The Cure For Rampant Holiday Consumerism

Clean your garage/attic/basement/closets before making out your holiday wish list. After a few hours of sorting through crap and muttering “Why did I ever keep this in the first place,” you will never want anyone to give you another thing as long as you live. You’re welcome.

And that's not counting the tubs of Christmas decorations that are currently sitting in my living room. I would like a large dumpster for Christmas, please.

I live in a zoo. Or a circus. Some days it is tough to distinguish which. I own a snake, have two imaginary friends, three kids, and I once purchased a sham-wow. I think that's all you need to know about me. Tags: Christmas, consumerism, holidays, humor, life, stuff, toys

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Best Money Tips: Easy Holiday Cocktails

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on setting up a holiday bar, tools to lower your electric bills, and ways that saying "No" could help your finances.

Parenting Squad Holiday Guide: Hot Cocktails for Your Holiday Bar — Keep it simple (and frugal!) by serving wine, beer, and a signature punch or cocktail. [Parenting Squad]

8 Tools to Lower Your Electric Bills — Install insulating window film on your windows to reflect the sun in the summer and retain indoor heat in the winter. [Inexpensively]

How To Say “No” and Help Your Finances in 2012 — Strangely enough, the other person will be more open to your proposal if you invite her to say no. [Saving Advice]

10 Workplace Myths — Actually, employers can give references, but many choose to simply verify dates of employment to limit their liability. [Free Money Finance]

How to Talk About Money With Your Spouse -- Find some common goals that you can work towards together. [Dinks Finance]

Want Financial Freedom? Create A Solid 5-Year Financial Plan That Would Make Oprah Proud — Develop your financial goals with the SMART system: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Specific. [Girls Just Wanna Have Funds]

11 DIY Alternatives to Traditional Christmas Trees — String some lights and decorations around a ladder, and voila! An easy alterna-tree. [EcoSalon]

4 Ways to Budget Your Bucks — Reverse budgeting might work for you if you just want to save money and you're not too concerned about your spending habits. [SavvySugar]

5 Fun, Frugal Holiday Traditions to Begin with Kids — Take your family on a drive through the neighborhood to enjoy the holiday lights and decorations. [Passive Family Income]

Fix Your Finances and Quit Your Day Job — Test out your living situation first and see if you can live on a reduced income. [PT Money]

Credit Karma #CKchat — Don't miss Credit Karma's weekly #CKchat at 12 p.m. PST! They will be giving away prizes!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

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Why I Love Gift Cards: 5 Reasons Gift Cards Make Perfect Holiday Gifts

Gift cards tend to have a bad reputation, perhaps because the receiver thinks they are too impersonal. But I would much rather get a gift card (or cash) than something I can't use or clothing that doesn't fit. There's nothing worse than having to return a gift. Not only can it be a hassle, but it's also difficult to explain to your aunt why you aren't wearing that argyle sweater vest she gave you for Christmas.

If you are looking for that perfect gift, here are a five reasons gift cards can make life easier for you and the person receiving. (See also: 5 Reasons Why You Should Give Kids Cash for the Holidays)

Whether you are buying a gift card from someone's favorite clothing store or giving free downloads from iTunes to the music lover in your life, gift cards guarantee that people will love what you give them. They have the freedom to pick out whatever they want, and you are relieved of the stress of finding something perfect for everyone. Gift cards are also ideal if you are buying for in-laws you don't know that well. Amazon sells everything from books to kitchen sinks, so purchasing gift cards from a general retailer will also help guarantee that there's something for everyone, even the picky people in your life.

If you are purchasing gifts for a lot of people — a dozen or more nieces and nephews for instance — you can budget a dollar amount for each card. This also prevents arguments over which cousin got the better gift, because everyone gets the same amount of money. And it saves you the time shopping for each person. Plus, even if you get a gift receipt, returning gifts can be a headache, especially right after the holidays when customer service lines are backed up to the entrance of the store.

