When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
Filed under: personalfinancenewsss.wordpress.com | Tags: deal, free, Mart, Take, this
Welcome to OnSale at FOX Business, where we look at cool stuff and insane bargains.
Attention Wal-Mart shoppers: get Smart. This week, the retail giant is offering $100 gift cards to shoppers who opt for one of their weekly specials, which could also help you stay connected. And, starting Tuesday, fans of The Beatles: Rock Band will have the chance to expand their song selections, and rocking-out skills.
Getting Smarter
In the market for a new smart phone? Through Friday, Wal-Mart (WMT) is offering big savings on its entire collection of BlackBerry devices. All four of the major carriers are available: AT&T (T), Sprint (S), T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless (VZ).
All you have to do is sign up for a two year contract, and get smart with one of these models:
AT&T Curve 8310
AT&T Bold 9000
Sprint Curve 8330 (In Red and Titanium)
T-Mobile 8520 (In Black, White, and Frost)
T-Mobile Pearl 8120 (In Emerald)
Verizon Storm
Verizon Storm II
Buy a smart phone and a two year contract and get free money.
Yes, seriously: Wal-Mart is offering those who take the deal a $100 Gift Card. You can keep the gift card for a rainy day or use it in store after picking up your new phone.
Too busy to stop by your local Wal-Mart store? Go online at Walmart.com, buy a BlackBerry and a two year contract, and get a $100 Walmart.com e-Gift-Card e-mailed to you in four to six weeks.
Gamers Getting More Beatles Love
Attention gamers: love your Beatles: Rock Band, but wish you had more songs to choose from?
Apple Corps Ltd., MTV Games and Harmonix have announced Tuesday they will begin offering via download a second Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper?s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album, first released in 1967, will now be just a click away.
It?s the second full Beatles album to hit Rock Band since the game launched on September 9. Beatles fans, seeking the tune ?All You Need is Love? on Xbox LIVE, have downloaded the song more than 100,000 times. And it seems love goes a long way, as the proceeds of those sales went to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres.
For $1.99 per song, you can download ?Fixing A Hole,? ?She?s Leaving Home,? ?When I?m Sixty-Four,? ?Lovely Rita,? ?Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!,? ?Within You Without You,? ?A Day in the Life? and others for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 System. You can get the ?Complete the Album Pack? for $13.49. If you?re using a Wii, you can get individual songs for $2 each.
Know of a great deal or insane bargain? E-mail the goods to Onsale@foxbusiness.com and share the wealth. (more…)
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
When I told an acquaintance I was on my way to Manhattan to see This Is It , the just-released Michael Jackson film, I got a roll of the eyes and a shrug.
?It?s just a bunch of people making money on a dead guy,? he said.
OK, you know what? All the business-first pragmatists, the habitual cynics, the perpetually glass-half-empty folks can keep carping about how people are exploiting a music legend that died, but try seeing this film and then let me know if it doesn?t shake up your thinking. It is rehearsal footage of Jackson?s in-progress ?This Is It? tour. Pure music and dance and message.
If ever there was a doubt of director Kenny Ortega?s genius, it is displayed in layers through this project. First layer, bringing an audience a final chance to witness sheer artistry in Jackson himself. Second layer, letting us in on the genesis of what eventually becomes the magic we typically see in final product and how even process can be exhilarating. Third layer, and the most surprising for me, letting us watch the musicians, backup singers and dancers Jackson had selected to be with him on this last monumental tour. They are the crème de la crème of their respective crafts and their energy gave a special dimension to this film experience.
?At first, I pulled back and thought, ?I?m too emotional, I?m hurting too deeply, I?m confused, I?m lost, I?m afraid,?? Ortega told Parade . ?Then I went, ?Get it together man, the journey?s not over. This is your responsibility.??
That is how it felt. Like someone needed to take responsibility for bringing Jackson?s messages to the masses: be in your art, love the Earth, love each other. There is teaching and a symbiotic meshing of expertise going on, one scene after another. At one point when Jackson is working with the musicians on getting a rhythm just right, he says to his musical director, ?Let it simmer? and ?Bathe in the moonlight.? Mmmm. This is mastery at work.
