saying they fill four or more bags, contributing to the additional one million tons of waste a week in U.S. landfills during the holidays, as reported by the EPA.

In addition to gift wrapping and ribbon waste, the holidays can also be a time when e-waste increases as many consumers unwrap new gadgets. According to the National Retail Federation2, 30 percent of consumers plan to buy electronic items as gifts this holiday, adding to the growing number of discarded devices.

"ecoATM is a solution for e-waste this holiday season and into the new year," said Maria Stipp, president of ecoATM. "After opening new gadgets this holiday, consumers can bring their old gadgets to an ecoATM kiosk for instant cash, and the assurance that hazardous materials will not end up in landfills."

ecoATM has collected more than three million devices (tablets, MP3 players and cell phones) since 2010, and is able to find a second life for the majority of those devices. For the remaining devices, ecoATM partners with certified eWaste reclamation facilities to ensure those materials are responsibly reused and recycled.

Now this is just cool! Inflatable, color changing solar lighting!

MPOWERD, Inc. today announced that people can now add cordless, colorful illumination to just about any occasion with its much-anticipated color-changing Luci Aura inflatable solar lantern. Designed to make any indoor or outdoor event special Luci Aura ($24.99) has seven luminous hues plus classic white and can cycle through multiple colors (like a modern lava lamp) or settle on one favorite shade.

"We've been expanding our family of Luci solar lighting to meet fast-growing demand – for everything from home decor and emergency preparedness to camping and fishing," said John Salzinger, MPOWERD Co-founder and Executive Vice President. "Our new multi-colored, multi-use and multi-faceted Luci Aura is perfect for patio and pool parties, dorm rooms, mood lighting, festivals, holiday decoration and corporate social responsibility initiatives. The fun wow-factor of this lantern translates throughout the global market."

Luci Aura first wowed crowds earlier this year at the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) where MPOWERD also received a ShowShoppers Envisioneering Innovation & Design Award. The building demand for MPOWERD's unique lantern has many predicting that Luci Aura will be this year's holiday "It" gift. The official MTV VMA Awards recently reinforced this prediction by providing Luci Aura as an exclusive celebrity gift at its ceremony in late August 2014.

Consumers wanting to be among the first to get their hands on Luci Aura can pre-order the solar lanterns atwww.mpowerd.com/order. Orders are expected to be shipped to customers early October 2014. The colorful new lantern will also debut in selected retailers across the US before the holiday season.

All products in the Luci line of inflatable and stylish solar lanterns charge under natural or incandescent light, hold a charge while stored and provide up to 12 hours of light on a full charge. MPOWERD encourages consumers to help provide Luci lanterns to the world's 3 billion people living in energy poverty without reliable access to grid electricity through its Give Luci program:www.mpowerd.com/give.

MPOWERD Inc. develops and manufactures game-changing micro-solar energy products for use by people living and playing on and off the grid. A Certified B Corp, MPOWERD is committed to transforming people's lives and protecting the planet by making its products and solutions available and accessible the world over. www.mpowerd.com

Toys"R"Us, Announces 2012 Holiday Hot Toy List

Each holiday season, parents attempt to awaken their inner child as they scour the aisles for toys and games that will bring squeals of delight from kids as they rip off the wrapping paper. To provide Canadian gift-givers and parents with a starting point to create their shopping checklists, Toys"R"Us, Canada today unveiled its annual Holiday Hot Toy List.

For Baby's First Holidays and new parents needing helpful gadgets to make life a bit easier, Babies"R"Us, Canada today unveiled a Top Baby Gift List to complement the Holiday Hot Toy list.

"The Toys"R"Us Holiday Hot Toy List and Babies"R"Us Top Baby Gift List showcase the items that our experts anticipate will be the most sought after items this holiday season- the gifts that will bring smiles and laughs to the faces of little ones across the country," said Liz MacDonald, vice president, marketing, Toys"R"Us, Canada. "To ensure all the toys and baby products listed will make the most impact on the toy and baby scene this holiday season, they have also been reviewed, tested and approved by Julianne Bisnaire, our 13-year-old Chief Play Officer and Karin McPherson, our Babies"R"Us spokesMOM."

