Category Archives: Shopping

8 Cool Gift Ideas for College Students

With the holidays right around the corner, now is a great time to begin whittling down your shopping list. If you are shopping for a college student, the following gift ideas are sure to enhance their time at school and overall lifestyle.

1. Tablet

A tablet is a must-have item for college students. These devices can be used to study, take notes, take photographs, connect online, and even watch movies. There are a variety of tablets on the market today as well as state-of-the-art models that make perfect gifts for tech-savvy young adults.

2. Multi-Pocket Shower Tote

College kids who live in dorms frequently have to trek from their room to the showers with all their toiletries in tow. A multi-pocket shower tote filled with all kinds of odds and ends like bath gels and washcloths will makes for a practical gift for a college student. Add some flip-flops, toothpaste, and soap to create an ideal gift.

3. Security Kit

Security is important for college students, especially students that live off campus. There are kits available that include items such as door braces, window alarms, and even stun guns. All students should think carefully about personal safety and this type of gift can inspire them to enhance their home security.

4. Custom Pet Pillow

One of the toughest things about leaving home is leaving behind the family pet. You can gift a special reminder to your favorite college student when you gift them a personalized pet pillow designed with photo-image fabric featuring the family’s dog or cat. These pillows aren’t just decorative; they’re uber cozy too!

5. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

If your college student has roommates, there’s a good chance that noise will happen and invariably disrupt important study sessions. Studying and reading time can be enhanced by a pair of noise-canceling headphones. These headphones minimize background noise so your student can focus on their studies.

6. Single Serve Coffee Maker

A little caffeine will help your college student stay awake while cramming for exams. A single serve coffee maker makes an outstanding gift for college kids, especially students who have to wake up early for those 8 AM classes. Be sure to include a basket of single-serve coffee packets, too, so they’ll be fully stocked for the semester. Consider purchasing a model that also makes tea and hot chocolate.

7. Fully Loaded Wallet

It’s no secret that college students are often low on cash. With the high cost of tuition and book fees, there’s often not much left over for creature comforts for the dorm room or apartment. Consider gifting your favorite college student a new wallet that contains some cash and gift cards to local stores, fast food venues, and even some online shops. You can personalize the wallet by adding in some photos for fun.

8. Auto Tune Up

Does your college student drive a long distance to and from school? Do they commute daily? Do they pack the miles on their vehicle? Do you worry about them having reliable transportation while they are away? Treat your college student to a full service tune up and your local car dealership, like Browning Dodge, where you can find a lot of great deals just in time for the holidays to get your college student’s vehicle in tip top condition!

Enhance life for your college student with these popular gift ideas. Keep them in mind for birthdays and holidays when they’re sure to be a hit at any celebration.

 

 

Prom’s Coming – Should You Get A Short Or Long Dress

High school proms have a long and loved history. Once the details of who will ask your daughter to the prom and who will pay for things like transport and corsages fall into place, all that’s left to do is to choose your daughter’s dream dress. No matter what style she ends up choosing, the prom dress is guaranteed to be memorable for your daughter and for those who see her in it. This is why it is important to take every little detail into account – especially the length of the dress.

Choosing the Length of Your Daughter’s Prom Dress

There was a time when the words “prom” and “dress” equaled classic ball gowns and floor length beauties. But, as fashion and the times have evolved, it has become a popular choice for girls to wear shorter length dresses to prom. Today, both short and long prom dresses are represented at proms. 

The Short Prom Dress

While short prom dresses were once unheard of, things have changed drastically. The stunning line of short prom dresses from Prom Dress Shop boast hems that fall above the knee and the dresses overall are more youthful than their floor-length counterparts. While a sheath or A-line style prom dress can be a little too revealing, a short full-skirt dress can be absolutely perfect and somewhat a reminder of the classy 1950’s.

Since proms usually occur in the spring, a prom dress that is short will be far cooler than a fuller-length gown, and therefore a lot more comfortable. As for the style, the shorter prom dresses can look great on just about any body shape, but it seems to be especially flattering on petite, shorter girls who seem “swallowed up” by floor-length gowns.

The Long Prom Dress

When it comes time to prepare for the big night, long prom dresses with flowing skirts that cascade down to the floor or ankle are classic and traditional. These gowns, often called ball gowns, are timeless and purely elegant. But, it’s worth noting that a long prom dress is sometimes cumbersome and uncomfortable for some girls, especially those planning on dancing the night away. However, girls that are taller or feel more confident when covered up can look beautiful in long dresses. What’s more, today’s styles boast gorgeous elements such as spaghetti straps, low cut backs, and even rhinestones to make the dress look and feel stylish. A longer prom dress is the perfect choice if your daughter wants to create an elegant prom theme. 

