Tag Archives: Christmas presents

Culture

4 Ways You Can Save Money This Holiday Season

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There is no denying that Christmas is an expensive holiday. In the past, or perhaps right now, you may have found yourself spending a substantial amount of money on things like food, decorations and travelling.

However, the heftiest expense is usually the presents — approximately 34% of North American parents spend $500 on gifts (per child) during the holiday season. If you have a large family, this adds up quickly.

Instead of frantically emptying your wallet, consider using these money-saving tips over the holidays because by doing so you’ll be able to get more bang for your buck and potentially save hundreds or thousands of dollars on gifts.

1 — Use an Online Shopping Directory

Shopping local is always the best idea but let’s face it, not everything on your list can be sourced locally and including online shopping options is a no brainer. In fact, it’s fair to say that no holiday shopping trip is complete without an online shopping directory. If you’ve never used one, an online shopping directory is an innovative tool that offers a wide variety of features.

One of the primary benefits of using one of these directories is that you can use them to access digital coupons and flyers. You can use these coupons to save a significant amount of money on your purchases.

Additionally, you may need to shop in a larger outlet and if so, you can use these directories to find a shopping centre near you and important pieces of information like store hours. This way, you won’t waste your time by showing up after the Kingsway Mall or your chosen shopping mall closes.

2 — Ship Directly to the Recipient

Shopping online makes the gift-giving experience quick and convenient. With a few clicks, you can have a gift hand-delivered to your door. Although, if you won’t be seeing the recipient over the holidays, you will have to ship the item yourself. This process can get expensive!

Although it may seem unconventional, you can make your Christmas shopping easier by shipping your gifts straight to the recipients.

Even though this may take some of the fun out of it, direct shipping is a practical and cost-effective way to give gifts to people. This is especially true if the recipient lives far away.

If you want to save even more money, you should go to sites that offer free shipping.

3 — Look for Ways to Buy in Bulk

If you’re planning on hosting a holiday event, you’re probably looking for ways to save money on food. An easy way to cut back costs is by purchasing items in bulk. Although you may not want to purchase turkey or eggnog in bulk, it is practical for staples like water bottles, cookies or festive treats.

You should avoid purchasing perishable items in bulk. Some things to avoid purchasing include:

  • Produce (Fruits, Vegetables)
  • Dairy (Milk, Cheese)
  • Baked Goods That Are Difficult to Store

It is worth noting that you can store some of these items by freezing them.

4 – Make Your Gifts

Are you good with your hands? Do you love to create things? Have you been told that you have a knack for building stuff?

Instead of going to the Dixie Outlet Mall, you should consider making some of your Christmas gifts yourself. This is a thoughtful gesture that goes a long way with friends and family members.

To save even more money, try making your own Christmas cards. This will add a personal touch to any gift that you give.

Culture

11% Of Male Cyber Monday Shoppers Will Pull Items Out Of Hands Of Others

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday are a cultural phenom. One that American and (in the past few years) hard-boiled Canadian consumers look forward to each year. They brave the crowds, set out a savings mission plan and shop like a thrifty gladiator entering the battle arena of value.

WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK FRIDAY/CYBER MONDAY…

While images of people camped out in Walmart parking lots regularly dominates the Black Friday news cycle (as well as trampling and fights), we wanted to find out how people really intend to spend these consumer holidays-and more importantly, how much they intend to spend. We also looked at Holiday Gift searches from the last few years on our sister site-interestingly, there’s apparently a big market for discontinued perfumes.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS FROM THE STUDY

* Men are much more open to violence on Black Friday/ Cyber Monday: One out of 10 guys (11%) would pull something out of the hands of another shopper.

* 86% of Generation Y intends to use Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts on items for themselves.

* Men are the most generous: 26% of guys plan to spend at least $1,000 on holiday gifts.

* Very few people are procrastinating: While 4% claim they’re already finished with their holiday shopping, 41% intends to complete it on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

* 43% will wait up to an hour on Black Friday; 24 people said they’d willingly camp out for MULTIPLE NIGHTS.

