How To Shop Smart During The Holiday Season

Everyone loves to go Christmas shopping and buy nice presents for the people they love. However, nobody likes the financial problems that come from spending too much during the holidays. Just because it is the holiday season does not mean you have to shop last minute and buy expensive gifts. Buying presents without breaking the bank is possible! Here are a few tips on how to shop smart during the holiday season.

Plan Out A Holiday Budget
The first thing you will need to do is start planning out the holiday budget. Make a list of everyone you will be shopping for this year. Once you have the list made, figure out how much you can afford to spend on everyone and write down that amount next to each name. You can also make a note of all the affordable gift ideas for each person. This way you will know what to buy and how much to spend.

Start Saving Money
Open up a holiday savings account as soon as you can and put a little money from each paycheck into the account. You can do this all year round or at the end of the summer, this all depends on how much you are going to need to put on the side. Are you having trouble opening a savings account for any reason? Do it the old fashion way and place the holiday money into a jar or piggy bank!

Hit The Sales Early
Do you see a gift on sale you want to pick up months before the holiday season even begins? Don't wait until November, get it now! This way when the holiday season begins, you will have a head start on your budgeting and hitting the sales. Keep track of how much money you spend and what you buy. Keep a look out for sales and deals all year round, because you never know what you will find!

Hit The Christmas Sales
You may not like to deal with the crowds and lines of Christmas sales, but this is something you should do anyway! There are many retailers who will have great sales and door busters throughout the holiday season. Getting up early and dealing with the crowds will be worth it when you find an eighty dollar gift on sale for only twenty dollars!

Hit The After-Christmas Sales
Just because it's December 26th does not mean you have to end your holiday shopping. Plenty of stores will be having after Christmas sales. Find something you want to give to someone next Christmas? Get it now while it is on sale and just store it until next year! Be sure to make a list of everything you buy, how much you spend and who you shop for. This way there will not be any confusion when the next holiday season begins!

If you keep these tips in mind and shop smart, then you can buy the gifts you want for your loved ones without going broke!

This guest post was written by Jack Sibilia who has been working the finance industry for over 5 years. He recommends going online to Kanetix.ca to compare quotes from multiple insurers to get the cheapest insurance rate.

*** GIVEAWAY: Wayfaring Magnolia *** (CLOSED)

Today's giveaway is from Wayfaring Magnolia, which is a great vintage clothing shop.

From the Shop Owner:
I'm a thrifter and vintage lover and I just love to share my finds on etsy for everyone.
PS: You can check her blog.

BUY IT: Dresses are between $148.00 - $10.00; shoes are between $50.00 - $22.00; tops are between $345.00 - $18.00; bags and purses are between $42.00 - $16.00; "for the guys" section is between $70.00 - $18.00; jewels are between $26.00 - $6.00. There are also miscellaneous items and "10 dollar clearance" section!

WIN IT: One (1) winner will receive a $30 Gift certificate to Wayfaring Magnolia on Etsy. (Value: $30.00 USD)
* Please leave your entries to the Rafflecopter form below.
** YOU MUST DO THE MANDATORY ENTRY FIRST AT THE TOP OF THE FORM, OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! DON'T TWEET WITHOUT DOING THE MANDATORY ENTRY!

*** GIVEAWAY: Partly Sunny Studio *** (CLOSED)

We have a new Etsy giveaway after a long time! The prize comes from Partly Sunny Studio (US), which offers colorful original abstract modern art and impressionist paintings and prints.

From the Shop Owner:
I have always had my hands full of paint brushes and colored pencils, crayons and markers and charcoal... I love flinging paint onto canvas and seeing how each and every painting turns out in the end, when I can finally call it finished and say "ta-da"! :) I try to create bright and colorful artwork that will give a cheerful atmosphere to a room.
PS: You can also find her on Artfire.

BUY IT: The beautiful original paintings are between $995.00 - $40.00 USD; prints are between $59.95 - $18.95; and note cards are between $12.00 - $6.00.

WIN IT: One (1) winner will receive a set of 13 note cards with envelopes by Rachel Biggs. (Value: $25.00 USD)
* Please leave your entries to the Rafflecopter form below.
** YOU MUST DO THE MANDATORY ENTRY FIRST AT THE TOP OF THE FORM, OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! DON'T TWEET WITHOUT DOING THE MANDATORY ENTRY!

