The Shopping Nazi

It is Christmas Eve. The sales will soon be over.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ, but behind it is a even more deeper truth.

It is time to bring family and friends close. Help those in need, and forgive those who we think have wronged us.  It is time to remember what is at the root of the Christmas.

We need to love those around us the way we want God to love us.

When it is all said and done, how we treat those around us reflects our relation with God, with the force, with the natural order of life, or as some would like to call it celestial harmony.

Next week I will have a couple posts on identity theft, and computer security.

For now, may you have a safe and Happy and Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays

A week ago I was pricing out Wii consoles along with different package deals, for a friend. He wanted rechargeable batteries and hardware so two people could play at the same time. Since then he called me and asked me to buy it for him.

At the time those requirements were met in a package deal from Best Buy for $299.98. So a week later I went back to buy it. Best Buy no longer offered that same package deal. Immediately, I thought I was going to have to call my friend, and tell him he would have to spend another $25.

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Last month we went out to have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The cost for the meal person was within a few cents. Besides we did not have all that prep time, and clean up afterwards. We just walked into the restaurant, order, ate and left.  This Christmas we are going to do something different.

Each family member is picking a course in the dinner to fix. This way no one individual will get stuck with fixing the whole meal. Each family member is responsible for staying withing budget, and cleaning up their mess, afterwards.

The main dish has a budget of $7 per person, while the side dishes and desert is $3 per person. This makes the meal costing $10 each. Leftovers will be count for future meals. Not Christmas dinner.

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Yesterday, before I left the office, I had received an email that informed me that Kyle X was the individual who I was to be their secret Santa. Our gifts were to be under $10. The organizer suggested that a gift from the local 99 cent store would be appropriate. If we really like the person, maybe a regift something that we had received in Christmas past, that we really did not want.

This year I was determined to make more out of Christmas than just, pulling some old gift out of my gift box and wrap it. I hate giving gifts, that when people open them they have this fake smile and say Thank You.

Before heading out to look for that perfect Secret Santa gift, I decided to look at the origin of Secret Santa. I figured by looking into the history, maybe I could better understand my role.

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It is a week before Christmas and shopping is in full swing. Gifts are brought home and wrapped. In a week friends and family will be franticly opening those carefully wrapped gifts.

It is estimated that 20% to 30% of all Christmas gifts will be returned for one reason or the other. The most common reason for returns are; “It does not fit” or “It does not work”.

The first step, everyone needs to do, when getting home, with those gifts, is take the receipts and file it. I have only heard of one or two stores that will take merchandise back without a receipt. So Save That Receipt!

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Ten days to go until Christmas. Today, I thought it would be good to look at what is considered  the Top Ten Hottest Christmas gifts for 2009.

Now mind you I have arranged them in a rather unique way. They are arranged in reverse emotional/cost order. You see what cost the most in dollars and cents may have the least emotional value.

For today’s recon, my first stop was to look at what Festivals.iloveindia.com lists as the top ten. Then I jumped over to Yahoo Answers to look at what they said was the Top Ten Christmas gifts for 2009. I would be amiss if I did not look at Amazon.com for what they call the Top Ten Christmas Gifts. Then I found a list of Cool Stuff that is not really all that expensive.

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A friend came to me in a panic. His family has just decided they wanted a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. He said, “I know that you are The Shopping Nazi. I need you to find the best price and deal for the Nintendo Wii.”

I told him that I would, but I would use any results from my recon as a post on The Shopping Nazi blog. He agreed and I went to work.

My first stop was the Nintendo website. It was there I learned the basic unit retails for $199.99. The Wii can be used as a portal to viewing content from the internet. I was impressed with all the family friendly games that is offered for the Wii.

Then I went to the local Hastings store. The salesperson was very friendly. He told me about what came with the basic console for $199.99. Hastings offered special discounts on other Wii games and accessories with the purchase of the console.

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Because of the current economic conditions, many individuals are in need of our help, this holiday season. That is why I encourage you to one of the organizations that is listed below and make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.

In today’ uncertain economy, many segments of our Treasure Valley population are going without.  Being involved with fundraising and giving to charities is a great way to show support for the Boise community and help individuals who need it most. The post is designed to be a local resource for Boise residents to share with others and promote goodwill.

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We are  just one week away from the biggest shopping day of the year. Well, that is what all the marketing people tell us. Crowds storm shopping malls all across the United States for that great deal. or that must have Christmas present.

The day after Thanksgiving when all the retail stores say that they have their biggest savings deals for the Christmas season. Crowds of people line up outside malls all across the United States and Canada to rush in for those big savings, when the doors open.

The truth be known, those same deals, if not better deals can be found at different times through out the years. Then there is purchase Christmas gifts online can also save you a few dollars more.

This is where a recon can save you hundreds of dollar. All it takes is a few simple steps.

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Yesterday, I was talking to a client about it being the time to start thinking about Christmas. Then I heard a voice from behind me say, “It is not Thanksgiving”. “You should not be talking about Christmas until after Thanksgiving.”

I turned to him with a smile and said, “You need to start to think about Christmas, the day after Christmas the previous year.” This got me a rather harsh stern look.

For years we have ran up credit card debt buying stuff for Christmas that would be verily remembered by New Years Day. In the last year or two we have had to learn to curb our spending and only buy those things we can afford.

The internet, is full of Christmas buying guides to help you spend your money. Before you start looking at those buying guides you need to first look at how much money you have to spend, not how much credit you can generate on Christmas gifts.

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