Good Morning Everyone.  I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Holiday Season. Today is the next post in our “Home for the Holidays” series. It’s Monday December 26^th and that means that today is Boxing Day. It’s time for everyone to visit their favourite stores in hopes of finding the best deals and discounts on their favourite items.  I am not a huge fan of Boxing Day shopping because I don’t like waiting in line and I definitely don’t like to be pushed around in big crowds.  However, I do still visit my favourite stores during Boxing Day week because the deals and discounts are too great to miss.

The Cons of Shopping on Boxing Day

My Father always says that we should never shop on Boxing Day because the holidays are about spending time with family not about shopping. My Father always tells us that if no one shopped on Boxing Day then stores wouldn’t be open and the Sales Associates could spend another day with their families, after all isn’t that what the holidays are really all about?

If you work in an office then you probably have the luxury of having an extra day off during the holidays on Boxing Day.  Shouldn’t the Sales Associates in retail stores be afforded the same luxury?  I know that getting good discounts on our favourite items at our favourite stores is tempting but I am sure that we can all wait one more day.

The Pros of Shopping on Boxing Day

I am a sucker for a good deal as long as I need the item.  Spending money carelessly on items that I want but do not need was the old me.  After changing my money mentality to become a saver and not a spender the new me always thinks twice before I spend any money, even if the item is on sale.

I love the excitement and the idea of shopping on Boxing Day.  It is very fulfilling to know that I am receiving a discount of up to 70% off of my favourite items.  However even spending 30% of the cost on an item is still wasted money if we don’t need the item.

During Boxing Day week I like to purchase specialty items that only come out during the holidays and then go on sale on Boxing Day because the stores need to liquidate them.  Such items include holiday scented hand soaps, body wash, room sprays, and fragrant oils.  These are items that I can use all year round so it’s great to get them on a discount. I do not shop on the day of December 26^th, but I do shop during the week of Boxing Day.  I usually like to shop on December 29^th or December 30^th because most stores still have their annual Boxing Day sales but the crowds are a lot smaller.

Are you going out Boxing Day Shopping today?

If you like this post be sure to check out all of the previous posts in our “Home for the Holidays” series:

Don’t Let the Holidays be Costly

Don’t Be Tempted to Swipe Your Card

Travelling Home For The Holidays

Holiday Dinners on a Budget

Starting New Holiday Traditions

Last Minute Shoppers

Photo by Sideways Sarah

Admit it, you’ve been eyeing that TV for a few months now. It’s just the right size to fit in your living room without looking ridiculous. It’s been so expensive in the past, but now it’s on sale! Sure, it’s still a few hundred out of your budget, but the store has a great deal if you open a store credit card.

We all have a weakness when it comes to spending on things we enjoy. I’ve tried keeping up with smart-phones, but it’s just too expensive and not enough bang for my buck upgrading every year. I’ve learned my lesson and I’m keeping my current one until my contract ends.

Right now for my husband and I, game consoles and video games are our weakness for spending. We wait a few months before we buy most of games (exception for Mass Effect – gotta have it NOW), but they’re still fun purchases. They’re definitely not necessities so we plan before we buy them. We want to keep our financial goals while having some fun.

For some however getting a big ticket item can throw their finances into chaos, especially if they have no spending plan. How do you decide if this is a good buy for you? How do you know if you’re getting a good deal? I’ll share some tips on how we’ve saved money on big ticket items.

Saving Up for Big Items

Look for most items, it’s not a question of neccessity, it’s a question of afforability and desire. Why do you want this? How often will you really use it? How much joy will you derive from it? Of course if you’re married you have an additional person to consider before making a major purchase. Getting a TV may be financially fine, but what if your spouse nags you over it. suddenly it’s a little less enjoyable.

The big question, though, is – How badly do you want it?

You want to spend your money – go ahead it’s yours. If you want to spend your money while still building your net worth takes a bit more planning. It’s not hard at all, but it does take some discipline.

Make Saving Easier

Don’t wait until everything is paid off before you start saving, most times there will be nothing leftover. Instead schedule and automate transfers into a savings account for your big ticket item. tuck away that money into a high interest savings account. It’ll keep you less tempted from spending it too soon and you’ll earn just a bit of money while you save up.

