Consumerist
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close enough
Sears Declares Halloween "Black Friday"
Forget Christmas creep. How about Black Friday creep? Sears went ahead and declared last weekend, October 30 and 31st, the beginning of Black Friday, and told their mailing list so. More » -
online shopping
Here Are Your Shipping Deadlines For Christmas 2009
If you're planning on spending the next 6-8 weeks pouring cash into Mammon's gaping maw—and really, who isn't? it's how we love each other—then here are the shipping deadlines for over 100 online retailers, courtesy of CouponSherpa. In today's UPS/FedEx world you can frequently wait right up until Christmas week, but you might want to double-check the list if there's a retailer you absolutely have to shop from.
"Holiday Shipping Deadlines for Christmas 2009" [CouponSherpa] (Thanks to Jeff!)
(Photo: dierken) -
i want egg nog year round
POLL: When Is Too Early For Christmas Creep?
After we proposed tracking Starbucks's roll out of Christmas products as a metric to gauge yearly Christmas Creep, we got a fair amount of comments saying they saw no problem with Christmas stuff coming out once Halloween was over. So, inside, a poll: at what point does Christmas Creep become acceptable holiday display? More » -
jesus, you're early
Starbucks Decides It's Time For Christmas
A reader wrote in on November 3rd to let us know that Starbucks has busted out the holiday-themed coffee paraphernalia. This gives us an idea. More » -
on the bright side?
Government Helped CIT Limp Along Long Enough To Keep From Ruining Christmas
According to SpendMatters, one big reason the government burned through $2.3 billion in TARP funds for CIT even though it was buckling under debt was to try to avoid ruining everybody's Christmas this year. More » -
H1N1
Least Delicious Halloween Treat: H1N1 Virus
As trick-or-treating time looms, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind you: BOO!!! SWINE FLU! More » -
gift cards
No Visa Or MasterCard Gift Cards This Year, Please
If you want to spread some fiscally sound good cheer this year, consider asking your friends, relatives, and coworkers not to give gift cards backed by the major credit card companies. Why am I making such a sour suggestion? Because a new study from two consumer advocacy groups indicates that most of the population still doesn't recognize what a money trap those little plastic cards can be. More » -
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ask the hivemind
What Are Some Cheap Halloween Costume Ideas?
The personal finance blog Moolanomy posted a list of 25 cheap Halloween costumes, including ones that make no sense (see "Soup and crackers") and ones that sound borderline dirty (see "Facebook wall"). The list made us realize that our readers probably have a lot of equally cheap, and equally-or-more creative, costume ideas of their own. More » -
travel
Expect Airlines To Keep Hiking Ticket Prices As Holidays Approach
This year it's a seller's market when it comes to buying airline tickets, reports the New York Times, so if you must travel via plane, buy early and try to be as flexible as possible. More » -
christmas creep
Make Your Own Haunted Gingerbread House
Are you decorating your house for Christmas Creep, and your Halloween tree just isn't enough? Williams-Sonoma has combined Christmas and Halloween traditions, and is selling a kit to make your very own haunted gingerbread house. Haunted gingerbread house? More » -
recession
Christmas This Year Will Be Less Tacky
Because retailers plan their Christmas offerings so far in advance, most were too far along with trendy or ostentatious Christmas merchandise to change course last year, reports the Associated Press. This year they're prepared to pursue the fiscally conservative consumer, which means everyone is selling the holiday decor equivalent of comfort food. More » -
christmas creep
Hobby Lobby Worships The Great Pumpkin With Halloween Tree
Hobby Lobby, with its devout Christian ownership, isn't the first store we'd think of to honor the Great Pumpkin. Yet reader James spotted this festive tree back in mid-September. More » -
christmas creep
Christmas Has Arrived In August At Costco
Yes, it's the second half of the year — which can only mean one thing: as the sweltering waves of sticky heat give way to hurricanes and the little tykes sharpen their pencils for the first day of school — Santa is on his way. Get out your @#$%#$ mistletoe and holly and all that. More » -
christmas creep
August? Pretty Much Christmastime, Declares Toys R Us
Mark, a host of a radio show called the Parafactor, is always on the lookout for paranormal activity. He found himself a bounty when he happened upon this Paramus, N.J. Toys R Us, which has bent space and time to move the holiday season into the dog days of August. Alert Santa Claus and Hanukkah Harry. More » -
christmas creep
Hobby Lobby Starts Off The Christmas Creep Season In July This Year
Last year we had to wait until August before Hobby Lobby busted out the Christmas cheer. Not this year! They've got things rolling in July, baby. And no, this isn't a "Christmas in July" sale. More » -
pets
No, Your Dog Does Not Want To Watch Fireworks And Drink Margaritas At The Beach
Consumer Reports is always ruining my fun. First, they want me to make sure that the fireworks I set off in my backyard are safety certified. Whatever. Now they're telling me that I shouldn't bring my dog to see fireworks with me. AND that I shouldn't give her any beer, or even let her help herself to the barbecue this weekend. More » -
stereotypical
Top Father's Day Gifts From Consumer Reports
Looking for stereotypical Father's Day gifts? Consumer Reports Home & Garden has ratings on all of the gas grills, electric drills, weedwhackers, and leaf blowers a man could ever want. Or anyone who needs to flame-broil or drill holes into anything. [Consumer Reports Home & Garden]
(Photo: armydre2008)