*** GIVEAWAY: The Sylvan Horn *** (CLOSED)

Reading level: Ages 12 to adult
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: iUniverse (February 25, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0595484891
ISBN-13: 978-0595484898
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces

Before the days of men, there were elves. In a time they were great and powerful, the first dwellers, the brightest ray of dawn upon the earth. They brought light and music to the world and every breeze that stirs and wave that crashes still echoes with the wonder of the fair folk. But a foulness is brewing in the east, where men deal in sorcery. They summon dire forces, unleashing a terrible power into the world. And the elves, once immortal, now fade from the earth. But knowing that all sorcery comes from Runes that were carved ages ago, Efkin, a young elf lord, races to find and destroy the hidden Runes before all is lost. He sets out to recover the horn of his ancestors that long ago summoned the forces that shaped the world. Only the horn has the power to break the Runes. He journeys into the east, but comes too close to the heart of sorcery and does not dare blow the horn. If he is tainted by the poison of the Runes the horn will sound a ruinous note that could spell the end of the earth.

About the Author:
In his first novel, The Sylvan Horn, award-winning author Robert Redinger offers a fantasy epic that delivers much more than the usual sword and sorcery fare. There is plenty of magic and swordplay for genre purists, but there is also an intriguing narrative that does not merely take us down exotic paths, but moves our consciousness toward a new perspective. While the story deals in magic, it also touches on science, presenting a view of existence that resembles string theory, which states that our material world is made of vibrating strands of energy that produce all the elementary particles. A careful reader will also find an allegory that uses mysticism to explore the dangers of our modern era.

BUY IT: You can buy this book on Amazon for $15.95 and on Barnes&Noble for $14.67.

WIN IT: One (1) winner will receive a copy of "The Sylvan Horn" by Robert Redinger. (Value: $25.95 USD)
* Please leave your entries to the Rafflecopter form below.
** YOU MUST DO THE MANDATORY ENTRY FIRST AT THE TOP OF THE FORM, OR YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED! DON'T TWEET WITHOUT DOING THE MANDATORY ENTRY!

Souvenirs You Won’t Want To Give Away

Travelling is a fantastic experience, so why not remember your adventures by buying a selection of exciting souvenirs along the way? Choose something unique to the countries you have visited and purchase the most unusual and cultural items for your trinket box.

Here’s a selection of souvenirs that you certainly won’t want to give away:

1. Yukata – Japan

Yukata Image Credit

If you are lucky enough to visit Japan, browse the local stores for a yukata, a casual summer kimono made from light cotton. The perfect garment to show off to your friends back home, yukatas are a traditional form of Japanese dress and can be tailor-made. With straight seams and wide sleeves, yukatas are distinctive in style and are available in many different colours and designs. The ladies of this country often style there hair in elaborate ways when wearing a yukata, so it might be fun to ask a native how to create a stunning up do.

2. Nyau Mask – Malawi

Nyau Mask Image Source

A beautiful country in Southeast Africa, Malawi is one of the most intriguing places on earth. While exploring this wonderful part of the globe, keep an eye out for a Nyau mask worn by a secret society of the Chewa tribe. Made from wood and straw the masks are traditionally used during rituals and have become a huge part of Central and Southern Africa’s culture. With many different masks available representing everything from white people to lions, these are hard to buy but are definitely worth the search – and the extra luggage charge.

3. Russian Dolls – Russia

Russian Dolls Image Credit

Russian dolls make a wonderful souvenir and consist of beautifully carved wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. Available in many themes from peasant ladies wearing a traditional safaran jumper dress to Soviet leaders, Russian dolls have been around since 1890 and form a large part of Russia’s history. Like many souvenirs you can find the dolls around the world, however, they are often of poorer quality and consist of fewer dolls. Authentic Russian dolls can contain an impressive number of figures (sometimes as many as 50) and are special pieces of art you can cherish.

4. Shona Stone Sculptures – Zimbabwe

Shona Stone Sculptures Image Source

Despite its political problems, Zimbabwe remains one of the most stunning countries on this planet and is home to some of the most talented artists. Shona stone sculptures portray animals and humans in realistic and abstract form and are truly beautiful to behold. Hand crafted with love and care for centuries, each piece is unique and has the natural patterns of rock formed millions of years ago. Shona stone sculptures are elegant, different and look great in the home making them a wonderful buy.

5. Clogs – Holland

Clogs Image Credit

What better way to remember a trip to Holland that by taking home a pair of traditional wooden clogs? This extremely quirky type of footwear has become associated with the Dutch who still wear this incredibly durable type of shoe to work – especially in the fields. While clogs can be found in other countries such as Sweden and France, the design painted on them will mark them apart. Buy a pair with windmills painted on them, one of Holland’s most-famous symbols and enjoy a really special buy.

The next time you set off on your travels make sure you have enough spending money to buy some really wonderful souvenirs. You might want to buy a few unusual gifts for friends and family too, but watch out as you might end up keeping them for yourself.

This article was produced on behalf of Hotel Club; where finding hotels in Ho Chi Minh City is the only the beginning of your souvenir hunting adventures.