This one’s for the ladies. We begin with a question: do you “Mood shop”? According to a Quidco.com survey of 2,000 women in the UK, you DO! And your emotional state affects your pocketbook. Check it out:
When you shop…
After a break-up, you will spend $72 on new clothes, shoes or accessories.
On payday, $65
Bored, $47
After a fight with your honey, $44
After a bad day at work, $42
And my favorite…
When you just meant to window-shop, $49
You can read the rest here, so do that! If you get sidetracked and shop online, it’s cool.
How about YOU? Do your emotions affect your shopping habits? Explain it over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!
She found a great deal, and her hair looks fabulous!
My wife told me about a girl from work that ordered a dress online for an upcoming wedding. It is a rental place and their gimmick is to send you two of the same dress, one in your size and one the size next to it, thereby “guaranteeing” the fit. They only charge you for one dress, and when you’re done, you just send them back.
I don’t know how revolutionary this is, but it’s a good example of the kinds of perks and benefits you can get when shopping online, mainly because there is so much competition for your dollar. At the same time, it’s a little oddball. “You order one and they send you two? What’s the catch?!?”
Every retailer is different, and not all are on the up and up (more on that in a minute.) So, what you do to enjoy a more satisfying online shopping experience? The Sacramento Bee has some ideas. Here are some bullets:
A good return policy: Look for at least a 30-day policy.
Free Shipping: It’s pretty common, especially at places with actual stores where they ship the item for pickup.
Fit: It helps if you are familiar with the store and the label. Some sites have different “Virtual Fit” software but, again, look at the return policy
Fit, comma, shoes: Can be difficult online. Maybe buy two pairs, like the girl above, and return the ones that don’t fit?
Restocking fees: Can be pretty steep for electronics, media, games, etc.
Lots more info at the original piece, so check it out!
As for things to watch out for, I will simply direct you to something called the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. A lot of the negative things about online shopping relate to ID and credit card theft. They have a bunch of advice about that.
So, are you among the 25% shopping mainly online? What’s your favorite part? What worried you? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a GREAT weekend!
Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was super, but I am a little slow on the uptake today. So let’s keep it simple and take a look at June Bargains!
Patio Sets and Barbecues: but wait until the end of the month to hopefully score some 4th of July bargain goodness!
Dad stuff: Tools, men’s suits, anything related to Father’s Day, June 15.
Gym Memberships: People are out and about this time of year, not in the gym. Time to swoop in and grab some savings!
Paint: For some reason, painters hate painting indoors this time of year. There is a big surplus of paint, and prices are low.
Dairy: June is National Dairy Month, so buy in bulk and freeze that cheese, yo!
We have a few links for you below, so take a look, and start saving! What are YOUR spending plans for June? Travel? Home improvement? Getting ready for the 4th of July? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
For some, Memorial Day weekend is a time to kick back and do nothing (some like ME.) Others like to hit the shopping center and reap the savings at the big Memorial Day weekend sales (some NOT like me.)
If you’re into the shoppin’ and the savin’, what can you expect to find this weekend? Kiplinger.com shares some thoughts…
Apparel: Up to 50% off at places like Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, JCPenney, Nordstrom’s , Land’s End and Sears
Appliances: Up to 45% off at places like Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears
Camping gear: Up to 50% off at places like Backcountry.com and REI
HDTVs: (And other home electronics) Up to 50% off at places like Best Buy and Amazon
Mattresses: Up to 50% at places like Macy’s and Sears
Tools: Up to 50% at places like Sears and Lowe’s
As usual, these are just the highlights. There is much more info at the original piece, as well as helpful links to deal sites and specific sales. So check it out!
So, how about you? What are your Memorial Day weekend plans? Staying in? Grilling out? Shopping to you drop? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
A mobile addict is a consumer who launches applications more than 60 times per day, six times more than the average consumer. Today, there are 176 million mobile addicts, up from 79 million last year, a figure that represents a whopping 123 percent growth. MobileMarketer.com
And a primary example of this behavior? MOMS. Check out these stats…
Moms are 10 times more likely to be a mobile addict than the average woman.
87% of moms have a smartphone, up from 59% just 3 years ago.
46% “admit” to being addicted, keeping their phone with them wherever they go.
Now, the survey had a definite tilt toward “young” moms – 20s and early 30s. These are women who have grown up with technology. How do they use their phones?
81% say the #1 use for their smartphone is SHOPPING.
Mother’s Day is here! Whether you enjoy a close, loving relationship with your mom or, you know, NOT, Mother’s Day is an important holiday. How will we be spending our time and money this Mother’s Day? Well, according to an article published by the National Retail Federation, entitled “Families Look to Shower Mom with Gift Cards, Brunch, Apparel Items This Mother’s Day,” it looks like we intend to shower mom with gift cards, brunch and apparel items this Mother’s Day! Here are the stats!