Julianne has also developed 15 videos, that can be found at www.toysrus.ca/toyvideos, which showcase just how cool the toys on the Hot Toy List really are and to help gift givers choose between them. Thanks to the Toys"R"Us Chief Play Officer, parents and gift givers alike can now become toy experts before their kids even open their gifts.

With 72 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us retail locations across Canada, more than 40 Toys"R"Us Express stores and a full breadth of products on its e-commerce sites, Toysrus.ca and Babiesrus.ca, the toy retailer is the hub for all things fun. As Canada's Greatest Toy Store, Toys"R"Us offers a truly unique experience for gift-givers, including:

Toys"R"Us' Toy Book: Launching tomorrow, this 64-page book is jam-packed with exclusive deals, amazing savings and every plaything your child could dream of receiving this holiday season. The Toy Book features an unbeatable selection of the hottest toys complete with an easy-to-use 'toy finder' navigation system, which categorizes toys based on colour-coded themes, such as Preschool, Toddler, Imagine, Create, Impulse, Construction, Learning, Girls, Boys, Board games, Outdoor & Vehicles, Music & Electronics and Video games.

Gift Finder: Buying the perfect gift just keeps getting easier! Gift givers who may be overwhelmed with the broad selection of toys available at Toys"R"Us can visit Toysrus.ca/giftcentre to receive a list of gift suggestions. After answering questions about the recipient of the present, the Gift Finder will suggest the best gifts for every age and budget. Whether the child's a feisty fashionista or pre-teen hipster, the Gift Finder will focus in on the perfect item.

THE TOYS"R"US 2012 HOLIDAY HOT TOY LIST

The Toys"R"Us, Canada Holiday Hot Toy List, outlined below in alphabetical order, features the 15 must-have items this holiday season. All items on the list are available at Toys"R"Us, Canada stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.ca.
Angry Birds™ Star Wars™ from Hasbro®
Avengers™ Gamma Green Hulk Smash Fists from Hasbro®
Crayola®Digital Light Designer from Crayola®
Furby™ from Hasbro®
Jake and the Neverland Pirates™ - Jake's Musical Pirate Ship Bucky from Fisher-Price®
LeapPad2™ Crayola Creativity Bundle* from LeapFrog®
LEGO® Friends Summer Riding Camp Stable* from LEGO®
LEGO® Ninjago Epic Dragon Battle from LEGO®
Monster High™ Venus McFlytrap Doll from Mattel®
NERF™ N-STRIKE™ Elite Hail-Fire Blaster from Hasbro®
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™ 11-inch Battle Shell Figures* from Spin Master™
The Trash Pack™ 12 Trashies in Trash Cans* from Import Dragon®
Skylanders™ Giants from Activision®
Wii U™ from Nintendo®
Winx Club™ 2-Pack Doll Set - Bloom and Sky* from Jakks Pacific®

THE BABIES"R"US 2012 HOLIDAY TOP BABY GIFTS LIST
The Babies"R"Us, Canada Holiday Top Baby Gifts List, outlined below in alphabetical order, features the 15 must-have items this holiday season for the babies and new parents in your life. All items on the list are available at Babies"R"Us, Canada stores nationwide and online at Babiesrus.ca.
Baby Einstein™ Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym from Kids II®
Baby Einstein™ Sea Dream Soother from Kids II®
Evenflo® Exersaucer Triple Fun - Animal Planet from Evenflo®
Jolly Jumper® on a Stand from Jolly Jumper®
Laugh & Learn™ Busy Friends Musical Table from Fisher-Price®
Laugh & Learn™ Dance & Play Puppy from Fisher-Price®
My Little Sungabunny Cradle 'n' Swing from Fisher-Price®
Newborn to Toddler Rocker from Fisher-Price®
Nursery Essentials Kit from Summer Infant
Rocktivity™ Sit Crawl 'n' Stand Band* from Playskool®
Sleep Sheep Plush Sound Machine from Cloud B®
Summer Infant® Baby Touch Screen Video Monitor from Summer Infant®
The Original Baby Bullet® from Baby Bullet LLC®
Sophie the Giraffe from Vulli®
Sophie the Giraffe Teether from Vulli®

