California lets you get the leftover cash in your gift card

The following story is great news for California residents as well as if you’re travelling to LA, San Francisco or the Napa Valley!

If you have leftover cash in your gift card and you’re unwilling to spend a few extra dollars on top of your gift card’s value to use it up, you can always exercise your right under California’s gift card law.

The law, enacted in 2008, gives you the right to ask for the cash equivalent of your gift card if less than $10 is left on it.

There are certain limitations to this right, though. The law doesn’t apply to gift cards that are based on credit cards like MasterCard, American Express and Visa, nor on promotional gift cards.

However, this is a much better alternative than spending extra just to use up your gift card value or letting the leftover amount expire, especially if you’re shopping on holidays in California!

In case a retailer refuses to give you your money back, you can call the Consumer Protection hotline on 619-533-5600.

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Pisces babies born 19 February to 20 March 2012

What’s your little Pisces baby like? Find out?

Babies born 19-26 February are highly sensitive creatures with Neptune, their ruler, newly arrived in Pisces for the first time in living history. As this mystical planet conjuncts the Sun on 19 February and the New Moon on 21 February (northern hemisphere) or 22 February (southern hemisphere), their highly attuned psychic antenna is switched on, all the time. They will really need time out to relax as they soak up so much energy from others. Speaking of energy, a Mercury opposite Mars aspect on 23 February doesn’t make them shy, but it might make them passive-aggressive. They swing between being gently-spoken to being surprisingly harshly critical and even as a baby, they may occasionally have a Nanna-style tantrum. At the end of this week is a lovely Sun sextile Jupiter aspect which gives them plenty of opportunities to make money, especially if it helps others.

Those born 27 February to 4 March are keen to transform the world for the better, thanks to Sun sextile Pluto on 28 February, and if they’re born earlier in the week, they’ll receive some of the Midas touch of the week prior’s Sun-Jupiter aspect. This group includes the rare Leap Year kids with birthdays on 29 February where, officially, they turn one in four years’ time! Magically, they can nominate whichever date nearby suits them for their “other” birthdays. This week’s Sun opposite Mars babies have real leadership ability, once they have harnessed their impatience and direction as well as an occasionally crippling sense of inferiority, thanks to the Venus opposite Saturn aspect on 4 March. They see the end game but will need your help to understand how to help others. They may well be attracted to older partners; most of them will take love very seriously, which makes them unlikely to have casual relationships, preferring one long-term companion.

You’ll think your baby born 5-11 March could read from birth! They’re likely to be this month’s earliest talkers with an intellectually bold and brilliant Mercury conjunct Uranus in Aries on 5 March, making them think – and speak – at a million miles an hour. They may show an early interest in aviation, astrology, astronomy, physics, science or technology. While all of them are sweethearts, with a lovely Venus sextile Neptune on 6 March which blesses them romantically and makes them incredibly kind and gentle with others, those born at the start of this week will have the Venus-Saturn aspect deepening their sensitivity to rejection. Teach them to “let go” when the time comes. There are no other major aspects this week other than the Full Moon on 8 March which will give those born on this day some challenges with clarifying their goals in life.

Some of the most charismatic children ever could be born 12-20 March this year. The week starts with a big-scale Jupiter trine Pluto trine on 12 March which is the type of aspect made for benevolent powerbrokers. Then 13 March features an incredibly moving Venus trine Pluto aspect which is the stuff of romantic novels. Your kids will know when they have met The One – and it could be at a surprisingly young age. The action-packed 14 March has Venus conjunct Jupiter, Venus trine Mars, Mars trine Jupiter and Mars trine Pluto which is just an extraordinary planetary line-up. They are blessed with incredible luck, charm, sex appeal, drive, tenacity, money-making ability and ambition. Since others will have to struggle hard to enjoy what they take for granted, as a result, they could be upset by others’ envy. You might want to read them the fairy tales where the heroes and heroines who are the most blessed by good fortune must also be the most humble.

