Start Your Holiday Shopping Now

By Meagan Farrell

I'll bet you are expecting an article about getting organized as part of your New Year's resolution? Surprise! I am actually going to tell you to go shopping!! January and February are the best times to shop. The stores are marking everything down to clear out inventory and bring new items. Personally, I spend a lot of time at Target around this time, waiting for the 75 % off clearance sales to start.

Why am I telling you to buy things? Because, if you start your holiday shopping now, you will have much less stress come November/December. Here is an idea: Take several paper shopping bags and write the names of those you need to shop for each year on them (one name per bag). Keep these bags in your closet, garage or hiding spot.

As you are out shopping, check out the sales with your gift recipients in mind. As you find things for your loved ones, bring them home and put them in the appropriate bag. As birthdays or holidays come up, you can go to that person's bag and find already purchased gifts for them. Not only will you save a ton of money, but you will save a lot of time and stress. Instead of frantically running around at the last minute looking for the perfect gift, buy it when you see it. Chances are it will cost less and it will really be the ideal present.

Meagan Farrell, professional organizer, is the owner of Clear the Clutter organizing services. She can be reached at (360) 631-7268 or at clear_theclutter@yahoo.com Check out her blog at http://cleartheclutterprofessionalorganizing.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meagan_Farrell

Shopping for Home Furnishings

By Kate Nielsen

Decorating your house? Shopping for home décor can be a frustrating and exhausting job, especially if you do not want to spend a fortune (which you most definitely could when it comes to the prices of home furnishings). The following are simple suggestions to help you find the perfect furnishings and décor for your home, without breaking the bank.

Scratch n' Dent
A great way to get expensive pieces rather inexpensively is through a scratch and dent center; many big furniture stores have scratch and dent centers where they have slightly damaged (but new) pieces and floor models that they sell as is. This is a great option because retailers are forced to discount furniture even if it has very small, miniscule scratches.

Floor Models
Another thing furniture chains do is sell "showroom pieces" and "floor models" that have been in their showroom at discounted prices for comparatively cheap.

Model Home Pieces
If you have moving into a pre-planned community (a neighborhood of homes built by the same developer), see if they are selling the pieces used in the model home. They may be a bit worn or have a few scratches here and there, but it is a really good way to get coordinating furniture sets at competitive prices.

Used Furniture
If you are not opposed to buying used furniture, search local flea markets, the classifieds, and estate sales. You may have to search a bit longer and little harder, but you can score some magnificent finds at super low prices from people wanting to get rid of pieces.

Refurbish
Sometimes all it takes is a little imagination. If you are shopping for used furnishings, use a little imagination and think of what the piece could look like, not necessarily how it looks currently. Sometimes all it takes is a little paint, stain, or upholstery to completely refurbish and renew an older piece of furniture.

Splurge
There are a few things that you should probably just bite the bullet and get, depending on what is most important to you. Some people want a top of the line mattress, while others want a coordinating set, which sometimes you cannot get (or find) at discounted prices. Whether it is a bedroom set, bath furniture, or art pieces you absolutely have, select a few must-have pieces to spend the majority of your budget on.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Nielsen

Where Can I Find An Available Mystery Shopping Job?

By Lenora Barth

Do you want to make some extra money with mystery shopping? With customer service becoming more and more important in every industry, businesses are looking to hire secret shoppers. Thus, there are an increasing number of available mystery shopping jobs.

I have been making extra money with mystery shopping for a while now, and in this article, I will discuss what you should do to get started.

1. What Does A Mystery Shopper Do Exactly?
You will need to make observations and write about your shopping experience, and then send it back to the business. At other times, you may be asked to do more specific things, like asking staff specific questions or make particular observations about product arrangements etc.

Nowadays, the businesses will send their forms through the internet, so it would be essential for you to have an active internet connection.

2. How To Apply For Mystery Shopping?
There are many companies looking for secret shoppers to help them evaluate their businesses. I personally get my list of companies from a mystery shopping resource website that collects the profile of companies that need to hire people like me.