Tea Length Prom Dresses

If your daughter is looking for something in between, both of you may want to consider a tea length dress – it’s less revealing than a short dress and more fun than a floor-length gown. A tea length dress is typically a skirt that falls just a couple of inches above the ankles. There are a variety of stunning prom styles that fall in this category. A tea length prom dress allows for more movement and is a little more comfortable than a longer dress, while still being elegant and fashionable.

Choose a dress length where your daughter will be most comfortable in. We hope that the points discussed above will help you and your daughter make a good choice.

 

 

 

5 Ways to Find Coupons That Actually Save You Money

No matter if you’re a frugal shopper or just someone looking to save money to better balance your budget, there are all sorts of ways to cut costs on groceries, clothing, medications, home services, and more. Thanks to the booming popularity of coupons, consumers are able to purchase the items they need without breaking the bank.

Looking for Cialis coupons or savings on other prescription medications? Want to cut your grocery shopping expenses in half? If so, knowing where to find the right coupons is a must. Keep reading to learn how to find coupons that will actually save you money.

  1. Sunday Newspaper

Remember the days when you’d ruffle through the Sunday newspaper to read the comics or to complete the crossword? The newspaper is for more than just staying in the know and for entertainment. If you flip through the newspaper, you’ll find all sorts of coupon inserts.

Three of the most common inserts include Procter & Gamble, Red Plum, and Smart Source. Depending on your location, you may also receive other popular inserts such as General Mills, Unilever, and Keebler. These coupons are generally for grocery store items, though you may also find savings on body care, hair care, and even pet products.

  1. Magazines

Another coupon hotspot are magazines. Magazines are the ideal location for finding coupons, especially for new products and medications. You can also expect to find grocery, personal care, and retail store coupons. To get the most bang for your buck, be sure to purchase or subscribe to home and garden magazines as well as lifestyle magazines.

To save even more money, check online to see if you can locate any free or extremely cheap magazine subscriptions. This allows you to test out several magazines to see the quality and quantity of the coupons.

  1. Money Saving Websites

Want to make couponing and saving money as easy and convenient as possible? If so, consider following some of the top money saving and couponing websites. Some of the most popular sites include:

  • Krazy Koupon Lady
  • Hip 2 Save
  • Passion for Savings
  • Money Saving Mom

The best part about these sites is that they take on the hard work for you. There’s no need to sift through newspapers, magazines, and online coupon sites to find the savings you’re looking for. Instead, you can use the sites above to keep tabs on current and upcoming sales. Many of the sites allow you to search for coupons and other discounts by topic. This means you can find savings on groceries, clothing, and much more!

To ensure you don’t miss any deals, sign up for each site’s mailing list or RSS feed. This way you can be notified when a new coupon or deal is posted.

  1. Online Coupons

While newspapers, magazines, and other prints have their position in the coupon world, the Internet has made it so simple to find and use coupons. In fact these days, most stores allow customers to scan their coupons from their mobile phone. This alleviates the need to clip coupons and carry them around with you. Using your mobile device, all you have to do is locate the coupon and either take a screen capture of the barcode or provide the coupon code to the cashier.

When using online coupons, pay close attention to the fine print. Stores won’t accept coupons that are expired. Be sure that you meet all of the coupon requirements such as spending a certain amount of money or purchasing a specific product. It’s also important to be aware of fake coupons. Scammers are known to create fake coupons and then share them on social networking sites.

As a rule of thumb, ensure the online coupons you’re using are from a reputable site. If the coupon seems too good to be true, it likely is. If you come across a coupon that seems questionable, you can always contact the retailer or manufacturer to confirm.

  1. Mobile Apps

One of the biggest benefits of a couponing app is the fact that you have access to hundreds, if not thousands of coupons in one central location. These apps make it so easy to save money and to get the best deals on hot products. Some of the top coupon apps include SnipSnap, Retail Me Not, Ibotta, and Checkout 51.

If you’re really lucky, you can find pharmacies that can even deliver your medication that have mobile apps, like Medly in Brooklyn. This can save you tons of time, and everyone knows time is money.

To further your savings, some stores and manufacturers allow you to stack a mobile app coupon with a printed one. This means even more money that you get to keep in your pocket!

