Tag Archives: prize giveaway

Ups and Downs in 2014, el parte dos

I knitted this for you.
I knitted this for you.

Now, a brighter look at prices in 2014. While wine, BMWs and the McDonald’s Dollar Menu are all going up (grrr!), there is some good news on the horizon. Let’s take a look at some prices expected to fall this year, as reported by DealNews.com…(with bonus dumb commentary!)

  • 3D Printers: are you following this? You take a bucket of chuh, pour it into a printer and make things! Like, real things! The possibilities are limitless (and terrifying!)
  • 4K HDTVs: 4K is supposedly SUPER HD. I’m always behind. Just now bought an HDTV, and the next big thing has already happened!
  • Gold: Yeah, we’ll see about this. Gold only comes down when the economy is doing well.
  • Crude Oil: Probably the best news on this list.
  • Off-Contract Smartphones: This is the only way to go. Used, refurbished phone and no contract? No-brainer.
  • Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3: That is, the OLDER systems. They’re not as sexy, but the manufacturers are promising to support the old tech.
  • Touchscreen Laptops: Because nobody wants them!
  • 1080p Laptops: See above!
  • Smartwatches: Because that’s apparently a thing now!

There’s more at the original article, so check it out! So, what do you think? Any of these items sound good to you? Are you planning any big purchases this year? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Retail of the FUTURE!

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amazon droneYou may have seen the gizmo above in a viral video that went around the web last month. Apparently, when we’re finished blowing up al Qaeda, Amazon wants to employ flying drones to deliver your packages same day – maybe even same hour – depending on where you live. (And, really, shouldn’t we employ veterans?)

The video shows the folks at the Amazon warehouse packing your order in these special tubs. The drone comes by, clamps the tub and takes off. An hour later the tub is dropped at your doorstep. I wonder what we’re supposed to do with the tubs?

Anyway, that’s just one of the retail advancements being speculated in a Business Insider article entitled “10 Predictions For How Shopping Will Completely Change In The Future.”

Here are some highlights (with bonus dumb commentary)! See if any sound good to you…

  • Companies are researching you in unprecedented ways. (No! that’s the government’s job!) Looking at the ways we perceive value, and hoping to manipulate them, I guess.
  • Same-day (or hour) delivery will become common. Either by drone or by some dude in brown shorts.
  • Traditional stores will have the same analytic intelligence as online. “How do we arrive at our buying decisions?” That’s what they’re after.
  • Social feedback will factor into purchases. Retailers are paying attention to platforms like Pinterest, where shoppers post pics of the items they like or have purchased. The retailers then take those items and feature them more prominently.
  • Privacy will become a business. As we have seen recently, maybe Target should get into that business!

Per usual, just the highlights. Lots more at the original piece, so check it out! What do YOU think? Good changes? Do you think retailers are doing these things to make life easier or to make $$$$$? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Curbing the Impulse

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06shopping5Tales of Impulse Buying Horror!

I once knew a girl who bought so much stuff on QVC that they asked her to go on the air and talk to the hosts. She did but, in the middle of the conversation, she remembered that her husband said he would leave her if she bought one more thing on QVC. So she abruptly hung up on air!

I once knew a dude who filled his house with Hoosier cabinets bought at antique stores. He was convinced he was going to someday open a store of his own. There were so many that you had to shimmy sideways down the hall. Otherwise, the house was crammed with other collectible crap because, for some reason, he never thought to put it IN the cabinets!

So, yeah, impulse buying. On a small scale it can be relatively harmless. But when it’s out of control, well, it’s out of control.  For some folks, it’s a serious problem, causing money troubles and conflict in the home. What can you do about it? NerdWallet/ABC News has some helpful hints. As usual, these are just the bullets, with dumb commentary added…

  • Don’t buy with credit (duh)
  • Install a time delay for shopping websites (like, the site won’t load for five minutes after you click.)
  • Make shopping harder (like, when you store all your personal, payment and shipping info on a site to make shopping a breeze? Don’t do that!)
  • Follow the 30-minute rule (just back away…)
  • Unsubscribe from daily deal newsletters (I have wasted SO much money with these)
  • Take advantage of the cooling-off period (You legally have 3 days to cancel)

I like this one, because hey, we’re only human…

  • Keep a splurge fund

Again, much more detail at the original piece, so check it out! How about you do you know any impulse buyers (because, obviously, it’s not YOU)? Is it harmless or out of control? Do you think these tips would help? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

ALSO: Shopaholics Anonymous …if you think you need it.

