Just hear those wallets jingling...3 thoughts on shopping retail

Oh yeah, we are in it now. We are up to our kneecaps in Christmas shopping lists that must be executed with efficiency and affordability, all before a non-negotiable deadline of December 25.

Cue the screaming.

Okay, okay. Count to 10 with me, take calm breaths, and chant, "I can do this."



If you take on Black Friday, just know what you're getting into....

This month, we've been taking on holiday shopping, discussing the pros and cons of buying at local stores or online. Last week I gave some reasons you might want to give those locally-owned businesses your business, but let's face it - many of us will head to a major retailer for at least some of our shopping.

So what do you need to be able to take on the big boy retailers and make the most of that money? Well, here's a few thoughts to contemplate as you drive to your shopping mecca of choice...

Consider the store credit card (but don't jump too quickly). When you reach the checkout line and you get asked that question, "Would you like to save (insert amount here) percent on your purchases today?" we all know the checker is going to promote the store credit card. While the discount can be a huge savings (such as, the Target REDcard offers 5 percent off every purchase thereafter), think about the pros and cons. The pros are that store credit cards do often give you more savings and promotions once you are on their mailing list as a cardholder, and having these cards and paying them off is also good for your credit score (see this article at bankrate.com)! However, those cards do carry high interest rates and offer more temptation, so be wary. Perhaps select to open ones only at stores you use frequently, and check to see if a debit option is available.

Do your research. No, seriously. We are a rush, rush society, but we also have more information than ever before at our fingertips through the web. Take fifteen minutes to compare big ticket items, call the retailer or check online to make sure they have the item in stock (many will do a same-day hold), and ask about price matching. This extra few minutes can save you big bucks and hours of store-hopping, so reap the rewards of the Girl (or Boy) Scout motto: Be prepared.

Be an Appy shopper. Bricks and mortar stores are getting tech savvy to keep you coming in the doors, so take advantage of that. A quick search in your phone's app store may provide you with free apps that will save big money. Apps such as the Walmart Savings Catcher does price matching for you (up to 7 days later!) and Target's Cartwheel allows you to quickly organize your offers and utilize them at checkout. Just another way your phone is taking over your life - and saving you money.


Finally, as for Black Friday (just about a week away, people!), shopping incredibly late or early, waiting in lines, or running over people with your shopping cart to get the last Olaf - well, it's really a personal thing whether it's worth it. Me? I'll spend a few extra dollars and enjoy my bed, but for others, this can be one of the exciting points in the season. Just remember it's not about all the stuff you buy - it really is about giving, and whether that means you get the perfect toy or simply give the best gift you can, your generosity will not go unappreciated.

Stay tuned next week as we take on the pros/cons of online shopping in anticipation of Black Monday!

Just hear those wallets jingling - Five reasons to shop local this Christmas

It's that time of year - time to get your wallet ready and your credit card warmed up. Time to find all the gifts for all the right people.

I've got to sit down. This is overwhelming already.

This November, Mom Around Town is taking on the topic of where to spend those holiday dollars in the effort to do Christmas shopping right. In future posts, I'll be talking about the pros/cons of shopping at major retailers and online outlets, but for now, I want to talk about keeping that shopping money local.

Local businesses are in quite the fight for life in most cities. With major retailers and online giants competing by sheer economy of scale, the little guys have to offer what the giants can't, and that means they often do something pretty cool - they take special care of the other little guys. That's right - you and me, the shoppers.

As I explored the crazy world of Christmas shopping, I came across five reasons I might shop local this holiday season:

1. Personalized attention. Have you ever walked into a large retail store, needed some help, and were met by the sound of crickets? Yep, I've been there. You feel kind of goofy, walking through a place calling, "Hello? Hello?" But this isn't true at most small shops. "If you need help or don't have a clue what to get someone, we have someone to help you," says Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of the Learning Tree in Oklahoma City and Edmond.

2. Ready, wrap, go! Available help isn't the only thing a store like The Learning Tree has to offer. They will also wrap a gift, getting it ready for you before you even leave the store. And they're not the only ones. Many local businesses are especially helpful at Christmas, willing to go the extra mile by getting a present boxed up or putting in a special order and calling you personally when it arrives.

3. Expertise. Another aspect of shopping at locally-owned business goes hand in hand with reason #1. Not only will someone usually be available to help, but often personnel have expertise in what's being sold. "I can choose something that is best for a certain age of child," promises Learning Tree's Patti. She also says a local store may be more willing to demonstrate how items work, happy to spend time and build solid relationships with their customers.

4. Good prices! No, really! If you think you'll pay through the nose by shopping local, that's not necessarily true. Programs like the "Keep it Local OK" card and the "Allied Arts OKC" card apply to many local stores, and when you put those businesses' personalized attention with the lower prices, the value of utilizing  these small stores goes way, way up.

5. And finally, put your money where your home is. "Keep sales tax money in your city and state!" urges Patti. If you shop here, the city and state benefit directly, because businesses pay taxes too, in addition to sales tax. And who wouldn't want to get money back?

So there you have it. As you and your credit card do warm-up calf stretches together, just keep all that in mind. Then go forth and buy presents.

And stay tuned next week as we talk about the pros/cons of major retail shopping!

Just hear those wallets jingling, ring-ting-tingling too - Taking on holiday shopping

Recently, my toddler's childcare program said they'd be giving parents a rebate. "Just choose the month you want it," the director said. "I'm guessing most people will choose December because of Christmas."

"Hah!" I replied. "Put me down for January, because that's when the credit card bill for Christmas is due."

And she laughed. "Right."

Really, we're both right, because most of us will start gearing up this month - November - for fulfilling those Christmas lists. We've got to figure out who's getting what as well as what the big item for those kiddos will be, because we all know there won't be any Olaf's from Frozen left sitting on the shelves that last week before Christmas.