Avoiding Falling Off the Wagon

If you need help keeping focused on your goal, use some of these tips to keep you on your path:

• Have a visual reminder- Put your goal on the fridge or put a Post-It on your computer monitor.
• Rally your friends - Get a support network to cheer you on. Better yet make it a competition to see who can save first.
• Schedule a party - Confident that you’ll make your goal? Schedule a party celebrating your victory in advance. Knowing that friends will be there may be the nudge to keep your on track.

Don’t let big ticket items keep you from missing the big picture.

Getting a Great Deal

Want to make sure you’re getting a great deal before you hand over a big chunk of your money? Take advantage of these options:

• Price Match: Look for this whenever you buy. Look for all the deals you can in your area. Show the lowest price to a retail store that offers price match and great customer service. You’ll save money and avoid headaches if something is wrong with your purchase.
• Price Alerts: Don’t have time to shop around (shame on you!)? Use sites like Slick Deals can see you email when items go on sale for a certain price.

What sites and stores do you use regularly to get a great deal on big ticket items?

Psychology of Money

Curious to see what affects your spending? Check out last week’s post on choosing friends to build your net worth.

Photo Credit: sushi♥ina 

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to the next post in our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series.  Today we are discussing a topic that comes up in my home very often.  Today we are discussing the generation gap, communication gap, and the technology between us and our parents.  Of course as years go by and we get older trends will change and technology will advance.  In 2011 I play Nintendo Wii instead of the 1980’s Atari and I have a tiny Smartphone instead of a 1990’s Cell Phone the size of a brick.

When I saw today’s topic of Parents and Smartphones I was excited because this has been a debate in my family for almost a year.  I keep trying to tell my parents that Smartphones are not just for young people, older people can have Smartphones too.  My Dad doesn’t even have a cell phone, so asking him to get a Smartphone is definitely out of the question.  However, my Mother is a little more up to date.  I have been talking to my Mother about my LG Shine Plus for 6 months, and I am happy to say that last month my Mother bought a Smartphone. Actually my Mother also bought the LG Shine Plus.

Cheap Smartphones

Whether our parents choose to accept it or not technology is advancing and Smartphones are the new Cell Phone.  Smartphones don’t have to be expensive, if our parents sign a term contract and they don’t sign up for a data plan Smartphones can actually be very cheap.

Cheap Smartphones can still be beneficial to users.  If we don’t need access to the Internet and various social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook then Smartphones can be cheap.  Since our parents probably won’t use all of the Smartphone functions, a basic talk plan should be good enough for their needs.  They can still use the Camera, Calendar, and other functions of a Smartphone while keeping their costs down.

Smartphone Definition

By definition a Smartphone can be used as a Cell Phone as well as a Personal Digital Assistant. However, I mostly use my Smartphone to keep in touch with my Mother and maintain my family relationships.

I love keeping in touch with my family by texting, emailing, and sending photos to my cousins, sister, niece, and Mother.  It is so easy to keep in touch and stay connected with my family and friends by using my Smartphone.

By definition a Smartphone can keep us connected with the world by email, internet, Twitter and Facebook as well as let us answer incoming calls at any time.  A Smartphone is so much more than a Cell Phone, and in my opinion everyone needs one.

Whether we are 25 or 65 a Smartphone has an advantage for everyone.  We may not use all the features and functions of our Smartphone, even if we only want to store our contacts and make phone calls a Smartphone has the capacity to store so much more information than a regular Cell Phone.

Check out the other posts in our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series:

Which Smartphone is the Best for You

To Buy or Not To Buy a Smartphone

Should You Buy a Smartphone? Do You Need It?

Your Smartphone Can Help You Make Money

Photo by Mercredis

Good Morning Green Panda Friend.  I hope that you all had a great weekend.  Now it’s Monday morning and it’s time to get back to the daily grind.  Some of us are back to work and some of us are back to school, some of us have to juggle both a work schedule and a school schedule.  It is safe to say that no matter what we are up to today, we are all very busy people.  Welcome to the next post in our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series.  Today we are discussing how our Smartphone can keep us connected to the world and help us make money.

Types of Smartphones

A Smartphone can be so much more than a cellular phone if we want it to be.  Yes touch screens are fun, and yes downloading our own ringtone lets us personalize our cell phone as an accessory.  But the other features of a Smartphone such as the calendar, internet access, camera, and social media applications allow us to stay in contact with our friends, family, and co-workers all the time from anywhere in the world.