Know Your Layaway

http://mindfieldonline.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/layaway3-233x300.jpg

We have talked over the last couple of Holiday seasons about the return of layaway, in posts like this one and this one. As many folks continue to struggle economically, layaway has grown even more popular. In fact…

While layaway currently lacks the explosive popularity of gift cards, it’s a trend that bears watching, says Butler. Depending on consumer reaction, stores offering holiday layaway could extend their programs year-round, and retailers without layaway could make it available, he says.  Bankrate.com

You may be new to the layaway game. Or you did it back in the 1970s, like everybody else’s mom. Either way, the game has changed a bit. So Bankrate.com has drawn up a handy list of 8 things you need to know about layaway. Here are the bullet points:

  • Availability may be limited
  • Different programs have different rules
  • Down payments or deposits are possible
  • Ask about payment deadlines
  • What if I miss a payment?
  • What if the price drops?
  • Your merchandise might not be held on-site
  • It’s smart to save those receipts

Like I said, bullet points MUCH more info at the original article. How about you? Will you layaway this year? Has the system changed – better or worse? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Holiday Savings 2013

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Holiday-Savings-2As Readers Digest puts it, “Americans spend an average of $800 per year on holiday shopping. Are you getting the most bang for your buck?”

Are you looking for ways to save this holiday season on gifts, decorations, entertaining or travel? Well, MindField Online has done an exhaustive 20-minute search around the web and pulled up some helpful links. Some from “legit” news sources, some from simple mom-bloggers. Either way, you’re sure to get a few helpful ideas. Enjoy!

How about you? Any savings tips you’d like to share? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Online Holiday Shopping Tips!

Um, yeah…let’s not, OK?

As we noted last time, Black Friday is approaching (way to look at a calendar, genius!) It’s a tradition that has undergone some change in the past few years. The deals have crept backwards in time, encroaching on Thanksgiving itself. Now we have Cyber Monday for the online shoppers. And the entire weekend in between is littered with deals, as well.

So, when do YOU hit the digital battlefield? That depends on what you’re after. Thankfully, the folks at DealNews.com have scoured their archives to note what items are the best deal online on which day. Here is a much-compressed list…

Thanksgiving Day/Evening: Smartphones, HDTVs and Gaming Items

Black Friday: Laptops, Computers,  Storage (like flash drives, etc.), iPhones and Kitchenware

The Weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Tools and appliances

Cyber Monday: Clothing and shoes

MUCH more detail at the original article, so check it out! So, what’s on your shopping list this holiday season? Do you shop online, hit the mall or both? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Halloween Safety 2013

These two probably won't get hit by a care. But they WILL get hit by 8th-graders!
These two probably won’t get hit by a car. But they probably WILL get hit by 8th-graders!

As we noted earlier this week, Halloween spending is down in 2013. Here are the stats:

The National Retail Federation expects a 13.75 percent drop in total U.S. spending on Halloween — to $6.9 billion compared with 2012. Adults will spend an average of $75.03.  The Orlando Sentinel

However, as you pinch your pennies, don’t forget to invest in safety for your little goblins! In that vein, here’s a classic bit (as if) from last year, “Halloween Safety for Nerds and Other People.”

This is not so much a consumer piece, other than, as we reported earlier, you’re going to spend $80 per kid this Halloween (2012!) and you would like to get them home in one piece.

When I was a kid, Halloween safety consisted of my dad telling me not to accept any apples, because hippies were hiding their drug needles in them. “That’s it! Now go run in the night streets in your dark gray Batman costume!”

So, to pay it forward, I will share a few Halloween safety tips from the National Safety Council.

Motorists: BE COOL! Seriously, I don’t even have kids, but I spend half the night screaming at the idiots driving 45mph on my street!

Parents: Basically it’s your job to suck all the fun out of it. Make your kids tell you their precise route. Give them a curfew time. And make them wear bright or reflective clothing, even if it ruins their Zombie costume.