There are several parts of the film where lead guitarist Orianthi — a rocking, blonde-haired Australian woman who grew up loving the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Santana — is showcased with Jackson. Fans of the song ?Beat It? will recall that Jackson called on Eddie Van Halen for the original recording, so strong is the guitar role. In the film, Orianthi riffs while Jackson encourages her with, ?It?s your time to shine.?
Is it ever. But she?s not alone in getting her chance.
The dancers? stories, which we hear in the beginning and interspersed throughout, are mostly about how Jackson influenced them to be dancers and how auditioning for him was a dream come true. I was particularly struck by Mekia Cox, who struts it out with Jackson in ?The Way You Make Me Feel? and is clearly enjoying herself immensely. As a creative who thrives when all cylinders are clicking, it is mesmerizing to watch others have that moment of pure joy.
When Jackson performs ?Billie Jean? he is not accompanied by his dancers on stage, but it?s not like they?re off having a coffee break. They are sitting in front of the stage, rapt, and it is in fact fueling Jackson?s performance. Amazing stuff.
I know I?m gushing, but I could hardly catch my breath throughout. Tears rolled down my cheeks in the beginning and a few minutes later, goose bumps went up my arms, the kind you can feel almost in slow motion. I wanted to move with the songs on many an occasion and did on others. It was a staggering sensory experience.
Near the end of the film, while the whole ensemble is in a big circle holding hands, Michael Jackson tells them there is no need to be nervous and then he says of the audience, ?We want to take them places that they?ve never been before.?
I hope it?s some consolation that they accomplished that mission. Hands down.
Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com. (more…)
Americans are facing the leanest holidays in decades, so Bankrate has set out to find some great ways to save money on everything from the perfect gift to the traditional family get-together. We’ve tapped the experts as well as ordinary consumers to help everyone’s holidays be merry and bright, while keeping a little jingle in your pocket.
If you’re like Alison Elliott of Truckee, Calif., you may find that cost-saving isn’t just an individual matter but a family affair. Elliott and her large extended family are whittling down gift expenses by using a gift lottery.
“You pick a family name and you spend around $100 on a present,” Elliott says. She then spends $10 apiece on other family members. “You are looking at about $380 versus $1,200.”
Indeed, no matter how you trim your gift-giving, you’ll need a strategy. It can be as straightforward as writing a list and sticking to it or it can be as quirky as this trick from Certified Financial Planner Robert Pagliarini of Pacifica Wealth Advisors Inc., in Mission Viejo, Calif.. The author of “The Six-Day Financial Makeover” says to stuff the cash allotted for each gift recipient into separate envelopes to help you stay within your budget.
Below are other helpful tips from Bankrate for saving cash on gift-giving, yuletide travel and holiday party-planning.
9 ways to keep you from draining your retail dollars
1. Check consignment shops and Goodwill-type stores. That’s what Mary Herrington of Ridgefield, Conn., will be doing this season. “As a mom to four in a very affluent area, I have to figure out how to make ends meet when they don’t want to,” she says.
Mechel Glass of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta adds: “Try shopping yard sales … some items may still have the tags on them.”
2. Search online for items that have coupons and rebates. They will help increase your savings. For example, you find a camera that costs $300. With a printable online or advertising circular, in-store coupon, the price comes down to $250. Additional research yields a manufacturer’s rebate for $75. Presto, you’ve saved $125. “It’s like a double whammy,” says Web entrepreneur Suzanne Chan of Greenbaby-nyc.com.
3. Ask store managers about upcoming sales promotions. “Most retailers will reveal sale dates on the items you are considering, as they don’t want you to shop their competition,” says shopper Linda Carlson of Seattle.
4. Know the stores’ price-match policies and have substitute choices. Be ready to swap out stuff on your list if you can’t find the original items, advises Fatima Mehdikarimi, whose Web site, www.TheShoppingQueen.com, lists lots of shopping strategies.
5. Give the gift that keeps on being given. Re-gift items you’ve received and can’t use. Take a look at www.Regiftable.com for do’s and don’ts.
