Saving Money
A bird used by a Chinese man, unseen, to perform, holds a yuan collected from a tourist as it prepares to drop it into a piggy bank, in Houhai district, in Beijing, China in this 2010 file photo. Financial tools, like stocks, can make great gifts for kids with the right presentation. (Muhammed Muheisen/AP/File)
Stocks as stocking stuffers: Three ideas for kids
Parents have been trying to teach kids about money in clever ways for ages. Take the old standby: allowance. I remember doing chores around the house to earn my weekly allowance as a kid, and now that I’m an adult those early money lessons have come in handy.
But manual labor isn’t the only way to get your kids excited about personal finance. You could dress those money lessons up with a ribbon and bow – or put them in a stocking this Christmas.
Now that you’ve got the idea, let’s hash out the details…
1. Choosing stocks
When you’re an adult, any stock that performs well is exciting. Kids tend to care more about brands they recognize than return on investment – so when you pick investments for them, pick from companies that make or sell what they’re into. RankingTheBrands.com has a list of Kids’ "Top 100 Most Loved Brands" to give you some ideas. For example: ( Continue… )
This October, 2012 photo, shows the the original Batmobile in Los Angeles. The car will be auctioned off early next year, probably for several million dollars. (Courtesy Barrett-Jackson/George Barris/AP)
Five outrageously expensive gift ideas
OK, OK. We admit: Without an outrageously large discretionary income, we probably wouldn’t buy these gifts either. But we did enjoy window-shopping for them – and think you will too…
1. The original 1966 Batmobile: “multimillions”
A truly one-of-a-kind gift option for the new year, this iconic car from the live-action Batman TV show drives onto the auction block Jan. 19 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company recently told the L.A. Times that the car’s reserve price is “in the multimillions.”
If that’s affordable, check out the auction press release for more details. If not, check out the replicas officially licensed by DC Comics – they’re only $150,000. ( Continue… )
Heather Perry prepares to ship wrapped Christmas presents for a customer at the UPS Store in Hixson, Tenn., Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. (John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free Press/AP)
UPS quits on guaranteed Christmas Day delivery
December 20 marks UPS's "Peak Week," wherein the shipping giant expects to handle more than 28 million packages worldwide. However, UPS might not be able to fully "deliver the holidays" this year.
While attempting to track a package this morning we were met with a message that says UPS Ground delivery guarantees are "suspended until December 26, 2012." That's the day after Christmas, obviously, and thus useless for anyone who needs their packages for the holiday proper.
Update: A short while ago, our Media Editor grilled his UPS delivery guy about the delay. He said that they had "caught up" with the ground orders, but that UPS is leaving the message there as a precaution.
Since the deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery via UPS Ground has already passed, this mostly affects online orders that were already placed, as recently as December 18. However, "all other guaranteed UPS Services will be delivered within 90 minutes of normal commit time." To check the status of your UPS order, head to UPS.com. ( Continue… )
No man is going to get excited to unwrap a new tie, Trull argues. (Claro Cortes IV/Reuters/File)
15 worst holiday gifts for men
Men aren’t tough to shop for, but that doesn’t mean you can buy us just anything. We’re not picky, but we certainly don’t want the same things women want. Women like thoughtful gifts from the heart, and men just want stuff that’s a mix of fun and useful.
If you’re convinced you’ve nailed down great gifts for the men in your life, check out the following list of 15 gift ideas to avoid:
1. Gym membership
What, we’re not fit enough already? This not-so-subtle suggestion that we need to get in shape won’t convince us to get off the couch, but it will be grounds for retaliation with your gift next year.
2. Silly gadgets
Stores like Brookstone and Sharper Image are the go-to gadget stores for the hard-to-shop-for male. But please, no more 3-in-1 pens or motorized grill brushes. We already have regular versions of these things that do the job without batteries and buttons. ( Continue… )
Boaters, canoeists and fishermen enjoy a sunny day around Ala Moana Beach Park last week in Honolulu. (Becky Bohrer/AP/File)
Escape to Hawaii: the best travel deals
With picturesque landscapes, sunny skies, and straight-out-of-your-dreams white sand beaches, it's no wonder Hawaii ranks as the happiest state in our great nation for the third year in a row. So why not head there soon to get rid of that persistent "I hate the cold" winter gloom? These deals will take you to the Aloha State for less, which may just be the greatest holiday gift of all.
Fly to any of the four major islands on United Airlines, where roundtrip fares from select cities to Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island start at $292 (a low by $3; expires December 25).
Or, avoid vacation-induced stress entirely with a little help from Pleasant Holidays's 3-night flight, hotel, and car package (from $885, a low by $187; expires December 31). Not only does this package include three nights at the beachfront Aston Aloha Beach Hotel next to the Wailua River and Kauai's only protected swimming beach, but it also includes roundtrip air, a Hertz Toyota Corolla or similar rental car, and free parking! ( Continue… )
In this photo taken last month, Daniel Holmquist raises his forklift to the top shelf of the Sierra Trading Post Fulfillment Center's racks in Cheyenne, Wyo. Free shipping Day is Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, but it might be wiser to get you Christmas shopping done before then. (Kyle Grantham/Star-Tribune/AP/File)
Free Shipping Day is a bust. Here's why.