You don't even have to leave your house to do your holiday shopping thanks to the convenience of the Internet. Most stores offer online gift cards, and you can personalize them with graphics and personal messages. A lot of retailers even have an option to email an electronic gift card to someone, which is convenient for you, and it helps the receiver keep track of the card. If you are one of those last-minute shoppers, you can send an e-gift card at any time, even on holidays when most stores are closed.

Personally, I don't shop for myself that much because I don't put aside a lot of money in my budget for it. But if someone gave me a gift card to my favorite kitchen store, I can think of nothing I'd like to do more than wander around looking at iron woks and sharpening stones. If you know the person well, you will know exactly the stores where they would most like to shop. There's also the option of giving movie gift cards, or buying a card from someone's favorite restaurant. It's always nice to know that you are giving something loved ones will enjoy picking out for themselves, and treating someone to dinner and a movie is always appreciated.

For practical people who never spend money on themselves, give them a gift card from a place where they can purchase something they need, or may not have the money for. I would gladly accept a $50 gift card for groceries, for instance. Don't forget pet owners could always use more cat litter or dog food. And for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life, money is always an option.

Don't spend all your time waiting in lines and being choosy over gifts this holiday season. Save yourself the trouble and just go for the gift card. It will make everyone happy, including your wallet.

How do you feel about gift cards? Are there other reasons you like giving them? Discuss in the comments section below.

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2011 Holiday Guides: iPad and iPhone gifts for travelers

Have a loved one on your holiday shopping list who’s going to take their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad on a special trip? Not sure exactly what to gift them? Not a problem, TiPb has you covered! From the traveler off to fun in the sun, to the family going home for the holidays, to the couple going out on the town, here are some of our favorite device, accessory, and app picks for the business user in your life!

Don’t need anything for a travel? Check out the recommendations anyway, something great might still catch your eye. If not, no worries, check out one of our other 2011 holiday gift guides!

The perfect gift can make for the perfect trip. traveling can be stressful enough, but if your traveler has the right stuff, it can make not only the destination that much more enjoyable, but the journey as well.

An iPad to plan and book their excursions from the couch, and iPhone to manage their lists and flights on the go, iPod touches to keep the kids busy in the backseat, an Apple TV to hook up at the cabin, an iPod nano to rock out on the slopes. No matter where you’re going or what you’re going to do, there’s an iOS device that can make it more fun and more enjoyable for your traveler.

Not sure which one you should get? Not a problem! Start here:

While there are more places to charge up and top off than ever, from coffee shops to airports, the truth is your traveler will be busy, stressed, and the last thing they need is to run out of power when they need it most. Whether it’s the kids in the carseats or spouses on the plane, every trip is better with a spare charger.

Qmadix Dual Mobile Charging Kit for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch lets you charge two iOS devices — even the power-hungry iPad! — at the same time. If you’re going on a long family trip, or even an extended drive for the holidays, this can make all the difference between peacefully playing children and happily tapping significant others, and the agony and pain of bored passengers with dead devices turning their angry gazes in your direction.mophie juicepack offers the lighter, more colorful “air” model or the heftier but more powerful “plus” model. The air will recharge your iPhone to roughly 70%, the plus to almost full. Whether your business user values light weight portability or big battery power, the mophie juice pack is a must-have for anyone who is away from a wall outlet for long periods of time. Keychain Charge and Sync Cable for iPod & iPhone is perfect for those who need to travel ultralight but still want a backup to keep themselves charged when they get there. Let’s face it, away from home is the last place you want to be caught without a cable.

No matter where they’re going or what they’re doing there’s no such things as too much protection for their iPhone or iPad.