But here's the thing. Shopping in general has changed over the past ten years. A lot. Now, aided by online outlets, we have more choices than ever for spending those holiday bucks, so how do you decide where to spend your shopping efforts?

Enter our topic for the month: Eeenie, meanie, miney, mo - if I'm Christmas shopping, where do I go?

Local Stores - On November 13, we will be discussing the benefits of shopping local, with wise words from one of our own local vendors, as well as a rundown of the deals a parent can take advantage of if they put their money back into small, locally-owned businesses.

Local Retailers - On November 20, we'll discuss the pros and cons of heading to your local chain retailer, the deals you can sometimes score through discount programs, and their holiday specials. We'll also review whether you should have a parka and tent ready in preparation for the morning of Black Friday.

Online Retailers - And finally, on November 27 (Happy Thanksgiving!), just a few days before "Black Monday," we will discuss the pros and cons of spending those holiday dollars online. Many of us believe things are cheaper/more available on line. Is that true? What are the benefits of shopping in pink bunny pajamas (besides being able to wear pink bunny pajamas)? What are the drawbacks? An expert in online purchasing will weigh in on the matter!

So stay tuned! And get those wallets ready to go. Because something is going to slim down by Christmas, and I'm afraid to say, it's probably not your waistline.

But that's part of the fun, right?

Giving Thanks Part III - A community that shares together, cares together

It may start to overwhelm you. This is the time of year that charities get super serious about requesting donations for hundreds of worthy causes. And one might think, "Gosh, I'd love to give back. But sheesh, with Christmas coming up...(fill in plausible excuse here)."

But with many of us taking the time to get together with family and friends to celebrate the holidays, our hearts do appear to grow warmer as the temperature grows colder. I mean, who wants to be a scrooge with the words, "God bless us, every one," ringing in our years and songs about the specialness of the season sounding from every radio?

Well, there's no time like the present to take a minute and count your blessings (hey, I mean, it is Thanksgiving next week). Then, with a genuine smile on your face, take a look at the following list--a list of organizations that help out right here in your own community.


For the little ones...Infant Crisis Services. Although located in Oklahoma City, this organization has dropoff points in Edmond. They certainly encourage and accept monetary donations, but if you are "de-babyfying" your house, they also have a wishlist of items you can donate.

For the animal lover...Edmond Animal Welfare. Maybe the thought of committing to a pet for life has you uneasy, or maybe you have room in your heart (and home) for more furry companions. Either way, Edmond Animal Welfare offers residents the chance to help out our furry friends by becoming a foster family or adopting a pet.

For the kiddos...Peppers Ranch. Whether you just want to donate funds to a worthy cause or take on the role of a foster parent, this Edmond organization is committed to helping abused and neglected children by "creating a network of caring foster parents and adult mentors on whom children can depend." Also in Edmond is the Boys Ranch Town, run by Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.

For education...your local college. Whether you are an alumni or not, giving back to a state university like UCO, OSU, and OU gives students with good grades and low funds the opportunity to continue their educations. And believe me, with the number of phone calls I get from my Alma maters, a school is not gonna turn anything down! (Really, you can find an opportunity to give to any college by typing in a college name and the word "give.")

For disaster relief...the American Red Cross. We just witnessed the amazing way in which our state pulls together following crises like the tornadoes that hit in Moore and across Oklahoma City this past spring. Giving money to the local Red Cross chapter helps you give back to an organization that does so much for the people facing the loss of their homes and businesses. Other organizations that assisted with disaster relief this past spring are listed here, and giving to them now helps them respond quickly and aggressively to future events.

So, what are you waiting for? What am I waiting for? And if you are short on money, opportunities abound to share your time at church, school, local nonprofits, etc., etc. So show your thanks, don't just say it. Actions speak louder than words.

Giving Thanks Part II - Giving to yourself (and your community) by patronizing local business

I don't know if you've driven down Broadway lately, but there's something about living in a town with such a vibrant array of small businesses. Not many cities have a bustling "old town" charm anymore, and Edmond, with all its growth and amenities, offers up the new while still giving residents a taste of the old.

But did you know that where you spend your money has a direct impact on this town? Most cities, like Edmond, depend on sales tax dollars to provide many, if not most, of their services, including public safety (police and fire), business development, and parks and city-wide events, as well as other critical services.

Toni Weinmeister, Associate Director of the Edmond Economic Development Authority, says that shopping in Edmond is a direct act of giving back to your community, because your dollars help fund the city. Frequenting local "mom and pop" stores, as well as franchises located within Edmond, helps not only with funding, but also benefits the local residents who own these businesses. And even shopping online at a business with an Edmond store will result in sales tax dollars going to the city (sorry folks, that does not include Amazon). Places like Target, Walmart, and many others all qualify.

And speaking of "mom and pop" stores, don't be afraid to go and check some of the smaller ones out. Edmond has a wide variety, and while small businesses sometimes have a reputation for having higher prices, that simply is not always the case. For instance, a new local business, Tenz, sells women's clothing and accessories for ten dollars.

Lisa Wheeler, owner of Tenz, says that opening a small, local business can be challenging, especially when competing with national chains, but she loves the sense of community in a town like Edmond. "One of our goals is giving back to the community by offering affordable clothing."

And she's just one of many store owners or managers who love serving the Edmond community. Ben Hoza, a manager at The Meat House, says, "We love the Edmond community and supporting the many events that make this area wonderful." The business, which offers a variety of fresh food options as well as catering, celebrates it second anniversary this month.

So, when you're getting ready to spend those dollars this holiday season, pause for a moment to consider where you want your dollars to go. Because by giving a local business your business, you might just be able to say "Thanks" in the best possible way.