Find out much more about your child with a 50-page BabyStars astrology report. Order one now and you’ll be reading about him or her in a couple of days. Is your sister or daughter nearly due? Send her a luxury baby gift basket including a BabyStars gift certificate!

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Google gives gift cards for your web surfing information

In an attempt to have in-depth information on the web surfing activity of its users, Google launched a new program called Screenwise.

Launched on 14 February 2012 (when everybody was preoccupied looking for Valentine’s Day gifts), the program will gather information beyond what Google normally gets from users of its products—in exchange of gift cards.

By subscribing to the new program, users need to add a browser extension that will allow Google to find out what sites they visit and how they are used.

According to Google, with this information, they can improve their products and ultimately improve the experience of their users.

And the trade-off for allowing Google to look deeper into your online life? Google’s partner, Knowledge Networks is giving as much as $25 worth of Amazon gift cards for participants of the program for up to 3 months.

When signing up and installing the extension app, you immediately get an upfront bonus of $5. You then get an additional $5 gift card for every month you stay in the program.

In order to qualify for the program, you have to be at least 13 years old and must have a Google account. You should also use your Google Chrome browser whenever using the Internet.

Another more exclusive version of this program, available only for existing members of Knowledge Networks, has also been launched.

Subscribers will have a “data collector” box installed in their home internet device to have a more extensive measure of their Internet activity.

This program is only available for the first 2,500 subscribers, so you better sign up now before the slots are filled!

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Giftopia is the latest universal gift registry website

There are specialized registry websites for weddings, birthdays, and baby showers, but have you ever come across a simple and easy gift registry that’s ideal for all occasions?

This is the idea that inspired Randy Bird, a social entrepreneur, back in Christmas 2010, to create Giftopia.

Just a year after it was launched, Giftopia, one of the fastest growing gift registries online, allows users to create an online gift registry profile that can be connected with their friends’ and family’s profiles.

Giftopia is not unlike Facebook, where users network for a purpose: to create an accessible and personalized gift registry. But unlike Facebook, you only have a network with which you can regularly exchange gifts—your friends, cousins, kids, nephews, nieces, uncles, parents, and even your grandparents!

To join Giftopia, sign up with your own password or connect  your Facebook profile to the site. Once you complete your profile, you can start adding your gift suggestions or even add in suggestions of your friends and family. The site is accessible in any smartphone, too.

Users can include their favorite styles, brands, and colors in their profile. This way, friends can easily track what you want when a special event is about to come up. Or take a picture of what you want and post it in your profile. Because the site also supports bar code scanning, you only need to scan the product’s code and have it automatically posted to your profile.

For more formal events, such as a wedding, there’s a private function that is accessible only to people who will be going to the event.

Another feature allows you to change the “gift status” to let your friends know if you have received the gift which you previously posted.

Try signing up for the site—who knows, you might even be able to get a gift card or a discount for a gift you’re planning to buy!

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Create your own personalised Visa or MasterCard GiftCard

Gift cards in themselves are quite boring gifts actually – in fact, they’re effectively cash allotted to a certain store or type of card.

So Giftcards.com has created a new feature, Create A Card.

This allows you to create your own personalized Visa or MasterCard gift card, complete with a greeting card.

All you need is a 640 pixels x 480 pixels photo that the gift recipient will love (one of you? Or one of them?), and their card is good to go.

By buying a virtual gift, you can send an electronic gift card and have it emailed to your loved one. You can even add in an e-greeting to complete the gift card recipient’s day.

You can also have your friends and family pool in for a group gift. By pooling in contributions to a single gift card, the gift recipient will get a Visa or MasterCard with an amount higher than usual. Each contributor gets to send a personalized message, too.

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Wantful lets recipients choose the gifts they want

No matter how much effort you put into looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, sometimes it’s just not what the recipient needs at the moment.

Wantful, a new service, aims to redefine gift-giving by making it a joint effort of both the giver and the recipient.