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Holiday Shopping Spending to Increase in 2012, Yet Shoppers Are Missing the Opportunity to Save More According to Survey from Ipsos Public Affairs and Offers.com PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1szko)

A telephone survey conducted among 1,001 U.S. adults by Ipsos Public Affairs and commissioned by Offers.com, found that consumers plan to increase the amount they will spend this holiday shopping season, but are overlooking big opportunities to save money in the process. The survey found that given the current state of the economy, 13% of consumers plan to spend more during the upcoming holiday season than they did last year. However, among those who shop online, just 24% say they look for coupons or deals always or most of the time when making online purchases, a decrease from 40% last year; 36% say that they never do so, an increase from 23% in 2011.

Online Shopping Coupon UsageIn 2011, 16% of adults answered that they always use online coupons and deals, yet this year that percentage has dropped to just 10%. Among the other critical findings:

• 34% of parents with children under 18 are most likely to always look for coupons when shopping online, or look for coupons most of the time, versus 18% of shoppers without children. 
• 36% of consumers claim that they never look for online coupons or deals when shopping online, and 30% say they haven't used any type of online or in-store savings opportunity in the past 30 days (e.g. loyalty cards/in-store promotions, printable or online coupons, etc.). 
• 23% of consumers find online coupons and/or coupon codes primarily through emails from their favorite retailer or the website that they are purchasing from; 19% search for coupons using a search engine like Google, Yahoo, or Bing; and 10% rely on an online coupon or daily deal website. 

Black Friday 2012
"There is a lot of talk right now that the savings opportunities on Black Friday are not all that great," said Schaffer. "However, we think those who are Savvy Black Friday Shoppers can find fantastic deals this year. By heading to Offers.com, we will help consumers find deep discounts on hot gift items including electronics such as digital cameras, Blu-ray players, HDTV's and more."

The survey also found that this year 32% of consumers plan to shop on Black Friday.

Among Black Friday shoppers:

• 57% plan to shop primarily in stores, 31% to do so both online and in stores, and 11% to do so primarily online. 
• 21% start Black Friday planning right after Halloween, 32% begins their planning one week before, and 40% wait until Thanksgiving to plan for Black Friday shopping. 
• Many Black Friday shoppers plan to start early in the day, with 50% planning to shop at stores between midnight and 6:00 am. The surveys were conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs from October 4-8, 2012, and September 8-13, 2011. For the surveys, nationally representative samples of 1,001 randomly-selected adults aged 18 and over residing in the U.S. were interviewed via Ipsos' U.S. Telephone Express omnibus. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population of adults in the U.S. been polled.

The full results of the survey can be found here.

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ShopSmart: Great Sites for Holiday Gifts Under $25

Holiday shoppers can find the perfect gift for almost everyone on their list for $25 or less. The December 2012 issue of ShopSmart, from Consumer Reports, highlights 25 great sites that offer everything from silly stocking stuffers to socially responsible gift items.

"There's an endless selection of unique and inexpensive holiday gifts online," said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. "ShopSmart has identified 25 sites that can help shoppers avoid the aggravation of in-store shopping while nabbing great deals."

The report also features nine great sites for presents under $50, five that offer do-good gifts, and six sites and apps that can help last-minute shoppers get gifts in an instant. Each of these sites meets ShopSmart's requirements for privacy, contact info disclosure, and service, and while some don't offer free shipping, the gifts themselves are a great value.

Here are five fun sites from ShopSmart's December issue.

OldTimeCandy.com has a variety of retro candy including Bottle Caps, Pixy Stix, and Razzles ─ perfect gift ideas for friends and family members with a sweet tooth. The site offers age-targeted kits, such as a 2-pound 1970s box for $24, or shoppers can create their own customized collection. Shipping starts at $7; orders must be placed by December 16 (midnight EST) for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. 

Pier1.com is the online dwelling of home furnishings retailer Pier 1 imports. Their new website features many well-priced goodies including Indian-crafted brass candle snuffers starting at $8. Shipping starts at $4.95; orders must be placed by December 16 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.

 
SetBoutique.com features clothing, jewelry, bags, and housewares from socially responsible manufacturers. The site will donate $5 to a charity of shoppers' choice when they spend $20 or more. Shipping starts at $5.10; orders must be placed by December 20 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. 