After you have found hiring companies, you can send them an email, or give them a phone call to tell them why they should hire you. You may want to highlight some of your strengths that will help you during your shopping trips.

3. Getting Your First Assignment
After your application has been processed and accepted, you will be sent instructions on your shopping assignment. Ensure that you complete it on time, and remember to note all the things necessary. To start receiving shopping jobs, you can visit the website link below to learn about the resource site that I use.

Do you know where you can find the best mystery shopping jobs? Learn all the secrets the author uses at http://www.review-best.com/shopping/mystery-shopping-sites-exposed.htm to become a highly paid mystery shopper, and a review of the Top 3 Mystery Shopping Resource Sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lenora_Barth

It's Never Too Early to Start Christmas Shopping

By Lill Hawkins

Many people complain that retailers push the seasons by putting up Halloween decorations before Labor Day and Christmas displays before Thanksgiving. Maybe so, but for some people Christmas shopping is a year 'round affair.

By starting early, some of us are able to find much nicer gifts than we would if we started after Thanksgiving. It's also possible to find sales on items that won't be on sale nearer to Christmas. There's also the fact that some people just really love to shop. They get a lot of pleasure out of finding just the right gift or toy for the people they love.

Whether you love shopping or just want to avoid the last minute rush, you might want to consider making a list and carrying it with you throughout the year. That way, you can refer to it whenever you come upon a sale or find a bargain. After a while, you'll know what's on it and can pounce when you find an item at a better price.

Layaway is another option for people who like to spread out their shopping - and the payments for what they buy. Putting toys and gifts on layaway lets you pay for them gradually over the course of a few weeks until they're paid for. The store lays them away for you until you finish paying, so you don't have to find a place to hide them from the kids at home either.

Unfortunately, some stores are discontinuing their layaway programs to cut costs. If that's the case where you shop, you can layaway money instead of gifts. When you save enough, you can buy the toys and gifts you would have put on layaway. The only problem is that very popular toys may not be available by the time you save up for them.

One of the best ways to shop for gifts, especially popular toys, is online. The stores are always open and you don't have to shlep all over town to find bargains. Of course, in the case of toys, what with all the recalls, you really have to do your homework nowadays. It's best to buy from sites that have a good reputation and ethical standards. If in doubt, there are sites online that can direct you to safe toy info.

So, does it make sense to limit your Christmas shopping to a few weeks in November and December? Not unless you like to shop at the last minute and enjoy the feeling of being under pressure. I think most people would agree that spreading out your Christmas shopping can give you much better selection and save money too.

Lill Hawkins blogs about resources for finding safe toys for Toddlers to Teens and maintains a recall list at How to Find Safe Toys Check in daily for the latest toy recalls and a long list of alternatives to blah big-box gifts.

Great Gifts For The Goth On Your Shopping List

By Hanna Grimly

Whether it is a friend of yours or a close relative in your family, you may find yourself having to shop for a goth at some point in your life. Whatever their level in the goth lifestyle may be, it can be hard to shop for such an individual, especially if you are not familiar with the genre itself.
When a gift card is not always the first thing that you want to shop for, there are some other smart ideas that you can find online that would be great gifts for the goth in your life.

Since goth is both a lifestyle and a state of mind, you may want to look into various accessories that can go along with their wardrobe. For the goth guy, look for great accessories like interchangeable chains for chain wallets or even belts with studs or a flask with engraving on it.
When clothing can be tricky due to sizes, accessories and various goth gifts are always a welcomed treat for birthdays or holidays.

Girl goths are always easy to shop for, especially if she is a fan of fine goth makeup. Keep in mind that it is not always necessary to purchase all kinds of white powder for her face! Many goth women are perfectly happy with red or purple eye shadows or great lipstick and nail polish duos. In addition to that, you can look to other great accessories as a goth gift such as hosiery, purses, jewelry and more.

