Just about anything ugly or ill-fitting can be returned if the giver was nice enough to include a gift receipt, but what if they assumed you’d just loooove their present and didn’t include one (and you don’t have the heart to …
Smart Spending
Truly Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Options for Deal Hunters – Or the Merely Desperate
Don’t feel down that it’s December 24 and you still have shopping to do. There are plenty of quick and easy options to consider—and you may even be rewarded for waiting so long.
$9,000 Off? Automakers Ramp Up End-of-Year Incentives to Sell Glut of Pickup Trucks
Every year around this time, retailers go into fire sale mode when certain clothes and toys haven’t sold as expected. Automakers basically do the same thing, only with discounts on a much larger scale. Facing an oversupply of 2012 pickups unsold on dealership lots, GM is knocking prices down by as much as $9,000.
Procrastinating Holiday Shopper Helper: Last Call for Free Shipping Guaranteed to Arrive Christmas Eve
In a repeat of a trend from last year, many retailers have rolled out special last-minute shipping deals for procrastinating consumers who finally want to get their shopping done—only without going to the store, and without paying for shipping.
Parent Holiday Conundrum: How to Walk the Fine Line Between Treating and Spoiling Your Kids
Is it remotely possible to be Santa and a responsible parent at the same time?
Beware Panic Shopping! How to Make a Last-Minute Gift Count
With just days until Christmas three-quarters of adults still have shopping to do. History tells us they will waste their money. Here’s how to make a last-minute gift matter.
Gas Prices Reach New Lows for 2012 — But They’re Still Pretty Darn High
Hurray! Drivers are now seeing the year’s cheapest prices at the pump. Let’s not get carried away and actually declare these prices truly “cheap,” however.
Why Free Shipping Is Almost Universal — And Why You Should Be Wary of It
If you didn’t notice it, yesterday was celebrated in some quarters as Free Shipping Day. It does seem odd, though, to focus on a single day for free shipping when throughout the entire season free shipping has not really been …
Pro Tricks to Save Money on Holiday Parties (Without Looking Cheap)
Professional party planners have to create fabulous events with limited budgets all the time, so they have the best tricks for creating a festive atmosphere without breaking the bank — and without painting the hosts as …
10 Great Deals That Show ‘Free Shipping Day’ Can Be Worthwhile
Monday, December 17, has been officially designated as Free Shipping Day in the world of e-retail. It’s a totally made-up, arguably irrelevant “special” event—but hey, who cares if it helps you snag a deal on last-minute holiday gifts?
Toys R Us 88-Hour Shopping Marathon — Because Sometimes You Need a Furby at 3 A.M.
Sure, holiday shopping started months ago, and consumers have shown a keen willingness to drop big bucks shopping online throughout the entire season. Nonetheless, the last-minute shopping scene is likely to quite traditional—fast, furious, and in actual stores.
American Airlines: Forget About Fees, These Are ‘Enhancements’
Struggling American Airlines, which has been forced to enter bankruptcy protection and recently suffered high-profile black eyes such as seats coming loose on planes in mid-flight, is hoping that customers will like the idea of paying more fees upfront—so that they won’t have to pay these fees down the line.