It may not have made it onto calendars yet, but December 17 is now known as Free Shipping Day, a made-up holiday shopping event (not unlike National Regifting Day) that is angling to be the next Black Friday or Cyber Monday. But while our archives indicate that the latter two events actually result in concrete deals that live up to the hype, the same cannot be said of Free Shipping Day — and you should be weary of putting off your holiday shopping just to get the supposed discount on delivery.
The site boasts more than 1,300 participating merchants for 2012, with 77% offering free shipping on all orders. It is difficult to assess the deals since they are "hidden" until the 17th, but based on offers from years past, a large number of the retailers will have restrictions on the type of products that qualify for free shipping or will require minimum orders. Moreover, the sheer number of participants might be misleading, as you probably haven't heard of the majority of them. ( Continue… )
In this August 2012, photo, Fame perfume from the Lady Gaga collection is displayed at a Lord & Taylor department store in New York Perfume is a great gift if the recipient wants a specific fragrance, but avoid it otherwise. (Mark Lennihan/AP/File)
The 14 worst holiday gifts for women
It should go without saying that the perfect gift isn’t the same for everyone: There are men hoping for cologne and women longing for power tools.
But that doesn’t stop us from having some fun and a contest around truly horrible gifts. Today’s post is about bad gifts for women – then it will be the boys’ turn.
1. Any appliance she didn’t ask for
Unless she specifically asked for a waffle maker or blender, don’t buy her one. Even women who enjoy cooking don’t want to feel it’s expected. ( Continue… )
Packages wait for delivery at the United States Postal Service's Lincoln Park carriers annex in Chicago last month. The USPS is the cheapest way to ship your package, especially if you schedule deliveries online. (John Gress/Reuters/File)
Cheapest way to ship your package? Here's how to save.
Santa and his reindeer have fierce competitors in FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service. The three shipping providers expect to deliver more than 1 billion packages this holiday season and need only one night to deliver a gift by the next morning.
But unlike St. Nick, you have to pay the delivery charges yourself. Which of the three shippers offers the cheapest rates?
Cheapism.com recently sought out cheap shipping methods from all three providers, comparing prices for 5- and 10-pound packages sent from New York City to residential addresses in Chicago and San Francisco. In every case, from ground delivery to next-day service, the Postal Service undercut the private companies.
Take that overnight package with delivery the next morning. UPS and FedEx charge the same hefty price: $91.76 for a five-pound package from New York to San Francisco, for example, with delivery by 10:30 a.m. At the post office, guaranteed delivery by noon costs $52.20 – or, if you print your own shipping label and schedule a free pickup, only $39.14. That’s a difference of only an hour and a half but a potential savings of more than $50. ( Continue… )
In this file photo taken last month, a person takes pictures of chihuahua dogs in costume sitting on the hood of a classic American car at the Fall Canine Expo in Havana, Cuba. A classic car may increase in value as time goes on, but it won;t be as fuel efficient as newer models. (Ramon Espinosa/AP/File)
Cheap gas guzzler vs. fuel-efficient car: Which is cheaper long-term?
What’s more important – a car that doesn’t depreciate, one that’s cheap, or one that gets great mileage? That’s what this reader wants to know; maybe you’ve wondered about it as well…
Dear Mr. Johnson,
I have started reading your articles after discovering them while learning about classic cars. I really enjoy your writing as it is very informative. I am a young business owner learning about investing my money.
I have recently bought my first classic car, a 65 Mustang. I realized the many benefits of owning a classic car as opposed to a new car, but there is one thing I am having trouble with in my discussions with others: gas mileage.
These days, everyone wants to know the gas mileage. I can say that my car’s value will remain high, maybe even increase. But some say I will be paying the difference in gas. Does the value purchase of a classic car cover the low gas mileage of a classic car? Will I be paying so much more for gas that the value argument is not worth it? ( Continue… )
Packages ready to ship move along a conveyor belt at the Amazon.com fulfillment center last month in Phoenix. While most retailers, including Amazon, take care to expedite their shipping processes during the holiday shopping season, there are stores that aren't very quick. Avoid these stores if you're cutting it close with your holiday shopping. (Ross D. Franklin/AP/File)
Slow shopper? Avoid these stores.
With the success of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2012, we'd wager that a lot of shoppers have gotten a head start on their holiday buying. But since it's only the first week in December, there's still time to find the perfect gifts at the best prices for all those on your holiday gift list. Just don't wait too long to make your online purchases, as there are some potential risks involved in procrastinating just a little too much.
Beyond the challenge of finding the right gift and staying within your budget, you'll want the assurance that it'll arrive in time for the holidays. Many merchants, of course, take great care to expedite their processes during the holiday season, and there are numerous others that offer a special Christmas guarantee, which may include refunds for orders that don't arrive in time. But not all retailers are that reliable.
There are a few types of stores (and a handful of retailers in particular) whose shipping policies are likely to cut it close to Christmas. If you're interested in purchasing from any of these retailers below, you should place your order this week, otherwise you'll run the risk of your gifts not arriving in time for the holiday. But, as we get closer to Christmas and your purchases become more last-minute, it's smart to avoid these stores entirely. So, who made the naughty list? ( Continue… )
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