As long as you keep your eye open for unique gift ideas, you should have no problem finding terrific gifts for that goth on your list. If you still have a hard time shopping, there is no reason why you cannot give the gift of goth with a nice gift card to a stellar online gothic clothing store.
http://www.inkubus.com

Shopping in Italy

By Tatyana Kogut

Among the things you can buy in Italy there are: leather footwear, jackets and bags, designer clothes, knitted wear, millinery, china, crystal, jewellery and knick-knacks, souvenirs and old-fashioned frames

Advice on how to shop: -Shops selling manufactured goods are usually opened Monday – Saturday from 8 am till 8 pm, with a break from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. Each season is ended with sales periods. -The best place to buy elite clothes and footwear is Rome, with its famous Via del Corso shopping street, Gucci and Armani boutiques by the Spanish Steps and Valentino boutique on Via Condotti. Best leather jackets and coats are sold in Florence (not far from Santa Croce church). In addition to designer boutiques there are lots of fine stores found on Italian coast. Better not shop at flea markets since the quality of goods is much worse and you might be swindled. Italians do not usually cheat, but a foreigner should always be beware of shortchanging etc.

Wines:
Tuscan wines are among the best in the world. The most popular is Chianti. Veneto is famous for its Cabernet. But the main Italian wine-making region is Lazio, renowned for its Frascati wine. If the label is marked with a DOCG sign, this means highest quality is guaranteed.

If you buy things in Europe Tax-free Shopping stores, you may be able to get some of your money back in the form of a VAT (value-added tax) refund (if the goods are new, of course).
The procedure is rather simple. When making a purchase ask shop assistant for a Tax-free Shopping Cheque. When leaving Italy you will have to go to Customs office in the airport, show the goods you buy, Tax-free cheque and a receipt from the shop. After that go to Tax-free Cash Refund office (usually situated in the airport Duty Free shops) and get your money in cash.

Sales.
Sales season is called "Saldi" and lasts in Rome from the middle of July till the middle of September plus during the period from Christmas till the first week of March. This is the time when leader designers cut prices for their goods. Most cheap clothes are sold in shops under the less known brands; footwear and accessories are also on sale. Mind that each cut-price article should have a price label with its original price mentioned on it. Total sale, Liquidazioni, usually means the lowest prices. Other signboards like Vendite promozionali (promotional prices) and Sconti (discounts) are usually placed in a storefront just to attract buyers. Entrata libera signboard means “Just drop in”.

the city centre, where the quality of goods is also high, but the prices are lower. There are also shops selling last season’s “pret-a-porte” goods, sometimes even designer ones. Those are also cheap and nice.

Shops.
Milan suburbs. One of the most famous Italian shopping centers is found in Serravalle Scrivia, 108 from Milan. Designer McArthurGlen is a huge outlet 32 thousand sq. meters big. The outlet is filled with about 150 shops selling last season’s designer clothes and accessories for cheap.
Rome. McArthurGlen outlet in Castel Romano is the second Italian largest outlet in Italy, and the thirteenth in Europe. They sell trendy clothes, underwear, accessories and what not.

You can go to Rome hotels reservation to book a room in Rome hotel. Milan hotels - Milan hotel reservation.

Where to Grab a Bargain When Shopping for Your Party Needs

By Joseph Then

When shopping for birthday party supplies you will find the best deals by shopping with the large wholesalers and warehouses' that will stretch your dollar. I have listed some stores address in this article and they are all USA base. If you are from another country, please try out Yellow Pages and look for "party warehouse", or "party suppliers".

However, if you want, you can try online stores. Online party supplies stores have been around for the past few years and many Internet-savvy parents have also tried purchasing party stuff online. This is specially true for busy parents. The most popular and reliable website so far is Oriental Trading. They have been around for many years and they can supply party stuff worldwide and they have a huge reputation with great customer services. Check them out.

Number One Party Supplies in Sun City California stores all the required birthday party supplies and birthday party favors, including decorations snacks and candy, or centerpieces for the birthday party table. You must visit through the week although; they are only open to the public Monday to Friday until 5 pm.

