Finding Money For Christmas Presents

Nov 13, 2010 Tammy Maas

Finding $ For Christmas - Tammy Maas

Times are rough in the neighborhood this year and Christmas is almost upon us. Scrounging up cash for Christmas gifts is a must if you have children. If you don’t have children and really can’t afford to buy gifts for friends and family this year, speak up now, they will understand as many are in the same situation. You may also want to mention that you would prefer not to receive gifts either. Christmas will come and go regardless of how much you spend or don’t spend. But if you can’t resist the Black Friday ads read on for ways to dig up some money.

Piggy Bank

It may not be a piggy bank but most people have a spot where they throw loose change. It may not look like much but something is better than nothing. Take it to the bank, dump it into one of those fun change counters and collect your cash. You would be amazed at the cool stuff available at the dollar store. Check it out and start your shopping. It’s the thought that counts, not how much you spend. You can get a nice picture frame for one dollar, put in a picture of you and the gift recipient and you have a great gift for only one dollar.

Redeem Credit Card Points

Some people have credit cards such as Discover and are earning cash back points and they don’t even realize it. Look closely at your statement to see if your card has a cash back or point program. You can typically redeem for cash, gift cards or merchandise. Add that onto the piggy bank money and you are ready to put on those shopping shoes!

Run an Ad

If you have something substantial to sell, run an ad in the newspaper, put it on Craig’s List, or consider e-Bay. Just make sure you consider the price of the ad or shipping costs when pricing the item. Even if you have a bag or box of kid’s clothes people will be willing to pay good money for it. Most people are in the same boat, if they can buy a bag of kid’s clothes at a bargain price they will jump on the opportunity.

Sell Video Games/Movies

If you or your children have video games that you no longer play, trade them in. Most video game stores have programs where they will pay you cash for used video games. Some stores also buy used movies, and video game systems. Try EB Games or Gamestop.

Recycle Your Devices

If you have cell phones, laptops, IPods’ – anything electronic, you may be able to get money for the units even if they don’t work. Log on and type in all the information you have. You will get an immediate quote. The company will also send you a box to ship the merchandise to them in and you don’t have to pay any postage. Even if they don’t offer you anything for the items it’s still a deal as some place charge money to dispose of electronic devices. In my town it’s ten bucks to throw away a laptop. Try Gazell or Networth.

Once you do find some shopping money, make sure to get the most for your money. Wait for Black Friday ad's or shop on-line to get the best deals. Have fun and try not to get too stressed out.

Copyright Tammy Maas. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Fun And Easy Ways To Shop For & Save Money On Christmas Gifts

Nov 8, 2010 Amy Wingfield

Save Money - Simon Howden

In these tough financial times, families struggle to put food on the table. Many are facing this crisis by learning how to save money, earn extra income and incentives online, shop online, watch for sales and network together by sharing what they learn along the way. This has created a phenomenon of coupon blogs, facebook pages and internet sites all devoted to teaching others how to save money.

Shop Online and Shop Early

Twenty or thirty years ago, the biggest shopping day of the year was the day after Thanksgiving, otherwise known as Black Friday. With the financial crisis of the last few years, that has changed. Many retailers have already began running " Black Friday Sales," in hopes of gaining a profit earlier this year as the economy begins to improve.

However, retailers may find that the past few years of economic hardship have given birth to a new generation of savy shoppers who have learned in times of financial crisis to network together and get the most from their hard earned money. There are websites like BlackFridayAds.com who completely devoted to upcoming sales and deals throughout the holiday shopping season, especially those sales occurring the day after Thanksgiving. Several blogs and facebook pages have been established by women who have learned the value of sharing a good thing with others. Facebook groups like Deal Divas notify group members by email of sales, deals and freebies found by members throughout the day.

Many consumers have learned to shop early and shop online first before getting in the car and driving to the store. Retailers are catching on to this trend. Many retailers are offering free shipping or reduced shipping on their websites for their hottest selling items. Online store retailers like Amazon and Walmart.com entice consumers to return to their sites often with , " Daily Deals."

Buy Used And Save The Difference

The economy may be improving, but consumers are still being cautious when it comes to high ticket items. Many consumers will first search websites like Ebay and Craigslist for desired items before checking local stores. In past generations, it was considered impolite or tacky to re-gift or give someone something second hand. That's no longer the case.

Ebay sellers often advertise their goods by using the acronym EUC, ( Excellent Used Condition). The item may be used and no longer in its original packaging, but in many cases, items found on Ebay are " Like New" items and will be well received by satisfied consumers. Beware though, always read all the information about an auction before bidding and make note of shipping cost for each item. Shipping can be expensive and sometimes it is cheaper to buy an item new at a retail store than to by it used on Ebay and pay high shipping charges.

There are other ways to find gently used goods. Some shoppers enjoy bargain shopping through Thrift stores, consignment shops, The Good Will and the Salvation Army. This is a great way to save money on clothes, toys, books, furniture, dishes, linens and small kitchen appliances. Others flock to garage sales. Many cities and communities are learning the value of networking together by hosting semi-annual or annual state highway garage sales. In the south, the bi-annual Hwy 80 Garage sale runs in April and again in October.

The sale spans over 390 miles along historic Hwy 80 from Grand Prairie, Texas to Jackson, Mississippi. bargain hunters from around the country make these sales a big " road trip," adventure. Many communities throughout the nation are picking up on this trend. To find a list of some of the big ones, try searching Google for city wide and highway yard sales.

Getting Things For Free

A pessimist might say that nothing is ever free. However Freecycle participants might disagree. Many consumers have decided not to play the garage sale game or list their used goods on Ebay or Craigslist. Instead, items are given away for free through an online resource known nationwide as Freecycle. Freecycle is so popular now that there is usually a group to be found in almost every major city in America. Group members post the items they have to "Offer," or things, " Wanted." this is a good way to give clothes and furniture and toys to families in need.

