The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

What to buy and not buy in December

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, but there are still deals to be had. Watch the sales, and you can find bargains. However, there are some items you want to avoid buying in December. Here’s what Dealnews.com recommends you look for and avoid in December:

What to buy before Christmas

• DVDs and blu-rays
• Gift cards
• Jewelry
• Headphones

What to buy after Christmas

• Toys, but particularly video games
• Holiday decor

What not to buy in December

• Exercise equipment
• Bedding
• Winter clothing

For details, see “The Six Best Things to Buy in December (Including After Christmas Sales).”

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Tips for shopping on Cyber Monday

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.

What not to buy on Black Friday

In order to get the best deals on Black Friday, be sure to make a shopping plan in advance. In addition, you also need to know what not to buy on Black Friday. Not every deal is a good deal, even on the biggest sales holiday of the year. So, before you start shopping, check out the following list from Dealnews.com on what not to buy on Black Friday:

Winter clothing

There's a 15 percent tariff on many products imported from China, including most clothing and textiles. That means even the best deals will probably be more expensive than they were last year.

Winter apparel may be an even worse buy on Black Friday, as retailers won't start clearing out winter gear until late in the season. You'll likely see better sales for winter wear in January than November — but due to tariffs, you can still expect to pay a little more.

Get prepared for Black Friday with this strategy guide

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.

Wooden toy vehicles recalled by Target due to choking hazard

Target is recalling about 495,000 Bullseye’s Playground wooden toy vehicles.

The wheels on the vehicles can detach, posing a choking hazard to children. Four reports of the wheels detaching have been received including a report of a missing wheel when the package was opened. No injuries have been reported.

This recall includes the Bullseye’s Playground toy vehicles. The vehicles were sold individually in stores and as an 8-pack set online.  The vehicles include a caboose, Santa in sleigh, ice cream truck/food truck, train, police car, fire truck, taxi, and digger.

Fewer children’s products recalled in 2018, study shows

The number of children’s products and the total number of those products recalled in 2018 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission declined more than in any year in the last decade, according to a report by Kids In Danger, a children’s safety advocacy organization.

The report reviews 2018 recall data from the commission, which show a reduction of activity at the agency. Fifty-two children’s products were recalled in 2018, down 44 percent from the 93 recalls in 2017.

“It is tricky to say whether low recall numbers are a good thing – pointing to safer products – or a sign of lax enforcement, leaving dangerous products on store shelves and in our homes,” said Nancy Cowles, executive Director of Kids In Danger. “Indicators this year, such as less effective actions in lieu of recalls and fewer findings of design defects in the recalls that were announced, make us worry it is the latter.”

The report, “A KID Report: 2018 Children’s Product Recalls,” shows:

Facts and figures for the 2018 holidays

It’s that time of year. The holidays are upon us. Hanukkah has been celebrated and today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the least daylight and the longest night. Christmas is approaching rapidly as is Kwanzaa, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Celebrants

Nine-in-ten Americans — and 95 percent of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Center survey. These figures have generally held steady in recent years. Today, 46 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious rather than cultural holiday.

Top 10 stores for Cyber Monday shopping

Cyber Monday isn't just for Black Friday leftovers. Some of the year's best sales will take place on Monday, Nov. 26. So, you may want to save part of your holiday shopping budget for Cyber Monday deals.

Which stores will be offering the best savings? DealNews.com offers 10 suggestions, based on the best sales last year from Cyber Monday and the Sunday before.

1. Amazon

Best for: Gaming, toys, home, and almost anything else you can buy online

While plenty of other retailers offer Cyber Monday sales, none of them match Amazon's. Last year, DealNews.com saw three times as many Cyber Monday deals at Amazon as the next highest retailer.

10 gifts you probably won’t be able to buy this Christmas

 

Photo: Northwest

It’s possible some of the most popular holiday gifts won’t be available as we get closer to Christmas. Every year, last-minute shoppers find empty shelves when hunting for the season's top toys and gadgets – and they either end up paying huge prices or buying less exciting alternatives.

DealNews offers this list of products you probably won't find on store shelves in December. If you need to buy them, shop now.

1. Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
2. iPhone X
3. Google Pixel 2
4. Xbox One X
5. Nintendo Switch
6. SNES Classic
7. Hatchimals Surprise
8. Fingerlings
9. LOL Surprise
10. FurReal Friends

See “10 Things You Won’t Be Able to Get This Christmas” for details.

Copyright 2017, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

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Albertsons asked to ban toxic chemicals in everyday consumer products

Albertsons, the nation’s second largest grocery chain and its subsidiaries such as Safeway, are being urged to stop selling products containing or packaged with toxic chemicals such as lead, formaldehyde, parabens, and BPA.

Mind the Store campaign and health advocates across the country are calling on Albertsons to announce a safer chemicals policy to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals, as Walmart, Target, and other retailers have done.

In a week-long campaign, advocates will be demonstrating outside stores across the country holding signs and distributing brochures to customers while wearing Hawaiian shirts, pool floats, and other summer items to remind consumers about the present of these chemicals in daily lives. Advocates will also be distributing petitions and making calls to the company’s headquarters.