Vat19.com is a site where tongue meets cheek. Shoppers can pick up unique items, including a half-pound of gummy bears on a stick starting at $9.99 or a USB-powered beverage warmer/cooler for $19.99. Flat-rate shipping is $4.99; orders must be placed by December 17 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. 

Wag.com has pet-related gifts covered. Shoppers can select items such as a doggie tuxedo, $19.95 or a carrot-shaped rabbit toy, $3.39. Shipping starts at $4.99 and is free for orders $49 or more; orders must be placed by December 19 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.

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Creative Christmas Giving

Christmas has always been a big deal at our home, and when I knew I was going to be retired from my public relations job, I started looking for ways well before the impending lay off to save money and still make Christmas a memorable family gathering.

We knew we had to make changes in how and how much money we spent. We also realized that this was the perfect time to make lasting changes in how we celebrated the holiday. None of us really need or want anything. If we do, we are fortunate enough to be able to buy most anything we need or want. No, we decided that Christmas presents had to be meaningful.

One of the changes we made was to say that at least one gift to everyone and from everyone had to be personally handmade. I sew, so this year, I made felt shopping bags for everyone. Felt is cheap so it that helps on the Christmas budget. It’s also easy to personalize each bag. But more importantly, reflects my desire for my family to be more green.

Last year, the first year that we did this, my daughter created beautiful, handmade canvas prints of my grandson. My dad made me a beautiful cake plate – and even baked cookies! My sons, not much on the creative front, give me framed photos. Those are gifts I'll cherish forever.

Buying locally produced products also is important to us, so at least one gift had to be made in Texas or at least made in the USA. This was my excuse to hit the McKinney Downtown Square.

Loco Cowpoke and Landon Winery are two of my favorite shops for made in Texas goods. Every item sold at Loco Cowpoke is made in Texas. My son-in-law the barbeque connoisseur got a selection of Texas-made barbeque sauces; my mother and daughter got the amazing margarita jelly; my youngest son, the amazing Texas grown and pickled olives. There’s also Texas-made peanut butters, chocolates and honey as well as the expected sauces.

Landon Winery is a popular gift with by parents and my brother – whose name happens to be Landon. We’re partial to the fruit wines and the dessert wines. And I got the gift box – for obvious reasons.

Another thing I started a couple of years ago, is the "coolest thing ever" gift. I buy one outrageously practical, but totally cool gift in bulk and every family gets one. The first year I did it, I bought Megabrite LED Color Changing Night Lights in multi-packs. You plug these decorative night lights into the wall, and they fade from one color to the next. Practical and pretty. I got a lot of strange looks when those gifts were open. Everybody thought I was off my rocker, but when I go into their homes, they all have them plugged in.

Last year, I gave the even more practical memory foam bath mats. My youngest son was the loudest to yelp about such an odd ball gift. Then a couple of weeks after Christmas, he called with an admission: "Mom, I didn't get what was so special about that bath mat. Then I jump out of the shower this morning, and it was cold! When my feet landed on it, I got it!” Not to mention that it helps reduce my elderly parents chances of slipping or eases the burden on my daughter’s knees when she baths my grandson.

While I haven’t decided this year’s coolest gift ever, I almost always buy them from a warehouse store so I can get them in bulk and for much, much cheaper than you can get them anywhere online.

Beyond the quest to be green and to be practical, I also have a couple of frugality strategies.

Last year, I discovered Coin Star’s free coin counting service. You can take your jars full of change to Coin Star and exchange them for e-certificates and gift cards for free. Participating retailers are practical places where you’re like to shop for Christmas anyway: Penny’s, Sears, Toys R Us, Lowes, Gap and Amazon.com, just to name a few. There’s also several grocery stores and restaurants participating. I bought most of my grandson's 2011 Christmas with Coin Star generated gift cards and will likely do the same this year as I have filled three big jars since last Christmas.

A couple of things to note: not all merchants are available at all coin star machines. For example, at Walmart, you can only get restaurant and hotel gift certificates. I found that out the hard way and ended up trekking across the street to Kroger to get the Toys R Us deal. Coin Star has since upgraded its web site so that you can find a vending machine that offers the gift certificate you’re looking for before you head out.

