Good deals, bad economy, mean people shopping for themselves

Erica Garmon hadn’t planned on shopping for herself. Then she got her hands on a coupon for 40 percent off at the Coach store at North Georgia Premium Outlets. Before she knew it, she was walking out with a $100 bag. “I’ve been a good girl this year,” the Stone ...

• 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012
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For holiday returns, it pays to know the rules

Are you less than thrilled by the ugly sweater Aunt Sonya gave you, or don't have much need for yet another copy of "Fifty Shades of Grey?" Never fear -- AJC Bargain Hunter Nedra Rhone has you covered with everything you need to know about returning those holiday items you ...

• 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012
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A German Christmas Tradition

Since the 16th century, the town of Nuremberg, Germany has opened as a Christmas market named approperatly enough Nuernberger Christkindlesmarkt. It's one, if not the, oldest of its kind in Germany.

• 3:19 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2012

Ideads for last-minute shoppers

Can ugly sweaters be a holiday hit?

• 3:43 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012

658M holiday cards, packages make today U.S. Postal Service’s busiest; holiday deadlines approach

You think you have a lot of holiday gifts and cards still to send? The U.S. Postal Service expects to move about 658 million pieces of mail today on what officials believe will be the service’s busiest day of the year. While it’s forecast to be the busiest day of ...

• Updated: 7:27 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2012

Stuff yourself a merry little stocking

There’s a science to stocking-stuffing, and it starts in the toe. You want a beautiful, rounded toe upon which to build a sock o’ surprises. People like to see their stockings full. An empty, flabby stocking toe is a sad, sad, thing. My mother always put an orange or apple ...

• 1:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2012

How late can you wait to ship gifts?

Forgot to mail the annual fruitcake to Aunt Bethany? It’s not too late to get that gift posted in time to beat Santa to the door. Mark your calendars with these last-minute shipping dates for the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx. And remember, the later you wait, the more ...

• 7:00 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14, 2012

Blended Family Finances: Untangling holiday gifting as a blended family

We’re making a change. This month, our blended family Christmas gifting is going to be seamless, because we’ve finally got a plan. For the past few years that we’ve been blended, Todd and I haven’t gotten our heads together on Christmas shopping, so days before The Big Day, I wasn’t sure who ...

• 11:49 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012

This week in deals: Up to 90% off at The Tog Shop, plus more

'Tis the season to be jolly and Happy 12-12-12!  We are less than two weeks away from Christmas and Chanukah started this past Saturday at sundown, Chag Sameach! I've already done some holiday shopping but I'm also guilty of leaving some gifts to purchase on my procrastination shopping run, the ...

• 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012

What holiday shopping looks like for real moms

Ever wonder what the mom next door is buying for the holidays? Does she have the kids purchase gifts for their own friends? Is she tipping every single person in her life? And what is she going to get her kid's teachers? The holidays can be fraught with gift-giving anxiety, ...

• 9:00 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 2012

Bacon-scented shaving cream makes unusual Christmas gift

If you're trying to find a Christmas gift for the person who has everything, here's an idea, although they may not actually WANT it. Bacon-scented shaving cream. Self-described "bacon-trepeneur" Dave Lefkow is the guy who came up with it. He was testing it on some subjects on the "Seattle Insider" ...

• Updated: 2:48 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

This week in deals: HSN, Target, Papa Johns and more

Welcome to December!  We made it.  I finally feel like I can sing Fa la la, la la la, la la la.  Once I see those holiday specials run on Food Network and HGTV (oh, and don't forget Lifetime), I know the countdown has begun. There's a lot that goes into the preparation ...

• 1:49 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Coffee-table books feed pop culture obsessions

If you’re stumped for a gift-giving idea, the solution may be found in the pop culture obsessions of those on your naughty or not list. Chances are there is a corresponding book on the market to feed their fascination. Fifty is such a nice, round number, and it is the ...

• 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

Recommended books for the bibliophile on your holiday list

There’s no getting around it, tablets and e-readers are here to stay — at least until some new technology renders them obsolete. But most likely there will always be those book lovers among us who hold dear the weight of a hefty hardback book in their hands, who relish the ...

• 1:02 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012

Texas tannenbaum

This isn’t New England, y’all. We’re in Austin, Texas, home of “Keep Austin Weird” and “Everything’s Bigger (and better) in Texas.” This Christmas choose ornaments that show off your Lone Star pride. Some even help keep Texas beautiful, either environmentally or by preserving our historical structures. From elegant to festive, ...

• 1:00 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012

This week in deals: 50% off airfare at JetBlue and more

Now that Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday have all passed, it's time to take a big breather.  NOT!  The fun is just starting.  Yes, the highly anticipated, highly advertised and highly shopped days have moved on, but if you had a chance to look at our infographics for ...

• 1:02 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012

Buying gift cards? Here's advice

Cost of the '12 Days of Christmas'

If you get all 364 items repeated throughout "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol, you'll pay $107,300, that's up 6.1 percent from last year, according to the Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually.

• 10:25 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2012

Holiday shopping season off to record start