6. For very young children, consider gently used toys. They’re offered on eBay and craigslist and in classified newspaper advertisements. “Instead of three brand-new toys, now you can afford seven or eight lightly used ones,” says Lissa McGrath, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to eBay.”
7. Carry larger bills in your wallet while shopping. “People tend to hold on to larger bills longer than small bills. So when using cash, try setting out with a $50 bill instead of a wad of ones, fives and tens,” says Ethan Ewing of Bills.com, a Web site for consumers on how to save money.
8. Use your credit card reward dollars. Redeem your credit card reward dollars for gift cards. But Michael B. Rubin, author of “Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck: A Conversation about Income, Wealth and the Steps in Between,” says to use caution with gift cards because people tend to spend more on them than on actual gifts. You may want to first check out sites like Plastic Jungle.com where you can buy, sell or trade gift cards at a discount.
9. Think environmentally friendly. You can save money by sending digital Christmas cards. Want to extend that savings? Use LED Christmas lights, which use 10 times less energy than standard fluorescent bulbs. Rozanne Weissman of the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, D.C., says leaving holiday lights burning 24/7 will quadruple holiday energy costs. Use a timer and limit light use to no more than six hours a day.
Over the river and through the woods.
Want to go to Grandma’s house but can’t afford it? Nick Friedman, senior editor of Scholastic Parent & Child magazine in New York, offers this creative solution: Use your home computer to make a video greeting from the whole family for Grandma. And don’t forget to call her on the big day.
Still, you may find the allure of large family gatherings around the holidays irresistible, or at least unavoidable. Here are some tips to get to your destination without breaking the bank.
6 travel tips for spreading Christmas cheer on the cheap
1. Fly on the actual holiday. Booking a seat on Christmas Day can be cheaper and more readily available. Consider celebrating with relatives before or after the holidays, when prices dip dramatically. Amy Shaw of Silver Spring, Md., visits her family in Southwest Florida after New Year’s Day.
“For us, the real celebration comes from the opportunity to spend time together as a family. This year we plan to spend the money we save on less-expensive airline tickets in January and hit the after-holiday sales,” she says.
2. Ask about discounts. That’s the advice of personal finance expert Harrine Freeman of H.E. Freeman Enterprises in Bethesda, Md. Some airlines offer discounts to students, senior citizens, government employees and members of AAA and other organizations.
3. Book your hotel room closer to your date of arrival. It’s a risk, but you can usually get a discounted rate. Vijay Dandapani, COO of Apple Core Hotels in New York, says, “Most hotels … tend to lower rates on the day of arrival to avoid inventory losses from unsold rooms.” The best rates are usually on the hotel’s Web site, but you can still score discounts on sites such as Quikbook.com and Venere.com.
4. Buy flights in increments. For example, if you’re going from Seattle to Miami, you might find it cheaper to buy one ticket to Atlanta, then a second one for the leg to Miami. The drawbacks: You’ll have to check in again, and if your first flight’s late or canceled, you won’t have any recourse if you miss the second one. The airlines owe you nothing — no refund and no seat on the next flight. So make sure you allow lots of time between flights.
5. Send gifts and extra luggage ahead via a shipping company. It’s cheaper in many cases to go with FedEx or UPS than it is to pay the extra baggage fees on a flight. Even better, buy gifts when you get there and travel with a carry-on.
6. Check out travel Web sites. On Yapta.com, you can find flights, track prices and sign up for e-mail alerts when flights hit your price level. Yapta also monitors ticket prices after you’ve bought and lets you know when the price drops. Some airlines will give you a credit for the difference, according to Yapta spokesman Jeff Pecor.
Have some figgy pudding
Gatherings around the holiday table don’t have to be lavish. One of the most overlooked tactics for saving on food is to start by shopping at home. Comb your pantry and freezer for stuff you forgot you had. Hunt down those seven cans of green beans you bought on sale, or that hidden turkey breast for a holiday dish.
This holiday season’s baking and entertaining can be trimmed to fit your budget if you think ahead.
4 tips for planning creative and cost-conscious yuletide parties
1. Don’t schedule parties around mealtimes. Instead serve light refreshments earlier or later in the day, suggests party expert Lisa Kothari of the party-planning Web site Peppersandpollywogs.com. Even better, host a get-together with hot cocoa and cookies, and include the kids. The parents in your crowd will appreciate not having to spring for a sitter.