Based in San Francisco and New York, Wantful will help gift givers make more conscientious decisions when it comes to picking gifts.  It basically acts as a middleman between the giver and the recipient, ultimately enriching the gift-giving experience.

The gift giver answers questions regarding the recipient’s preferences and personality. They estimate how much they’re willing to spend, ranging from $30 to $500.

Once the gift giver makes his choice, Wantful takes over and puts together a collection of products. These products come from sought after brands and designers—all of them rare and one of a kind.

The collection of products is then put together in a printed gift book made of high grade quality paper. It will be sent by mail or Facebook to the recipient.

The recipient can then choose a gift from the array of products, making him an active participant in the entire process. Once the recipient makes a choice, the gift will be delivered directly to his home.

This process accommodates both the choice of the recipient and the effort of the giver in looking for the perfect gift.

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Facebook birthday wishes: a social tradition or a faux pas?

Since you created your Facebook account and publicly displayed your birthday, how many more people have been sending you wishes on the day?

For sure, you’ve been receiving at least a hundred more greetings—depending on the scope and breadth of your Facebook network of course!

With Facebook, greeting on a friend’s wall has been a common practice. All it takes, after all, is a few minutes (even seconds!) of clicking on a person’s name and writing on the wall a few words of greetings.

Because it’s been around for quite a while, Facebook birthday greetings have ripened into a social tradition for some people. Without these short greetings flooding in on one’s wall, their birthday celebration simply isn’t complete.

Individually, these greetings don’t have much valuable content—but their quantity is enough to give a person the importance they deserve on their birthday.

For others though, Facebook greetings have only resulted in lack of effort. Most people won’t bother to send a thoughtful email or personally appear at a party, because there’s the social website offers a much easier and less personal outlet.

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Free belated Valentine’s Day photo shoot in Melbourne, 3 March 2012

Would you like to have a professionally styled photo of you and your partner?

It’s In The Stars seeks an attractive couple aged 25-39 for a corporate photo shoot in Melbourne to be shot giving each other its gift certificates and reading its luxury reports.

Before the shoot, you will both receive a FREE relaxing styling session with professional grooming for him and full make-up and hairstyling for her.

You will have up to three hair, make-up and wardrobe changes to reflect such gift occasions such as an anniversary, engagement, wedding, Christmas, birthday, and Mother’s Day.

You will receive a total of $200 credit towards your portraits (of you two) for you to keep, plus a $99 gift voucher to use towards any of our gifts.

The photo shoot will take place at a bayside Melbourne photo shoot from 9am-1pm, Saturday 3rd March 2012.

If this is of interest, please email It’s In The Stars for more information.

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Even gift website owners’ partners muck up Valentine’s Day

There’s not a woman alive who hasn’t had at least one Valentine’s Day ruined by her partner who forgot or was too busy to buy her a gift or just “didn’t agree with” the concept. Or who got her terrible presents.

I have had a bunch of wilted carnations from a service station (with no card) thrown over my front fence from my then boyfriend at 17, a packet of bright red fake long fingernails from a boyfriend who thought they’d make me look better (at 19), another who went all out and bought me a silver triple Russian wedding ring after I’d admired a friend’s at 23 (well, he turned out to be gay, unfortunately), the next who screamed at me that we lived together and why should he bother with all that crap at 25, and then a range of boyfriends with whom I never made it to Valentine’s Day with.

So I was very, very surprised that my Aries partner, who is the man of my dreams in so many ways – I checked(!) didn’t get me a gift. And just for some background, he works in retail management so he SEES the Valentine’s Day stock coming in.

1. He was going to buy me a bottle of Bailey’s. Now what girl wouldn’t thrill to a bottle of Irish cream… But I have an allergy at the moment preventing me from drinking alcohol. But I’m sure he wouldn’t have let it go to waste (see number 2).

2. He was then going to buy me a box of chocolates. Well, I can’t eat those either right now and he knows I want to lose a few kilos. Then again, he demolished my move-in gift from him of a giant box of Maltesers when I went interstate for a few days so maybe they really would have been for him.