Keeping up to date with Facebook, Twitter and Linked In directly from our Smartphone is very helpful.  It is very flexible to have access to the entire World Wide Web directly from our Smartphone with the touch of a button.  We no longer have to carry both a laptop and a cell phone because we have two in one in our Smartphone.   I love the camera on my LG Smartphone; I don’t have to carry a photo camera and a cell phone because my Smartphone takes both videos and still pictures.

Smartphones for Business People

Smartphones do not only offer personal services, they also offer various services for business people.  If you need to keep track of your schedule your Smartphone can help you go paperless.  You no longer have to carry around a personal agenda because your Smartphone can store your daily schedule as well as personal reminders, notes, and a To Do List.

Business People have to be reachable at all times because their money depends on it.  I personally think it’s great to be able to be reached by both Phone and Email at any time of the day all from my little LG Shine Plus with Google Smartphone.

I know that many Business People use BlackBerry as their professional Smartphone; but both Android phones and the iPhone are becoming very popular options for Business People.  I personally use my Smartphone to send and receive text messages, but I do not use it (yet) to type documents.

I like having the option to research something on Internet from my Smartphone if I need to, and I like the fact that I don’t have to be next to a computer.  I also downloaded the Application for my Financial Institution and I enjoy being able to make bill payments, verify my recent transactions, transfer funds, and check my account balances from my personal Smartphone.

Whether you are a student, an entrepreneur, an employee, or a business person a Smartphone can help you stay connected with the world.

Check out the other posts in our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series:

Which Smartphone is the Best for You

To Buy or Not To Buy a Smartphone

Should You Buy a Smartphone? Do You Need It?

Photo by FotoGovBa

Good Morning Green Panda Friends.  Today we are continuing along with another post our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series.  Today Green Panda decided to do some investigating work and compare new 2011 Smartphones.  We will review all the features of a few selected Smartphones to help you choose which Smartphone is best for you.

When you are shopping for a new Smartphone you must find a Smartphone that fits into your budget. I know that sometimes the purchase of a new Smartphone can be a big expense and the monthly bill can be a big reoccurring expense.  This is why it is best to shop around, compare prices, and read reviews about a few different Smartphones before you decide to purchase your own Smartphone.

Before buying my LG Shine Plus with Google I researched different Smartphones on my Cell Phone Carriers website.  Once I made the decision to buy the BlackBerry Curve (in pink) I walked over to my local Cell Phone store.  After some assistance from the Store Manager I discovered that the BlackBerry Curve didn’t have a very good camera.  The LG Shine Plus with Google had the best camera with 5.0 Megapixels.  I signed a new contract and I was on my way.

I chose to keep my existing monthly service plan because the data plan was way too expensive; it would have added another $50 per month onto my existing $25 per month plan.  In an effort to save money check with your Smartphone provider if you can bundle your services. If we can get our telephone, internet, television, and cell phone services all with the same provider we could save a bundle of money by bundling all of our monthly services together.

Check Out our Reviews of these New Smartphones:

Apple iPhone 4s – This was an obvious first choice for me to review since it is brand new and just recently released onto the market.  People buy Apple for the name brand, but also because of the convenience and user friendly systems.  The new Apple iPhone is available in 64 GB, 32 GB, and 16 GB.  The new iPhone 4s has an 8 megapixel camera and it can record, edit and share 1080p HD video.  There are currently over 500,000 Applications available in the Apple App Store.

BlackBerry Curve 9360 – This is an upgrade from the original BlackBerry model.  If we compare it with the BlackBerry Torch the screen is smaller but the keys are readily available for texting.  BlackBerry offers a Protection plan that offers security in case our BlackBerry is ever lost.  We also have access to BlackBerry App World which allows us to download thousands of Applications directly to our BlackBerry device.

HTC Amaze 4G – This is an Android phone and it is compatible with Skype.  This phone offers email, web browsing, and picture messaging.  It has a full 4.3” display screen with HD quality.  This HTC phone also offers a powerful dual core processor with speeds of up to 42 Mbps.  It allows us to create and share HD movies and photos. We can also download music and over 250,000 Apps from the Android Market with access directly from our phone.

Which Smartphone would you buy?

Check out the other posts in our “How Smart is Your Smartphone” series:

To Buy or Not To Buy a Smartphone

Should You Buy a Smartphone? Do You Need It?

Photo by MJTR