2. Host a card-signing party. You provide the drinks, writing tables and pens, and ask guests to contribute an appetizer or some cookies, says Ewing of Bills.com.
3. Opt for Christmas brunch instead of dinner, and make it a potluck. That’s what Wendy Kaysing’s family in Santa Barbara, Calif., does. Then they snack on the leftovers all day long.
4. Go vegetarian. Alice Conway, director of event management at Stratford University in Falls Church, Va., says the food is usually healthier and cheaper. Conway also suggests opting for casual dining over formal, and sharing hosting duties. Going halves on hosting can also mean half the work as well as half the expense.
Remember, shop early rather than later. Merchants already are lining up great deals and slashing prices to clear old inventory. And last-minute shoppers tend to spend more. If you find yourself in the mall just hours before Christmas, resist the temptation to overspend. A gift’s still a gift, no matter when it’s purchased or how much it costs.
This year, Marshall Cohen, of Chicago, has shopping in mind as he looks for a seasonal job. “Not only will this give me extra cash but employee discounts as well,” he says.
The best tactic of all? Find the joy in simple, inexpensive things.
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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: better, Bird, early, holiday, Might, shoppers, than, this, usual, Year
NEW YORK–Every year we hear the advice: Shop early, get it over with, buy before everything is picked over, avoid the crowds.
And it’s good advice: Buy the gifts, stash them away, ship ground to save money, enjoy the rest of the holiday season without headaches. You’ll miss a few last-minute bargains, but if they happen they’ll become last minute holiday treats for yourself and your family.
Works every year. But this year I think it’s different. The Wall Street disruptions made their way to Main Street, creating unique shop-early opportunities.
As usual, retailers ordered goods and built inventory during the summer. They weren’t expecting a glorious holiday, but they also didn’t expect the complete blowup in consumer spending and confidence that happened next.
So guess what? Even with cutbacks, retailers and distributors are still overstocked. But will they be the week before Christmas? I’m not so sure. Retailers, like the rest of the business supply chain, put the engine in reverse when the bottom fell out. Not only to avoid excess holiday inventory, but also because financing sources dried up.
So what does it mean?
Look for the best bargains before Thanksgiving. The financial crisis monkey-wrench is being worked off now. Even Wal-Mart (WMT) is offering big specials for this time of year. Bargains may last longer on complex products. It’s easier to shut down supplies of the proverbial fruitcake than to delay production of complex products like computers or TVs.
Watch carefully: If the bargains become fewer and farther between, it’s time to act. And retailers may offer some clues — don’t be afraid to ask. Look for blood in the streets. Circuit City just filed for bankruptcy, Mervyn’s is going out of business altogether, and there are plenty of others. You may find some extreme deals here.
And don’t forget the traditional “overstock” retailers such as Ross and T.J. Maxx (TJX) stores, plus online versions headed up by Overstock.com. A recent search on Overstock.com for “LCD TV” yielded over 200 entries. Expect fewer after-holiday bargains. Modern management practices allow retailers to turn around their supply chain “ships” around faster these days. So after-holiday shelves might be emptier than usual, but you’ll still find some bargains.
Remember, retailers will do what’s necessary to turn inventory into precious cash. “Go Green” might be the year’s best theme. It departs slightly from the main point, but this year might, more than ever, be the time to go green. That is, both kinds of green — eco-friendly and pocketbook friendly. A new book just hitting the stores by my colleague and friend Peter Sander is worth a look: “Green Christmas: How to Have a Joyous and Eco-Friendly Holiday Season.” For $7.95, it gives great tips on taking some of the material out of Christmas, reducing the environmental load, saving money, and returning the original spirit to the holiday.
Smart buyers do what smart business people do. They buy what they need, and they understand how economic forces shape the best deals.
Jennifer Openshaw is co-founder and president of the soon-to-launch WeSeed, a new approach to demystifying the stock market for everyday people, and author of “The Millionaire Zone.” You can reach her at jopenshaw@themillionairezone.com.
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