3. He was then going to buy me flowers. But my mother stayed with us last week for a few days and arranged for a courier delivery of peonies so he said that ruined that idea.

4. Both of them went to the local Westfields shopping centre for a few errands (one of which surely had to be buying my present?!) for two and a half hours. I thought for sure he’d be coming home with lingerie or jewellery for me, but no.

5. He knows I run a website creating beautiful gift keepsakes for couples and parents so he knows I like things I can keep.

So he was mortified when I gave him his gift, which was a bottle of Johnnie Walker and inside, folded around the neck of the bottle, was a RedBalloon gift voucher for a flying lesson he’s always wanted. He did give me a a really lovely card though.

Anyway, we are going shopping for jewellery this Saturday. I love you, sweetheart.

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Why 14 March is wonderful for getting engaged, married and loved up

There are some deeply romantic planetary line-ups which are too wonderful not to share with those who are keen to propose or set a wedding date – or at least have the first date of their dreams.

And I want you circle Wednesday 14 March 2012. Coming a month after Valentine’s Day, THIS is the day when Cupid runs riot, getting people to fall in love with each other, find Mr or Ms Right or to put a ring on it.

First off, Venus (the planet of love and beauty) is in Taurus, one of the two signs (the other is Libra) she rules. She’s at home here, feeling sensual, cuddly, and warmly all-woman, indulging you with good food, wine, music, sex, fragrance, candles and total utter five-sense enjoyment.

She’s joined here today by Jupiter, also in Taurus, who expands everything he touches. This is a forget-the-diet day for sure, as you feed each other chocolate-dipped strawberries, drink fine French champagne and listen to soft romantic background music. Your pleasure is guaranteed.

She also teams up with her zodiac lover, Action Man Mars in perfectionistic Virgo. He’s  keen to get everything just perfect to make you feel comfortable.

Mars trines Jupiter, ensuring that whatever plans you make together are well-thought-out, concrete and have the sturdy foundation to survive the toughest moments.

Mars also trines powerful Pluto in pillar-of-society Capricorn which will give both of you drive, ambiton, intensity and endurance – you two can move mountains together!

The day prior on 13 March, Venus trines Pluto, giving you intense desire for each other, and an unswerving ability to make great wealth in business and/or via investments.

And one day before that on 12 March, in an aspect which will make its impact on dates at least a week either side, Jupiter trines Pluto, rewarding you with taking challenging yet carefully considered risks to grow your resources. You may well travel together for work – but you’ll definitely love getting away for holidays together, with dirty weekends a favourite!

And lastly you have Moon in Sagittarius. There’s never a dull moment at your home, with a stream of interstate and overseas guests to entertain and by entertained by.

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6 important tips before closing your baby registry

It’s hard to get over the excitement of completing your baby registry when you’re still pregnant.

You can easily get overwhelmed by all the choices, and end up putting whatever you see in the list!

By the time the baby arrives, half the things in the list don’t fit the baby or aren’t appropriate for the gender.

You’re going to need a backup plan—and that’s why you need to do these six things before finalizing the baby registry.

1. Be familiar with the store’s baby registry policy
Before choosing a particular baby store, make sure you know what the store’s close-out policies, processes, and procedures are. How long will the store keep your list on file? Are there any discounts and benefits that you can use? Some stores keep your file for as long as six months after your due date; this is important because the store may let you know if there are any savings you can get for the products in your list.

2. Know the return policy
While one of the advantages of a baby gift registry is that you are supposed to avoid the issue of receiving duplicate baby gifts, if this does happen, what will you do with extra rattle or half the dozen booties? Don’t make the mistake of not knowing the return period of the store and either get a replacement or a merchandise credit.

3. Buy the conversion kit now
Your baby may currently be tiny enough to fit (and sleep!) in your handbag but you should buy the conversion parts for your crib now. For one, the brand and style for your crib may no longer be in the store by the time you decide to convert the crib. Also, it’s never a bad idea to plan ahead of time. If you decide not to purchase the conversion kit now though, make sure that you get all the information you need, especially until how long the conversion kits for your crib model will be sold.

