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Holiday Guide 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas to Take Money, Stress Out of Christmas

As you look over the list of gifts you need this holiday season, an unsettling feeling starts. How will I pay for all these gifts? How about homemade gifts?

Gift-giving is meant to be a time for sharing how much you appreciate others, but rising prices and tight budgets take the feel-good vibes right out of gift-giving traditions. This year, take the money stress out of the holidays by turning to homemade gifts. Homemade gifts are a great way to show you appreciate someone while also adding a personal touch. Gifts don’t need to be expensive to be special. Get the family involved in the fun and you will be creating memories while making unique gifts for those who mean the most in your life. Patch explores the homemade holidays in hopes that you will find something to inspire you to enjoy the season more. Healthy options: Pack energy in a jar with healthy snacks like energy bars, dark chocolate…

Tina

12:01 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The TickleMe Plant Greenhouse is a low cost indoor garden kit that will make everyone smile! In it you will grow a real house plant that "PLAYS DEAD" when you Tickle It, Minutes later it comes back to life. See video..this is worth sharing if you love nature. This is nature at its best and a great gift idea. http://www.ticklemeplant.com   more ›

Thursday, November 22, 2012

High-Tech Holiday Gifts for the Techies on Your List

Techies will love the almost unlimited options available this holiday season. With so much to choose from, Patch is here to help.

Techies will love the almost unlimited options available this holiday season. From affordable tablets to the newest cell phones, there is sure to be winner on this year’s list of the hottest in all things techie. Small tablets are becoming a major selling point as consumers look for options packed in smaller packages. Apple has dominated the larger tablet industry with its iPad, and the iPad 4 was released Nov. 2 with a starting price of $499. But competition is heating up in the smaller tablet market, with four worthy competitors vying for market share. Gaming systems are continually being updated and reconfigured. If there’s a gamer on your list, maybe a new system is high on their list. eReaders are turning paperback enthusiasts into …

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Consumers Plan to Spend at Least as Much in 2012

New study finds two-thirds of respondents expect to spend same amount as 2011.

The percentage of consumers who plan to sustain or increase their holiday spending in 2012 when compared to 2011 is growing, according to a recent survey by the NPD Group. The survey saw increases in respondents who plan to spend “About The Same” or “More” and a decrease in those who plan to spend “Less”: Survey Response 2012 2011 “Plan to Spend More” 10% 9% “Plan to Spend about the Same” 67% 64% “Plan to Spend Less” 23% 27% An article in the Baltimore Sun quoted NPD’s chief industry analyst Marshal Cohen as seeing “a light at the end of the tunnel with more consumers telling us they plan to 'spend about the same' and less planning to 'spend less.'" While the survey results paint a somewhat rosy picture for retailers such as Target, Sears…

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