Returning the Swag From the Holidays

Hi All,

Now that both Christmas and Hanukah are over the returns start!  Trudging back to the store - assuming you have gift receipt that is - and then making your way to the Customer Service desk is what the day after Christmas is known for nowadays. 

As such, here are a few sites that will help you make the trip back to the Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Macy's, Kohls or wherever, easier, faster and less painful.

This first list is from Consumer Reports and is titled '5 Simple Rules for Happy Holiday Gift Returns'.  Basically the article explains how to return gifts - and get money back from the returns.

Time Magazine and Money Magazine have come up with this article - and posted on 12/25/14 - titled, 'Hate Your Gifts? Tips For Returns, Exchanges, and Regifting'.  The section on regifting is extremely helpful and insightful.  Read on!

Not to be outdone, USAToday posted an article on 12/25/14 as well titled, 'How To Easily Return Presents'.  Short, concise and nicely written, the article is chock full of advice like, 'unwrap carefully', 'give the gift of receipts', and 'know your online store policies'.

This next article comes from NBC News and is titled, 'Many Unhappy Returns - Retailers Combat Wardrobing' - which is the practice of returning fraudulent merchandise after the holiday season.  

So there you have it - a few good, quality, timely links that will help you return the holiday gifts that are the wrong size, or wrong color, or just not what you wanted! 

Enjoy - and hopefully you won't be spending too much time on the return line in the stores.

Regards,
Stu

Holiday Stress Management Relief

Hi All,

Do the holidays have you running everywhere after work and preparing for holiday meals late at night? Are you wrapping gifts for family and friends at 1am or buying presents on Amazon.com during work hours?  Well, you are not alone.  Lots of people are doing it evidently - just check out this article from Yahoo! Finance (title of article is 'Is Holiday Shopping Online OK At Work/ Survey Shows Are 'Buying It').

Okay...so the holidays can be a stressful time...and this entry is going to try to help you over the hump and get you to have a less stressful time - at least until January 2nd...

From the Mayo Clinic comes this article titled, 'Stress, Depression and the Holidays'. WebMD's holiday stress tips include this link, 'Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress'. Not to be outdone, the Cleveland Clinic also has an entry titled 'Managing Holiday Stress'.  A site called MedicineNet.com (self styled as being a site that 'Brings Doctors' Knowledge to You') has an article called 'Holiday Depression, Anxiety, and Stress'.  This is an extended article of 6 pages and can be found by clicking on this link.

And, finally, click on this link for an article from Time Magazine Online from October 2012 - titled '6 Breathing Exercises to Relax in 10 Minutes or Less'.

So...definitely buy those gifts, wraps those presents and have fun during the holidays - and if you need a place to figure out how to de-stress...click on any of the above links...

Regards,
Stu