* Bosses and co-workers are at the bottom of everyone’s shopping list: Children, understandably rule (followed by spouses/significant others).

The following info-graphic is based on responses from 6,354 online shoppers who were surveyed last year immediately after checking out. Odds are things haven’t changed much this year.  Here’s more from our friends at Tada, they are awesomely obsessed with reporting on all the things that online shoppers value.  For the Silo, shopzilla.com/Jarrod Barker.


Silo Black Friday Cyber Monday

Gaming

How Videogames Are Classified As Age Appropriate

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Christmas is coming and  kids across Canada and the World will be telling their parents, and Santa Claus himself, about the latest and greatest video game excitement they want under the tree on the big day. Buying age-appropriate videogames can be a daunting proposition but a great place to start if you’re feeling overwhelmed is the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s video game classification system, a series of easy-to-use ratings designed to help parents pick out the right games for their kids.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board was established by the video game industry in 1994 to provide age-based purchasing guidelines for games. ESRB rankings, which are used in both Canada and the United States, have been applied to nearly 20,000 individual video game titles since then, making it easier to decide what to bring home by providing a snapshot of what’s in the box.

The ESRB assigns virtually every video game on the market one of four rankings: E (Everyone), T (Teen), M (Mature) and AO (Adults Only.) The E rating indicates that a game is suitable for all players, while games rated T are considered appropriate for gamers aged 13 and up. Games with an M rating are for players who are at least 17 years old, and AO games are reserved for those of at least 18 years of age and generally aren’t sold by mainstream retailers. Age ratings are prominently displayed on the front of the game box, while “content descriptors” on the back provide details about specific game content, like alcohol and drug references, mature humour, strong language and violence.

ESRB ratings are a fantastic tool and studies by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission have consistently shown that the video game industry boasts better rating compliance than any other entertainment medium in North America- better, even, than MPAA ratings for movies. But ultimately, only parents can decide what their kids should play. Not sure about what they’re asking for? Check the box and then make the call.

To learn more about video game ratings, have a look at the Rating Board’s website  where you can also access a detailed list of all currently-rated games. For the Silo, Andy Chalk.

Culture

8 Great Christmas Presents For Caregivers To Give To Themselves:

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Peter Rosenberger, author of Hope for the Caregiver, offers these 8 great tips for caregivers to give to themselves for this holiday season and time of visiting family and friends.

1) Commit to seeing a doctor. More than 70% of caregivers don’t see a doctor

2) Commit to doing something that brings joy to your heart. It doesn’t have to be exotic: a good movie, watch a standup comedian, read a good book, paint, play the piano …something that speaks beauty and joy to you in the middle of your stuff.

3) Make a list of people you resent and forgive them and then burn the list. Lose the grudges but keep boundaries.

4) Make one small change in your diet. For instance, substitute water for a sugary drink. Grab a piece of fruit instead of a candy bar. Substitute a salad for a burger … olive oil for butter.

5) Send a Christmas card to yourself. Pick out a card your loved one would send if he/she were healthy emotionally and physically. And put a $10 bill in it.

6) Do something physical. Walk to the back of the house and back. Alan Alda walks around to John Phillips Sousa to help with his Parkinson’s. He’s not a doctor but he played one on TV …and it’s pretty good advice. He lifts up his knees. Something that simple can really benefit caregivers. Weight gain is common in caregivers. Peter quips, “I got so big my picture fell off the door and it took 2 dogs to bark at me!”

7) Isolation is crippling. Go to church or other places of worship. Slip in and listen to the music of the season.

8) Call a trusted friend and tell them you’re struggling. Take a leap of faith that they will listen. Don’t ask for solutions …just an ear and a tender heart.

A 30+ year caregiver for his wife, Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities, Peter Rosenberger understands the caregiver’s journey in ways few do. Broadcasting on Sirius XM’s Family Talk Channel (131) and an additional 180 stations through American Family Radio, Peter hosts the nation’s #1 show for family caregivers. From Autism to Alzheimer’s to Addiction, Peter addresses the needs of those caring for loved ones with chronic impairments.