81% will send a card to Mom
67% will send flowers
43% will buy a gift card
$3.8 billion spent on brunch or dinner
$3.6 billion on jewelry
$2.3 billion on flowers
$2.1 billion on gift cards
How about you? What are your plans for your mother, grandma, wife, etc? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page. Have a great weekend, and a terrific Mother’s Day!
We’re about halfway in to Prom Season 2014. And, while the American family’s average spending peaked last year at about $1,140, a Visa survey says:
American households with teens are reining in prom spending this year. The average household will spend $978 in 2014. That’s down more than 14% from the average families spent on items including attire, limousine rental, tickets, and dinner in 2013. PracticalMoneySkills.com
Still, that’s a lot of money. Let’s take a look at some numbers!
Industry volume: $4 billion
West coast average spending: $1,125 (highest in US)
Midwest average spending: $835 (lowest in US)
Chipping in: Parents will pay 56% (down 4% from last year), Kids 44% (up 4%!)
Old Dad/Young Dad: Parents UNDER 40 will spend $1074, 30% MORE than parents OVER 40!
Divorce benefit: Single parents will pay TWICE what married parents are willing to pay!
And, of course…
Percentage that feels “we spend way too much”: 84%
So, what’s it like in your house? Spending more, less, the same? Are you trying to teach ancient concepts like “frugality”, or are you “making memories” – regardless of cost? (No judgement here!) Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
Oh, and by the way… $1150 or $978 might as well be a million dollars to some families. “Community-based programs across the country, like Cinderella’s Closet (here) or the Princess Project (princessproject.org/) offer free dresses to girls who need them. There are also plenty of places for teens to donate their gowns once prom is over (www.donatemydress.org/).” Reuters
The tax-filing panic has passed for another year. Now, we play the Waiting Game (“I’m SICK of the Waiting Game! I want to play Hungry Hungry Hippos!” Homer Simpson) Anyway, if yours is the average American family, you’re likely to get about a $2,600 refund from Uncle Sam.
What to do with that money? The urge to splurge will always be there. It’s natural to want that big flat screen TV or that getaway vacation. But, how about some more… responsible ideas?
It’s The Consumerist to the rescue. They have an ongoing series of financial self-help articles with the umbrella heading “How Not to S*ck at….” And this week’s topic is spending your tax return. Here are some bullet points highlighting “How Not to S*ck at Spending Your Tax Refund.”
Pay Down Debt
Emergency Fund
Boost Your Retirement Nest Egg
Save For College
Create a Fund For Anything (pay cash for the thing you want instead of credit.)
Give It Away
Make Additional Mortgage Payments
Do Those Home Repairs
Of course, more tips and lots more detail at the original piece, so check it out! Now, the big question is… how will YOU spend YOUR tax return? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
Easter is upon us, and you’ve either spent a bunch of money already or you are about to. Statistics say that we will spend about $140 this year. Coincidentally, about the same amount we spend on Valentine’s Day.
The biggest expense is Easter candy, which almost 90 percent of celebrants will buy, and Easter dinnerwas a close second with nearly 86 percent of shoppers planning a special meal. Other items shoppers planned to buy included Easter dresses or outfits, gifts, decorations and flowers. GoBankingRates.com
So, with all that spending, where are the deals? We meant to tour around the web and found you a bunch of deals, but this single article has done that work for you, including deals at Target, Walmart, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Dress Barn and a bunch more. So, go there!
Finally, yes, there is a real, sober, serious meaning behind the Easter holiday that has nothing to do with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps. To those who celebrate it, MindField Online wishes you a Happy Easter full of family and fellowship!
And now, a tradition not nearly as annoying as those corporate April Fools’ Day pranks we talked about previously: the Tax Day Freebie! Restaurants, bars, hotels and other retailers love to capitalize on our tax day grief, offering various freebies, 2-for-1’s and “$10.40”-themed deals on April 15. And the list grows every year! Here are some samples:
Free curly fries at Arby’s
“Sing for Your Supper” at Hard Rock Café
Dinner for 2 for $10.40 at Boston Market
A big ol’ bag of bagels and cream cheese from Bruegger’s for $10.40
Free document shredding at Office Depot
Free sandwich at Schlotzky’s Deli
Half-off fro-yo at PinkBerry
Free coffee at Micky D’s
Free shave ice from Kona
Half-off lunch at Sonny’s BBQ
Half-price drinks and slushees at Sonic
…and on and on. Here are some links. What’s your favorite Tax Day deal or freebie? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!