Also be aware that the rules for each gift card and e-certificate is different from vendor to vendor, and you won’t necessarily find the answers online – only on the printed receipt you receive after you've cashed in your coins. I figured out that the hard way too. Toys R Us/Babies R Us issues e-certificates which can only be used to make online purchases, which I - and the store staff - learned after several phone calls to corporate. I had to go home and make my purchase. I was able to do in store pick up at no cost, but that option may not be available on everything you buy. Be aware that your purchase my include shipping costs and could take up to two weeks to arrive. Make sure you do this with plenty of time to spare.

Now for something new that I'm doing this year.... Selling Avon. You can become an Avon rep for only $10. (Most other direct sales opportunities are $150 or more to join). As a new rep, you get up to 40 percent discount on your first four orders if those orders are at least $100 each. (Discount depends on the product). You get $100 with of products for $60 (plus shipping and tax)

You can order stocking stuffer favorites for women, men and kids super cheap. Actually, you can get some pretty nice tree gifts super cheap too. You’ll be able to get fantastic deals on popular gifts – sleepwear, clothes, jewelry, footwear, colognes, perfumes and bath products.

Oh, and you can restock your bathroom while you’re at it. Avon is comparably priced to Wal-mart on the cosmetics, hair care and skin care products you use every day. And the quality is comparable to high-end department store products! Because everyone knows the Avon name, it’s very easy to sell to friends, family and coworkers, and they're subsidizing your Christmas shopping. Just last week, I filled three huge stockings for $4 TOTAL, thanks to my wonderful customers.

Yes, there’s a downside – you do pay for shipping, but in this day of online shopping, you should be used to that. And if you decide to make a side business of it, there are some niggly costs involved – you have to pay for brochures and samples (both of which really do encourage sales) and you pay for your gas if your customers are beyond your normal travels.

Avon does have no hassle, online sign up. Email me for the link and sign up code. I promise not to bug you.

So yes, it’s the only the beginning of October, but we’re already planning for a great Christmas!!!

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Create With Paint

Just in time for Memorial Day, here’s an idea for rustic bird house. I’m not much of a birdhouse fan, but when I find something irresistibly cheap, I grab it and stash it away. I never know when I might come up with a use for it.

When I created this piece, I didn’t set out to create a patriot piece, it just turned out that way. I was more interested in trying out some new painting techniques, so let’s talk about what I learned doing this piece.

I wanted to experiment with staining over paint. With masking tape, I striped off a wide columns on the sides and back so I could compare the painted stain against the stain over the unfinished wood. I painted the untapped sides a bright red. Just for contrast, I painted the front a bright blue. I put down three coats and let the paint dry between each layer. When the paint was completely dry – about 24 hours, I rubbed in the stain, a cherry wood, with a terry cloth rag. Again, I applied three coats, waiting a day between each coat. (Note: make sure to wear rubber gloves when working with stain. It’s sticky and doesn’t come off easily.)

I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome: a convincingly weathered look. Still it didn’t look finished. I glued down some unfinished pre cut wood stars to the front. Once glued down, I applied the stain. Unfortunately, the stars are light balsam wood, a different wood from the birdhouse, and would take the stain. I applied a couple of coats before giving up and painting the stars white. It was more difficult painting the stars after they were already fixed to the birdhouse, but I couldn’t pry them off either. After the paint dried, I layer stain on top of that.

I’m pretty happy with the end result, considering I didn’t have an end result in mind. Sometimes, you just have to experiment. Who knows what you’ll come up with. I’m likely to repeat this technique for something for fall or Halloween.

Patriotic Picture Frames

Shortly after Christmas, I picked up several wooden frames just because they were on clearance cheap. They were destine for craft stash, but ended up in the floor of my craft room. This week, I got tired of tripping over them and decided to create something for my summer decorating theme.