Conclusion

These days couponing is simple and convenient, making it a money-saving hobby that works for consumers of all ages and lifestyles. No matter if you’re 24, 44, or 64, knowing where to go to find coupons makes budgeting and saving money easier than ever before.

Perfect Presents: Showing You Really Care

When it comes to giving gifts, it really is the thought that counts. While most of us would love to spoil our loved ones with expensive presents, the reality is that isn’t always possible. Many of us live to a tight budget, so when it comes to gift-giving occasions, it can get a little tricky. Here are just a few of the ways you can give a perfect present every time and really show you care- without breaking the bank!

Find The Perfect Card

Cards are incredibly important, they’re not about money and are the perfect way to show someone you’ve thought about them. The shops can be a bit of a minefield, you’re often not short of choice, but with cards that have already been printed, it can be tricky finding one with both the right cover and the right sentiment inside. If you find this is the case, consider doing something custom. If you’re good at crafts, it could mean making the card yourself, or you could use a free online card maker. You could include a funny photo, incorporate an inside joke or just play around with ideas until you create something that’s perfect. This will look extra impressive and shown you’ve gone out of your way to give them a great card.

Wrap It Beautifully

Regardless of how inexpensive the gift you’re giving is, wrapping it up beautifully again really shows thought. Watch some Youtube videos or look on Pinterest for wrapping ideas, there are plenty that are inexpensive but look fantastic. Along with the gift wrap include things like a bow, curling string and a gift tag for a beautifully presented gift that will make anyone’s eyes light up when you hand it to them!

Get It Personalized

Everyone loves a bit of personalisation. And the best thing about this is you can take a relatively simple gift and make it look extra special. It could be a mug, a cushion, a bath robe- anything you like. Either look for a site offering personalisations or buy the item you want and take it somewhere which offers printing, embroidery or whatever other form of personalisation you’re after.

Team It Up With Flowers

Researchers have proven that flowers boost mood and promote feelings of happiness. So how about teaming up your gift with flowers? A bunch can make even something small like some gift wrapped chocolates look extra special, they don’t have to be expensive either. You can buy bunches for just a few dollars from the grocery store.

 

So there you have it, a few surefire ways to make sure every gift you give (no matter how small) goes down well. It’s the thought that counts, so if you show you have thought about the person and made an effort it will be enough to put a smile on their face no matter what’s inside the gift!

Do you have any tips for giving gifts? What small presents do you buy for people when you’re on a shoestring budget?

Get Off the Hook for Forgetting a Birthday with These Belated Ideas

Have you ever got yourself into a sticky situation for forgetting a relative or close friend’s birthday? It can happen to the best of us! And it tends to happen when you are really busy in life. Maybe you have had to deal with a very important conference. Or you have been distracted because one of your kids was ill recently. Whatever the reason, there are always plenty of ways to make it up to the birthday boy or girl! Here are some ideas that can help you get off the hook.

Facebook Birthday

Thanks to modern technology, there is one easy way to remember your friend and family’s birthdays: Facebook! However, the only downside is that you only find out on the day of their birthday! But at least you can always send your friend a quick message on Facebook as soon as you realize it is their birthday. At least that way, they may not realize that you had forgotten!

Send Them An Apology

One of the first things you should do is apologize. If possible, go round and see them to apologize in person. This gives you a chance to fully explain why you overlooked their birthday. Don’t worry if you don’t have the time for a visit, or they live too far away. A written letter always makes a nice apology. You could even write your apology note one of your personalized cards to make sure it is super personal.

Send Them Some Flowers

As soon as you realize that you have missed someone’s birthday, nip round to your local florists. Take a look at what flowers they have in at the minute and see if you can see your friend or relative’s favorite type. Then you can arrange to have a bouquet sent out to them. If you don’t have time to go to a florist in person, have a look online. There are now many online florists who can arrange same day delivery for you if you order online.

Organize Another Day Of Celebrations

So the birthday may have been and gone. But there is no reason why you can’t celebrate anymore! After all, your friend or relative’s favorite restaurant is only a quick phone call away. Why not book a table as soon as you realize that you missed the birthday. That way, you can surprise them with a meal out. And dining out gives you the perfect setting and atmosphere in which to apologize!

Buy A Gift

And just because you forgot, doesn’t mean that it is too late to buy a gift either. So run to your local mall before you see your friend next and pick them up a fantastic gift. Something that will make them forget that you forgot their birthday in the first place! Just like with the flowers, you can always take a look at online shops if you are rushed off your feet at work.

Forgetting a birthday isn’t the end of the world. Hopefully, all of these ideas will help you make it up to your friend!