Consumers are also finding there are more, "freebies," to be found.A search engine by the name of Swagbucks rewards consumers with swagbucks for using their search tool instead of another search engine like Google or Yahoo. Consumers save up these swagbuck credits and cash them in for free gift cards and other incentives. Swagbucks is especially popular on Fridays, which is known as Mega Swagbucks day. This is the day to earn lots of swagbucks quickly just by searching the web.

Make Shopping a Game

This Christmas, make a Christmas shopping plan. Create a game plan and tackle that Christmas shopping list with enthusiasm. Challenge family members and friends to see who can find the best deals and save the most money on gifts this year. Take notes and share strategies with one another to be used year after year. The nice part about this game is, in the end, everyone is a winner!

Copyright Amy Wingfield. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Counterfeit Money Issues in Canada

Oct 30, 2010 Toby Welch

The Bank of Canada Issues Canadian Money - Colin Rose

It happens more than you may realize. Someone takes out $20 from an instant teller and is unable to spend it when the coffee shop refuses to accept it. Your friend tries to buy a new DVD player only to have the cashier call the police as he is paying with bogus money; he leaves with no cash and no electronics. At the local pub, your ten dollar bill gets spilled on and the ink starts to run. You are asked leave. It happens every day in Canada.

According to Ginette Crew, a Senior Analyst at the Bank of Canada (the only organization allowed to issue Canadian paper money), “ In 2004 there were 552,980 counterfeit notes passed in Canada compared to over 1.4 billion genuine notes in circulation ($13 million in counterfeits compared to $41 billion in genuine). Counterfeits were a very small fraction of one per cent of genuine notes in circulation (4/100ths of one per cent).”

The most common denomination of counterfeit money in Canada is usually the $20 bill. This can vary from year to year but it is usually either the $10 $20 bill.

Why Should I Care About Counterfeit Money?

All financial losses are traced back to you, the consumer, who must pay higher prices for goods as a result of counterfeiting. When retailers receive counterfeit bills, they are not compensated for the money they lose and must eventually increase their prices to make up for the loss. We all pay in the long-run for the activities of counterfeiters.

As well, the higher cost of making money is passed on to you. Ginette Crew explains, “The Birds of Canada series $20, $50 and $100 bills (the previous series of bank notes) cost 6.5 cents each to produce; the new Canadian Journey series $20, $50, and $100 bills, and the upgraded Canadian Journey $10 note, cost 9 cents each. Most of the increased cost is for improved security features in the bank notes. We feel this is money well spent to protect the Canadian cash supply, and worth it every time someone avoids getting stuck with a fake bill.”

Another reason to always be on the lookout for counterfeit bills is that if you have one, there is no way to get your money back for it.

Why doesn’t the Bank of Canada offer reimbursement for counterfeit notes? According to Ginette Crew, “This would subsidize and encourage counterfeiting: the Bank would be providing a financial reward for counterfeiters' criminal behaviour. Other central banks have the same policy.” As well, it would be difficult to distinguish between an innocent recipient of a counterfeit note and a criminal.

How Are Counterfeit Bills Detected?

As every counterfeit bill is flawed in some way, they are eventually detected. This usually happens in one of five ways:

• At a bank as it is sorted
• When a cashier discovers the fake and notifies the police
• The Bank of Canada detects the fakes when they are returned from other banks due to deterioration
• Counterfeit money is seized during police busts
• Someone realizes they have a fake bill

What Should You Do If You Receive a Counterfeit Bill?

Jonathan Hart, a banker whose name has been changed due to legal issues with identifying his bank, suggests, “If you are at a bank or a merchant and you receive a bill you do not feel comfortable with, ask for it to be replaced with another one. You do not have to take a bill just because they have given it to you.”

If you receive a bill and feel your personal safety may be threatened, stay calm and call 911.

Hold on to the bank note. Record the serial number and what bill it is. Make notes on where you received the bill and the person who gave you the note, their physical description, etc.

Contact your local police department or RCMP unit and let them know your situation. When handing over the note, mark the date and your initials on it. Always get a receipt. If the RCMP Bureau for Counterfeit and Document Examinations in Ottawa concludes the bill is real, it will be returned to you.

Forget keeping a counterfeit note you have received as a souvenir. Doing so is a criminal offence and can land you up to 14 years in prison.

How Good Are Counterfeits?

Technological advances have allowed counterfeiters to improve their product. The majority of counterfeiting bills are made with a regular ink-jet printer.

Ginette Crew clarified this, “Counterfeits do vary in quality – some are poor quality or extremely poor quality. Some make an attempt at imitating some of the security features. But the key really is those security features. If you check the holographic stripe, pay attention to the raised ink, that kind of thing, you will easily be able to detect them. You don’t need any special tools, just pay attention to the look and feel.”

Think counterfeiting may be an easy way to get your hands on some extra money? Think again! Anyone who makes or even begins to make a likeness of a Canadian bank note may spend up to 14 years in prison. And for infringing on the copyright of the bills, a counterfeiter is at risk of another six-month jail term and $25,000. If indicted, offenders can be sentenced to a jail term of up to five years and a fine up to $1,000,000.

Jonathan Hart shares some insight. “I said to a customer last week that we live in a great age. You don’t have to use cash. You can use your debit card. You can use your credit card. You can circumvent using cash altogether if you are worried about counterfeit bills.”

For additional information, check out:

Copyright Toby Welch. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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More Money Not Key to Happiness

Don’t Prorate Your EmployerBusiness Is Always Intensely PersonalOn Squeaky Wheels]]>

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