Overboard for iPhone or iPad are waterproof cases perfect for everything from the beach to the slopes to the white waters to the hot tubs. Whether they’ll need to keep their devices safe from snow, sand, or suds, give them one of these.Otterbox for iPhone or iPad is for those who need superior protection, be it light but still sturdy or total armor. To survive a hike or to survive the kids, Otterbox is the way to go.iPhone wallet cases are a great idea for travelers who want to travel light. They let you keep your iPhone safe and take a few bills or credit cards along for the ride. There are also a wide variety of looks, from old fashioned to modern, guys to girls.

Headsets will be worth their weight in gold if you’re traveler wants their music with them on the slopes or on the beach, or if the kids will be gaming on the plane or in the back seats.Car kits if you’re traveler’s are hitting the road, there’s nothing better than a good car mount and a great speakerphone.SCOTTEVEST has pockets and more pockets for all their documents, gear, electronics, and accessories. It’s like having an extra travel bag that keeps them warm at the same time!

While wrapping paper is nice, nothing is faster to buy or easier to ship than software. Whether you load it up for them on their brand new device, or send it half way across the world, it’ll always get there on time and ready to use.

Uno is the classic Italian card game all dressed up for the iPhone. You can play on your own, with your family — which is especially great on your TV via AirPlay! — or online against players of similar skill level. It’s everything you love about the original, all packaged up for your iPhone.

Also check out:

Catan is a great version of a great strategy game. $4.99 – App Store linkWords with Friends isn’t Scrabble but it is an all out, all online spelling war. $0.99 – App Store linkCarcassone is a beautiful rendition of the medieval strategy game. $9.99 – App Store linkPoker by Zynga let’s you get your Texus Hold’em on your iPhone. Free – App Store link

If your traveler is taking the long road to their holiday getaway, give them full fledged turn-by-turn driving directions on their iPhone so you can keep your eyes where they belong — on the road. NAVIGON provides on-board maps which means it keeps working in areas where there’s no data coverage. You can buy regional, country, or continents at a time, and there are also options for live traffic updates, parking directions, and enhanced panoramic views of the surroundings.

Also check out:

Foursquare lets you “check in” to locations, keep track of your and your friends’ locations, and earn points for being there. Free – App Store linkYelp provides restaurant, gas station, bar, and pretty much any type of business location and recommendations. Free – App Store linkFind my iPhone is Apple’s way for iCloud to help you locate, lock, and even wipe a missing or stolen iPhone. Free – App Store linkWaze is a free, crowd-sourced, and highly social travel and nav app. Free – App Store link

Instagram is the current king of iPhone photography apps, and it took the crown through a brilliant combination of easy-to-apply filters and super simple social sharing. The latest version not only adds even more filters, but all tilt-shift effects. Whether your traveler wants to quickly share great looking snap shots to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, or Posterous, Instagram has them covered. In style.

Also check out:

Photogene2 is a photography powerhouse, with full featured editing, sharing, and much more. $1.99 – App Store linkCamera+ is jam packed with features and filters to make their photos shine. $0.99 – App Store linkHipstamatic to bring that terrific toy camera look to their shots. [$0.99 - App Store link]Flickr for iPhone lets them store and share all the shots you take. [Free - App Store link]

You’re a part of Team TiPb too! Have any accessories you think business users would love to get for the holidays? Make sure to let us know what your picks are as well!

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Apple Store 2011 holiday display

Apple Stores always have interesting displays around the holiday season and 2011 is no exception. While it might not be as fancy as the FaceTime Santa and elf chat from last year, the iPad side does show off a lot of what you can do to with your Apple tech this winter.

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Tears, Fears, and Holiday Cheers

Penguins are all-holiday appropriate.

25 Days of Christmas! Hanukkah bushes! Nissan Altima commercials galore! Their presence can only mean one thing…Chrismahanuwhatthehelliskwanza is upon us!