4. Consider adding items you didn’t think you’d need – or just for fun
There’s things you may have left off your baby gift registry because you didn’t think you’d need them. A few examples are mesh netting, nappy disposal bags and bibs with scoops. Check forums and talk to other mothers about such items before finalizing your baby registry. What about a baby astrology report to read about your little one? Or a restaurant gift card for you and your partner to have a rare – and much-needed – date night?

5. Don’t fret about stocking up
There are certain essential items, such as nappies, baby soap, and wipes that you’ll go through in a flash. Include items that don’t have expiration dates and don’t be shy about putting dozens of them in your registry.

6. Include things for when your baby is no longer a baby
The expenses don’t stop when they become a toddler. What about planning ahead for children’s cutlery, a car booster seat or a potty step?

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Top 5 gifts you should not give women for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is drawing near and most men would admit their cluelessness in finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift - and more often than not they end up failing miserable and wasting their money on gifts their girlfriend hates.

To avoid falling into the same trap, you might want to know the top five gifts women hate receiving, according to a survey by the UK Gift Card and Voucher Association.

1. Household appliances and furniture
Women don’t like being reminded that they have household chores to do, especially on a night when they’re all dolled up. They certainly won’t want to receive a gift that will only remind them of what they have to do the next day!

2. Underwear and lingerie that’s ill-fitting
Whether the size is too big or too small, lingerie that doesn’t fit well only sends the message to your girl that she’s out of proportion. Spare a minute or two examining the labels to find out what size she’s wearing.

3. A card enclosed with cash
By doing this you’re practically telling her that you’re too lazy to think of a better gift and that you’re literally trying to buy her love.

4. Wilting flowers
If you’re going to buy her flowers, make sure they’re super-fresh! Let her admire the flowers for days to come. And flowers on sale, because they’re about to wilt, are a no-no.

5. Chocolates
Contrary to what most guys think, chocolates are NOT what girls want. These things sure know how to pack weight, and the ladies know it.

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15 online retailers with same-day delivery for Valentine’s Day gifts

Oops! If you’ve forgotten about Valentine’s Day and you need a last-minute gift idea that can arrive on Valentine’s Day – whether by courier or electronically if you live far away. look no further.

1. Everyone loves chocolate! Mayfield Chocolates features yummy chocolates which have won awards in Australia and Belgium. Order deadline for same day delivery 11am AEST; 10am AEDT to Brisbane CBD only, costs $17.50.

2. Is she expecting a baby? Soon Maternity is a premium maternity clothing business which will make her feel and look pretty. Send her an electronic gift card, with same day delivery deadline 4pm AEST via email.

3.  Chocolate bouquet company Lollypotz Australia and Lollypotz New Zealand can deliver to a range of trans-Tasman locations on the day. Order by 12pm noon.

4. Order him some men’s fashion or lifestyle accessories from Minor Detail for hand-delivery within metropolitan Adelaide on Valentine’s Day or via instant electronic gift certificates.

5. Pretty body products especially packaged for Valentine’s Day can be delivered to Sydney metro areas if ordered by 2pm from Bodytreats.

6. Delight him or her with an emailed LoveStars astrology report all about your relationship from just $19 which will arrive within 5 minutes in the inbox. If you live in the Lower Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Lake Macquarie or Port Stephens you can have same-day delivery of a gorgeous gift basket if ordered by 9am.

7. Send a beautiful Naturally Gifted gift hampers full of organic, free trade and Australian products to your loved one in Sydney CBD if you order by 8am. Delivery costs $12.

8. Surprise her with stunning jewellery from Lulu and I which can be delivered to Sydney metropolitan areas if ordered by 10.30am.

