March can be a slow shopping month, especially if you compare it to February, with its Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Days sales. However, March isn't totally blank when it comes to sales.
Look for sales on television sets, cruises, luggage, winter sports gear, and seasonal fruit, according to DealNews.com.
On the what not to buy list are android phones, spring apparel, gym memberships, and lingerie.
| |
| | |
Cyber Monday has a reputation for being the leftovers from Black Friday. However, it can actually have the better deals. Americans spent an estimated 27 percent more money online on Cyber Monday than on Black Friday last year. One reason is probably it’s more convenient to order deals on Cyber Monday than fight the Black Friday crowds.
Tips for shopping on Cyber Monday include:
Make a plan. You need to have a holiday budget for spending. Don’t let possible deals on Cyber Monday lead you to overspent.
Do research. Know what the prices are for the items on your list. That way, you won’t be fooled by deals that really aren’t deals.
| |
| | |
An analysis of 72 hours of children’s television programming in 2018 found that junk-food marketing hasn’t decreased since 2012, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. Almost all the food and beverage advertisements reviewed during CSPI's analysis were for unhealthy products, as defined by nutrition standards developed by a federal interagency task force. The lack of progress comes despite the adoption in 2013 of uniform nutrition standards by an industry self-regulatory group.
In 2018, CSPI researchers recorded six hours of children’s television programming on each of the 12 biggest channels that offer it. Twenty-three percent of all the ads during the six hours were for foods or beverages, up from 14 percent in 2012. Restaurants were the top category of food and drink advertised to kids, 35 percent; followed by candy, 22 percent; breakfast cereals, 12 percent; beverages, 10 percent; and snack foods, 6 percent.
Ninety-nine percent of the food and beverage ads – 362 out of 364 – were for items that wouldn’t have met the nutrition standards developed by the Obama administration’s Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Kids, whose voluntary recommendations were abandoned due to intense industry lobbying.
Continue reading "TV junk food advertising aimed at kids continues to increase, study shows" »
| |
| | |
Black Friday can be an exciting time; however, it also may be overwhelming. By being prepared for Black Friday, you won’t miss the best deals.
Dealnews.com recommends these strategies to help you have a smoother experience:
Make a budget now
The first step is deciding how much you can afford to spend this holiday season. Determine the items you absolutely must have, including gifts and other purchases you've been saving for. And be sure to leave room for incidentals, such as pop-up holiday parties or friendly gatherings. After you’ve made a list, calculate the maximum amount you can afford – and be prepared to stick to it.
Continue reading "Get prepared for Black Friday with this strategy guide" »
| |
| | |
In Washington state, we moved our clocks back as we move toward winter. Now, the sun is setting about 5 p.m. The “fall back” doesn’t bother me as much as the “spring forward.” However, it’s jarring to be in the dark so early in the evening.
As winter approaches and we long for spring, baby boomers are writing about life’s changes:
Rebecca Olkowski of BabyBoomster writes about these articles on the Best of Boomer Blogs #622. Click here to read the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.
| |
| | |
Summer is an amazing thing. I love it every year when it so nicely appears here in the Seattle area. However, shorter days and cooler nights remind us that it’s time to prepare for a new season’s activities and learn something new.
This week, baby boomer bloggers have some ideas to help jump-start your autumn.
They’re writing about:
| |
| | |
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer, although it officially begins June 21. When the weather is good, people enjoy barbecues, picnics with family and friends, outdoor fun at home, and travels elsewhere.
For Memorial Day, I was in Madrid visiting my daughter and her family. The following day we went to the Manzanares el Real Castle, 45 minutes from Madrid. Close to La Pedriza at the foothills of Sierra de Guadarrama, the castle was restored three times in the 20th century.
The boomers in our group have been busy and start the season with ideas readers will find interesting. Articles include:
Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #599. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure to let the boomer writers know your thoughts. We love, love, love to get comments from readers.
| |
| | |
Recently, when I visited Madrid, my granddaughter called her mom and asked her if the dishes in the dishwasher were clean or dirty. I laughed, but then I thought that the question must be one of the most popular questions ever that is asked over and over and over again.
We began brainstorming and came up with 99 additional questions that must be asked hundreds of times a day in America and throughout the world.
The most frequently asked questions are:
That’s my list. Did I miss any?
| |
| | |
Vizio, Element, RCA, and Hisense are no longer being recommended by Consumer Reports due to new information that shows that those brands have lower reliability compared to other TV manufacturers. In addition, survey data from the testing organization also showed that smartphones by Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, and Google are among the most reliable and most satisfying.
For the first time, brand reliability and owner satisfaction are being factored into Consumer Reports’ overall scores for televisions and smartphones, along with the data gathered during the organization’s lab testing. For reliability, Consumer Reports surveys its members about the products they own, then uses that data to make projections about how new models from brands will hold up over time. Brands that rate “fair” or “poor” for predicted reliability aren’t eligible for Consumer Reports’ recommended lists of products.
“As we incorporate reliability into our overall score for more product categories, we continue to see discrepancies in how products perform in our rigorous lab tests versus how well they hold up over time,” said Liam McCormack, vice president of research, testing, and insights at Consumer Reports. “But we know that consumers want products that both perform well in their daily lives and are reliable. Products that earn our recommendation are more likely to offer consumers the performance they demand and the longevity they expect.”
| |
| | |
The legislature in my state is debating whether to get rid of day light savings time. Arguments include it doesn’t save energy, some people have health effects, and it costs money due to reduced productivity.
For me, my opinion is to keep daylight savings time. I like the increased daylight in the evening. And, while it takes me a couple of weeks to go through the time change, I don’t notice it after that.
Whether daylight savings time or standard time, baby boomers keep on writing. Last week’s articles include:
Carol Cassara of Heart·Mind·Soul writes about these articles on the Best of Boomer Blogs #587. Click here to get the links to these articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.
| |
| | |