With a mere 3 weeks before Hanukkah kick starts the marathon of gift giving, eating, and looking like Saint Nick after hot boxing in his sleigh as you try to digest the mammal you just devoured, it is time to prepare your mind, body, and bank account for the upcoming festivities. Christmas carols being sung, dreidels being spun, and re-teaching yourself how to casually sip wine with your grandparents rather than binging playing Slap the Bag with your biddies are undoubtedly a part of everyone’s December jubilee. But, nothing says holiday season more than some severe emotional scarring with your extended family.

We're coming over. All of us.

We’ve all been there! Whether it’s your second cousin staring down your dress and exclaiming “look at the bosoms on this one!” in a room full of people, or your grandfather confiding in you about his decrease in sexual activity due to Granny’s recent knee replacement, some of the things that happen will make you reconsider why in the world you were looking forward to winter break. Considering both the former and the latter have happened to me, I have come to expect these kinds of shenanigans. Though I make numerous trips to the bathroom mirror to make sure my ears aren’t bleeding, these comments are relatively harmless. Plus, I tend to forgive my elderly kin when they offer me a cookie, candy, and/or a kiss that is not planted directly on my lips. At every family gathering, however, there always seems to be a black cloud, a Debbie-downer of sorts, or blatantly, someone who everyone wishes would take a hike to the Himalayas and never return.

Self-explanatory.

Holiday season is a time of cheer and merriment, but it’s hard to enjoy some Yorkshire pudding when Aunt Sourpuss is glaring at you with intensity strong enough to burn holes through your forehead. It’s not your fault her self-diagnosed, totally false “gluten intolerance” prevents her from eating anything but string beans and water, you will enjoy your 1500 calorie snack thank you very much! Furthermore, holiday time is a season of kindred gatherings, not a cutthroat competition between family members. Yes, her child does have a nice voice for a 6 year old, but when she commands her to belt out 3 ballads mid-dinner and claim she totally beats your 4th grade rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” everyone, even her poor show-monkey children will want her to leave. Seriously, when your own kids look at you like they’re imprisoned stuffed animals at your tea party from Hell, it’s time to reevaluate yourself as a person, parent, and in the overall scheme of life.

Nothing lures out old insecurities like spending time with your family. Despite the tears, tension, and inevitable fights, the holiday season proves every winter to be a period of renewed bonding, a time to be happy, to laugh, and to be thankful… that it only comes once a year.

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Best Money Tips: Spend Less This Holiday Season

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on spending less this holiday season, how to save money fast, and tips for overseas travel.

5 Ways to Spend Less This Holiday Season — To spend less money this holiday season, consider going in on joint gifts with other people. [SavvySugar]

How To Save Money Fast — Save money quickly by canceling your TV and internet service. [Debt Free Adventure]

5 Tips For Overseas Travel — When traveling overseas, remember to call your bank and inform them of your plans. [PF Firewall]

What Is Layaway - Pros & Cons and Stores That Offer Layaway Plans — While layaway gives shoppers more buying options, it also saddles shoppers with strict payment terms. [Money Crashers]

10 Easy to Plan, Cheap, and Fun At Home Date Ideas — Have a fun stay at home date by setting up a scavenger hunt. [Money Help For Christians]

Baby Budget Buster: Small Steps for Family Finances — Give your family some financial breathing room by limiting your spending to necessities only. [Parenting Squad]

5 Tips for Your First Job Interview — When sending a thank you note after an email, be sure to make it personal and not generic. [Bargaineering]

8 Best Holiday Shopping Apps: Saving Money with Your Phone — Use your phone to save money this holiday season. Try downloading Google Shopper or FastMall. [NerdWallet]

10 Inexpensive and Fun White Elephant Gifts — Give a gag gift of an autographed photo of yourself at your next white elephant gift exchange. [Mango Blog]

11 Ways To Keep Your Brain Active — Keep your brain active by learning five phrases in a new language. [Timeless Information]

Wise Bread Tweetchat (#WBChat) — Don't miss our weekly #WBChat at 12pm PST! We will be talking about dining out on the cheap and we will be giving away prizes!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

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