Posts Tagged With ‘ Gifts ’

Over the years, I’ve seen hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ads on Facebook. To me, it doesn’t seem like a very good place to be placing orders. You have no idea about the reputation of the companies. In the spring, I succumbed. I ordered a “jacket” for my sister for her birthday. I also ordered one for me. The ad said orders would be received promptly. After I ordered one jacket, I was notified it came from Italy and was in customs. The second, identical jacket, I was informed, was coming from Ireland. Many more messages arrived about the jackets being in customs at various places. When... Continue Reading

How is your Father’s Day going? Seventy-five percent of Americans are celebrating Father’s Day today. They’re spending a record $22.9 billion, according to a survey conducted for National Retail Federation. Consumers are spending $196.23 on average, up from $171.79 last year and topping the previous record of $174.10 in 2021. As in other years, the most popular Father’s Day gifts are greeting cards, purchased by 61 percent. Other top gifts include clothing, 55 percent; a special outing such as dinner or brunch, 52 percent; gift cards, 48 percent; and personal care items, 32 percent. Today,... Continue Reading

Although Mother’s Day is highly commercialized, I like remembering my mom on this special day and I enjoy visiting with my daughters over WhatsApp. Maybe next year, I’ll be able to travel to Spain again in May. Since my birthday is May 4 and my daughter’s is May 23, we have so much fun celebrating our birthdays plus American Mother’s Day and Spanish Mother’s Day in May in Spain. The photo is of my mom. It’s her high school graduation photo. She graduated when she was 16. Mother’s Day spending Consumers plan to spend a total of $35.7 billion on Mother’s Day this year, nearly $4... Continue Reading

Sixty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, and 43 percent plan to attend church on Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Easter is a big donation day for U.S. churches, as it usually has the year’s highest attendance rates. It’s also a significant money-maker for candy companies. Projected Easter spending on candy is $3.3 billion, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website. Total Easter-related spending expected in 2023 is $24 billion, with $192 per person celebrating. More than half of parents will make Easter baskets for their kids and... Continue Reading

American consumers spend more than $25.9 billion on Valentine’s Day each year. It makes the holiday the third-priciest on the calendar for U.S. consumers. Valentine’s Day spending for 2023 is estimated to be $192.80 per person celebrating, according to a Valentine’s Day survey by WalletHub, a personal finance website. There is nothing wrong with getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit and surprising that special person in your life with a sweet note or small token gift, said Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D., associate professor of the College of Business and Management at Lynn University. But,... Continue Reading

It’s fun to write my weekly newsletter, Helpful Money Tips for You. It’s free and when you sign up, you’ll get lot of tips to help you with saving money, budgeting, and learning about the latest financial news. Below is the latest copy of my newsletter. As you can see, it has ideas for saving money for Valentine’s Day, on streaming services, and by using appliances more wisely. It was great recently to get a compliment on my newsletter from J. Money of the website Budgets Are Sexy. He said “I just signed up to her newsletter myself – something I rarely do! But how great are these?!... Continue Reading

February is a month of possibilities for sales: Some for Valentine’s Day and some for Presidents’ Day. Here are some ideas on what to look for from Dealnews.com: Valentine’s Day It’s likely that you’ll find some Valentine’s Day sales. Look for bargains such as 30 percent off on candy. President’s Day sales The other big shopping opportunity in February is Presidents’ Day sales. This year it’s on February 20, and you’ll likely to be able to save on some big-ticket items, including computers, major appliances, furniture, and mattresses. But you may be able to save on smaller... Continue Reading

How was your holiday? Did you get lots of neat presents? Were you able to celebrate with family and friends? Were you exhausted when it was all over? I was fortunate because I was able to celebrate Christmas twice. My daughter from Spain came for an early celebration and my daughter from Sacramento drove up to Washington state for the early festivities, too. We had a great time including lots of wonderful food and presents and a great turkey dinner. Then, when Lisa went home, I flew to California to have a second Christmas with Mona and her family on the farm east of Sacramento. It, too, was... Continue Reading

Every year I write about children’s toys to avoid, according to W.A.T.C.H., World Against Toys Causing Harm, a group that helps raise awareness about the dangers in toys, children’s products, and recreational activities. W.A.T.C.H.’s list of nominees for the “10 Worst Toys” of 2022 includes: Cocomelon Musical Learning Watch: Potential for battery ingestion injuries. Disney Raya’s Action & Adventure Sword: Potential for blunt force and eye injuries. Li’l Woodzeez Tickle-Your-Taste-Buds Bakery: Potential for choking injuries. Zeus Lion: Potential for ingestion/aspiration injuries. Dingray... Continue Reading

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in the United States, and it can be one of the most expensive. Decorations, food, cards, gifts, travel, and more can add up fast. Americans are expected to spend a record amount for the holidays in 2022, between $943 billion and $960 billion, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. If you happen to live in a city where the costs of celebrating Christmas are relatively low or you can travel to one, it may help. Overspending is a frequent error during the holidays shopping season, and 57 percent of consumers think buying... Continue Reading