You might also try Crystals Craft in Bellflower, or Glow Magic in San Mateo also in California. A Star Jumps is also located in San Fernando California.

Californians may also save the lawn by renting a dance floor from California Portable Dance Floor Co. Inc in Camarillo.

If you are in Pennsylvania Bev's Party Fun is on Grafton rd, Blairsville.

New York has some amazing party supplies out to grab your party favors from. You could try Party Points on Staten Island. Or perhaps Party Fair for favors and supplies in Brooklyn. Party Fair is ideal offering personalized ribbon and invitations or chair and table hire.

Utah is not forgotten for great party supply bargains with Piece Of Cake Party in Layton Hills Mall, Layton.

Florida has a wealth of choices with T -n -T's Party creations on Metro Drive, Boynton Beach, and 4 Ever Party in Clearwater. Celebrations Nationwide is located in Winter Garden also in Florida.

Texans may get their party favors and birthday supplies from Party Biz in Converse. Perhaps you are looking for some way to entertain the kids with something from Scotts and Biggens Bounce About. For the balloon lovers in Texas Instant Balloon Stands is full of great party ideas, try a balloon sculpture for something really different and fun.

The Party manager 1793 is with 1800 Party Shop in 8980 east E F Avenue, Richland Miami.
If you in Vancouver and looking for a party with a theme, you could try Theme -Parties -In -A -Box in Powhatan.

Get more tips about how you can organize a birthday party today! Check out Joseph's blog for more Birthday Party Tips or check out his main website information on Birthday Party For Kids

Save Time and Money with Direct Source Shopping

By Chris Robertson

Shopping locally for products is great when you have free time to look around and compare prices or products. But when you're pressed for time, this might not be an option. That's why direct source shopping online has become so popular in recent years. With direct source shopping, you can go online to one particular Web store and read store reviews, merchants reviews, or product reviews without ever leaving your home. This enables you to do comparison shopping without wasting time or automobile gasoline.

Comparison Shop among Brand Names
One benefit of direct source shopping is you can comparison shop among many different brand names. The same brand names are available online that you are familiar with in your local area. Unfortunately, if you live in a small town or suburban area, the brand names are probably limited to a few. At an online shopping mall, you can compare all the popular brand names, their qualities and features, as well as their prices to get the best prices.

One example is when shopping for items for babies and kids. Brand names such as Fisher-Price, Pampers, Leap Frog, Evenflow, Graco, Eddie Bauer, and Diaper Genie can be found online at various prices. Some online stores can offer these brand name products for less because they order directly from the manufacturer. They do not have high overhead costs like a brick-and-mortar store.

Read Product Reviews from Home
Another advantage of direct source shopping is you can read multiple product reviews from home before buying. This is one thing that sets the Internet apart from shopping at a brick-and-mortar establishment. If you're considering buying a high-dollar item, you want to know all its features as well as how it works before buying it.

Online, you can read numerous product reviews in detail from the comfort of your own home. At a store, you might compare prices, but not necessarily the benefits and features because of a lack of time or information. Online, you can take as much time as you want to read product reviews and find the best value at the lowest prices.

Direct Source Shopping for Gifts
For holidays, birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries, you can use direct source shopping to find great gifts for family or friends. There are hundreds of products available to choose from so you can easily find the products your loved ones will love. You can grab unique gifts or stocking stuffers for men, women, boys, and girls of all ages at cheap prices and avoid the busy, crowded stores.

You can also order multiple products from the same online source and enjoy a discount on shipping costs. Whether shopping for clothing, toys, babies' and kids' products, health products, auto parts, beauty supplies, books, computer products, musical instruments, or sporting goods, you'll want to be sure the quality is good even if the products are listed at a cheap price. Use direct source shopping to compare everything about your favorite products before you shop.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Direct Source Shopping Guide or Majon's Shopping - General directory