Gift cards have become the popular holiday present du jour. But there are plenty of things to consider before giving or even receiving (and using) a gift card. For example, did you know this?

Retailers can’t account for the sale of a gift card until the card is redeemed for merchandise. If you don’t redeem a card within a certain period of time, your state’s escheat laws kick in and the unused money goes to the state or is divided between the state and the retailer.

The 8 tips after the break:

(more…)

Who knew Swan prices could fluctuate so much!

After all the verses — when the singer has 12 partridges in 12 pear trees — the song’s gifts would cost $78,100, up 4 percent over 2006. This contrasts with $128,886, a 2.5 percent increase from last year, to assemble the same gifts on the Internet. Giving only the gifts from the 12th day, an online shopper would be set back $31,249, 3 percent more than last year and significantly more than the old-fashioned way of gathering the gifts because shipping costs drive the tab higher.

The only time that the PNC index has not closely paralleled the Consumer Price Index was in 1995, when swan prices tumbled because of increased availability. The cost for seven swans a-swimming is $4,200 today, nearly half the price two decades ago.

A Partridge, a Pear Tree, a Price Tag That Grows (NYTimes)

Source: PNC Christmas Price Index

PC Magazine has written a series of articles outlining the best times of year to buy various tech gadgetry. We all know the pain of buying a new computer or flat screentv , only to find out a month later that the same product is now on sale for 30% less. Different types of products are discounted at different times of year. Knowing when to buy is as important as knowing what to buy.

So, here’s a calendar summary of the best times of year to buy various electronic goodies:

(more…)

(1)China-During 2007, the Year of the Pig, Mattel is forced to recall almost 20 million items made in China because of lead paint on toy cars and tiny magnets that could be deadly if swallowed. Lead paint problems are also found in 844,000 Chinese-made Barbie accessories and toys with the Sesame Street brand. (…)

(2) Eli Lilly- Eli Lilly wins FDA approval to put Prozac into chewable, beef-flavored pills to treat separation anxiety in dogs. (more…)

Wine blog Vinquire has a list of the top wines of the year. Not only the venerable and much written about Wine Spectator Top 20 (Number 1? Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2005, natch) but also:

• Wine Spectator Top 20: Selections Under $20
• Wine Enthusiast 2007 Top 20
• Wine Enthusiast 2007 Top 20 Best Buys
• Wine.com Top 20

The entire list is in the original post, with links to the full lists:
Top Wines of the Year(Vinquire)
.
.

1. Clarify what you plan to do.
(…) How will you actually make money at this? With some businesses, it’s obvious: you’re going to sell a product. With other great ideas, it’s not so clear. Where will the money actually come from? What will the costs be (roughly)? (…)
2. Find a mentor.
(…) Schedule a meeting. If it’s a local businessperson, take them out to lunch. If it’s an online person, ask them if they have time to talk at length on IM (better) or by email (if this is the only option). Be persistent, but not annoying - if they say no, ask if you can try to schedule again in the future. If you still get a firm no, send a gracious response and let it drop - don’t make a nuisance of yourself and respect that other people are very busy. (…) (more…)