Kids: Use some common sense! Don’t go to dark houses. Don’t eat your stuff until mom inspects it and steals the Kit Kats. Carry dad’s best flashlight, which you will surely break. And stay out of the abandoned mill, even if they dare you!

OK, enough sarcasm. You should download the list. There are tons of great tips to keep Halloween safe. The alternative is a “Trunk or Treat” in the middle school parking lot…and nobody wants that!

(photo: springsgov.com)

 

Secrets of the Rich

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Shhh...don't tell!
Shhh…don’t tell!

Just read a piece, a slideshow really, in the latest Reader’s Digest. Entitled “How Rich People Think: 25+ Things They Won’t Tell You,” it gives us a glimpse into the wealthy person’s mind. Some of it is kind of dumb, like “I bet you think I own a lot of suits, but I don’t!” But thoughts on how they make, spend, save and think about money are more interesting. Here are some highlights:

  • Be persistent: don’t quit until you get what you came for, such as a job, a client or a good deal at car dealership.
  • Cut out the middle man whenever possible.
  • Look for savings, and don’t be embarrassed to use coupons!
  • Don’t waste anything!
  • Be bold in the workplace. You won’t get anything if you don’t ask. And aim high!
  • Make connections, form relationships and hold on to them. You never know who will send you that next great opportunity!

Pretty interesting stuff. There are a couple of humorous ones, as well. One guy says that giving gifts is always a no-win situation. If you give something normal, you’re being cheap. Give something awesome, and you’re just showing off. Boo-hoo, rich dude!

So, what’s the best advice you’ve ever heard about making, saving or spending money? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

September Savings!

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LB_01Hope everyone had a fun and safe Labor Day!

Here’s a fun exercise: do a search for “September Savings” and see what you get! Among the most popular items, you will find:

  • Bicycles
  • Camping Equipment
  • Cars
  • Perennials, shrubs and trees
  • Lawn equipment
  • Ceiling fans
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Summer food items (picnic, BBQ, etc.)
  • Diabetes products (weird!)
  • Seasonal Produce (summer items)
  • Camping gear
  • Gardening supplies
  • Bug spray
  • Fans and air conditioners
  • BBQ supplies–grills, charcoal, lighters
  • Air Fares: Late September is always a good time to book a flight!
  • Beach houses: If you’re somewhere warm, there’s plenty of time left to enjoy the beach!

There are a bunch of websites to help fuel your September spending – I mean SAVINGS – so check them out here, here, here, here and here.

How about you? Found any good deals lately? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!

A Time to Spend, A Time to Save

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6870888815_24c39c51f3It’s an age-old consumer dilemma: price vs. value. Should you spend more for better stuff, or Just Save? The answer is Yes. It depends on the item. Some, you shouldn’t fear paying more for. Others, you shouldn’t bother. Here, consumer warriors MoneyTalksNews.com sorts things out!

Don’t Fear…

  • Furniture. Built well, it will eventually pay for itself in comfort – and in not having to go back to the furniture store for a long, long time!
  • Electronics. Just because you CAN buy a DVD player for $30 doesn’t mean you should!
  • Paper towels. This makes sense. When you use the good ones, you use fewer of them and get the job done faster!
  • Shoes. As with all things shoe-value related, it might help to be a person who is not shoe-obsessed, i.e., a dude. Anyhoo…I have a $95 pair of shoes I bought in 2005 that are still going strong. You just have to maintain them.
  • Swimsuits. Buy 3 cheapies at the beach store, and 2 will be dead by Labor Day. Or, spend a little for value!

Don’t Bother…

  • Food staples. There are all kinds of foods people just feel better spending more for. Milk, sugar and flour shouldn’t be on that list. Just get the cheapest, and use your coupons!
  • Basic clothing. I had this weird epiphany when I was walking into Walmart and I realized that everything I was wearing came from there. Then, I got over it.
  • Books. Remember these? Even though I like books, I have never in my life paid $30 for a new hardback. Garage sales baby!
  • HDMI cables. I made this mistake. This is the cable that connects things like Xbox and Roku to your HDTV. They WANT you to get the $25 cable, but the $7 one will usually suffice.

There is a lot more rationale at the original article, so check it out. How about you? Will you spend for some things and not for others? Let us know at the MindField Online Facebook page!