Mariano Picolomini
The holidays are on the way. With Thanksgiving behind us, we have to look forward to what gifts to get our family, friends and coworkers. With the economy in the state it is in, people are going to have to choose wisely and work with what they have.
Here are some “don’ts” for the holidays: Don’t buy gift cards from stores that are on the verge of closing or facing bankruptcy.
So many companies are facing financial hardships and their futures may be uncertain. Some gift cards will not be usable if the store closes after the holidays. Other stores might accept cards from a different location, but that does not mean that they have to, so it is not guaranteed.
Some of the most popular gifts today are some of the most expensive.
For example, everyone wants the iPhone but with a price tag of $300, who can afford that? And the elusive Nintendo Wii is almost impossible to get a hold of.
A gift that the entire family and friends might enjoy is Harmonix’s “Rock Band,” compatible with all major game consoles, but it costs nearly $200. However, if everyone pitches in, it is a gift for everyone.
Group gifts are also a great idea to save money and bring people together to enjoy the holiday season and each other’s company.
Some gifts costing less than $100 include digital cameras and video recorders, such as the Flip Mino HD camcorder with a built-in TV outlet that includes a 720 Pi High-Definition display, making it effortless to share videos on the Internet.
Another hi-tech gift at a low price is a cell phone, such as the Motorola ZINE which includes a 5.0 megapixel camera and built in Wi-Fi.
Retailers are having some of their biggest sales now with the bad economy and holidays upon us. It seems like every commercial begins with an announcement of a special sale currently happening or claiming that they have the best and lowest prices.
With companies competing to have better deals, the ultimate winner is you – the consumer.
And with so many people struggling just to get by, every gift of generosity is greatly appreciated. So why not give useful and practical gifts that everyone needs in day-to-day life?
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