There’s all sorts of summer decorating themes… beach and fruit are two of the most popular. I go a different direction. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, my interior decorating them is patriotic. By decorating around a patriotic theme, I cover all of the major summer holidays – Memorial Day, Fouth of July and even Flag Day.
For this framing project I drew inspiration from my Texas Star and Rustic Valentine. I also was able to use a lot of the crafting supplies leftover from those projects, including the paint, the small star cut outs and the wooden lettering, which coincidently are patriotic colors. I had a pile of kid and grandkid photos that would fit into the theme as well.

First I match the frames to the photos. Then I matched the paint to the colors or theme in the photo. For the baseball photo, I painted the frame Texas Ranger red. The other photos seemed to work best with the bright blue. I painted all of the frames at once, and allowed them to dry.

While the frames dried, I sorted through my leftover letters to spell out something that made sense. “Made in Texas” and “My Airman” were obvious – and I was lucky enough to have all the letters I needed. “USA” was easy as well, but picking out something baseball-y, well that required the assistance of John. For two or three days, we struggled with words. John desperately wanted to spell out “Slugger,” but I didn’t have all the required letters – and I was determined to use up what I had rather than buy more. Then we tried “First Base,” and “Coach.” Finally John pieced together “Homerun” and that fit!

We used silver metatic acrylic craft paint on the pre-cut wood letters and some of the small pre-cut stars and bright red on larger pre-cut stars I purchased at Michael’s. Once dry, about six hours, I glued the letters stars to the frame using wood glue. When the glue had set up, about two hours, I sealed the whole thing by painting it with a layer of white craft glue and let it dry overnight.

Once the frames were dry, I trimmed the photos to fit inside the frames and then using masking tape, sealed the backsides so the photos could be handled without falling out.

Mother's Day Ideas

Fun Mother's Day Fact: The U.S. Congress officially designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in 1914.

John and I were watching Suburgatory the other day, the Mother’s Day episode where each of the husbands with reluctant kids in tow try to outdo each other in making mom feel like a pampered queen. That would NEVER happen in my household. I’m lucky if I get text message.

I don’t want much… In fact most mothers don’t want anything more than quality time with their kids. According to a Wakefield Research study (conducted for Godiva Coffee), “87 percent of Americans (moms included) believe it's the quality of time spent with Mom, not the quantity of time, that's most important.”

Godiva Coffee has three under $15 gift ideas that go along with spending time with Mom:

Surprise her with breakfast in bed: Nothing shows your love for Mom like waking up before she does to prepare her a delicious breakfast. Of course Godiva Coffee needs be in the coffee pot. Oh and clean up the kitchen afterwards.

Work yourself into her schedule for a day: Help Mom run her errands or be her chauffeur to enjoy the great conversation that comes while driving around together doing everyday things. This might be a good time to find out who your mom is.

Stroll down memory lane: Sit down with Mom and view old photo albums and/or videos to reminisce. Find out who Mom was before you came along. If you’re a good kid, help Mom scan them onto a computer to share on Facebook.

The Godiva Coffee Mother's Day Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 American adults, ages 18 and older, between April 6 and April 12, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population 18 and older. Wakefield Research is a global market research consultancy that advises clients throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia Source: Godiva Coffee via PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1aAeL)

The Serious Teddy Bear Company also has some Mother’s Day idea, particularly for those who live to far apart to visit on that day. The first suggestion is the obvious: cards, flowers and chocolates. Not very creative, but still suitable.

Then there’s the greener, cheaper version: Personalized message online e-card services . Free versions of video animation software also are available that allow kids – and spouses - to upload family photos and even brief video clips.

The next best thing to visiting mom on Mother's Day is to talk with her face-to-face on a live video chat. Take advantage of online services that offer free computer-to-computer video calls. The news release says “This experience will blow her away, especially if she gets to see her out-of-state grandkids for ‘the first time in ages.’” (I guess they’re assuming moms aren’t that technology savvy – shaking head.)

Source: The Serious Teddy Bear Co, via PRnewswire http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/make-mom-feel-loved-on-mothers-day-even-from-hundreds-of-miles-away-147786575.html

How about these ideas:

Buy her a flat of flowers and plant them

Frame a picture of yourself, yourself and your siblings and/or the grandkids

Make the frame for the above pictures

Lunch

Make a cement cast of your hand or your foot, yeah even if you’re grown.

Wow! I need to get to posting some how to’s, don’t I?