9. Are you two about to head off on an overseas holiday or honeymoon? Give him or her some luxury travel goods from Victoria and Maude with same-day Sydney metropolitan delivery if ordered by 12pm noon. Purchases over $500 are free to Sydney metro areas.

10. Book a professional studio photo shoot with an A4 print as a gift voucher at Milestone Photography in Earlwood for $89 (normally $165), delivered on the day in Sydney and surrounding areas.

11. Choose from a range of the best products from Style Weekly which curates five of the best items every week from five categories including woman, man, child/pet, home and lifesthyle, with an instant electronic gift voucher.

12. Is your partner flat chat busy? Does he or she need a helping hand? Spoil your Valentine with an instant electronic gift certificate from Melbourne Concierge to give him or her more “me” time.

13. Order a striking piece of jewellery by 1pm from Oye Modern and it’ll be delivered same day in Sydney metro areas for $19.

14. You’re sure to find something at RedBalloon which has over 2,500 gift experiences from cooking to flying planes, all of which can be sent worldwide as an instant electronic gift voucher.

15. Is she a fashionista with a fetish for shoes? Let her create her own pair from boots to ballet flats at Shoes of Prey with an instant electronic gift voucher.

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Aquarius babies born 21 January to 19 February 2012

Are you having an Aquarian in 2012? Curious to know what your little one will be like? Read on!

Aquarian babies born 21-30 January 2012 are highly intelligent. You will notice their immense mental energy from a very early age, thanks to a brainiac line-up of aspects within an eight-day span. It begins with a trine from Mercury in Capricorn to Mars in Virgo on 23 January and a square to Saturn in Libra on 27 January, and then later that day, when Mercury enters Aquarius, a sextile to Uranus in Aries on 28 January and a square to Jupiter in Taurus on 29 January.

These are the kids who will need two or three bedtime stories, their own laptop at three and a super-intelligent set of teachers to keep them inspired at school. Capable of much mentally hard work – maths should be a cinch – they are fascinating conversationalists and could work in anything requiring mental gymnastics whether that’s sales, aeronautics or politics! They will be crushed if they come home with anything less than an A. Those born around 21 January will be passionate creatures, friendly and free-spirited but also inclined to over-estimate themselves while those born towards the end of January could have partners very early on thanks to their enormous interest in the opposite sex!

Babies born 1-7 February will be beloved by all with social invitations coming thick and fast as soon as they can string a few words together. Blessed by the North Node, they will make friends wherever they go – and one day, that will be on a backpacking holiday. Those born around 1 February will be impacted by the highly passionate Venus in Pisces opposite Mars in Virgo aspect. They crave a boyfriend or girlfriend but there could be more a few lovers’ spats! Those born from 3 February will be among the first in living history to feature Neptune in Pisces, a highly sensitive generational placement which gives musical and intuitive ability, but also the risk of disillusion and betrayal. They will love dancing, the movies and anything that seems to be on a different plane altogether.  Those born within a day of 7 February will be more cautious than usual with Saturn going retrograde in Libra that, while also witty and dramatic, thanks to a Full Moon in Leo.

If your baby is born 8-14 February they have charisma and popularity to spare! An enormously attractive Venus conjunct Uranus in Aries on 10 February gives them flair, sparkle and a maddening inability to settle down romantically (maddening to their crazy-in-love partner, that is). They are also inordinately kind, sensitive to other’s feelings and gently spoken with a lovely Mercury conjunct Neptune on 14 February although you will have to demand the need for clarity and truthfulness as their fantasy life is pretty strong. Luckily the Mercury in Aquarius trine Saturn in Libra the day before will give some much-needed grounding. They’ll think things out, plan and organise with charm and grace – they could well be on a few social organising committees!

Baby Water Bearers born 15-19 February take love – and social rejection – seriously thanks to Venus in Aries squaring Pluto on 15 February. They want the love of a lifetime and they could be very upset by another breaking up with them. However, if you explain that not every relationship or friendship is meant to last, they’ll get through it, aided by the optimistic, generous and big-hearted Mercury in Pisces sextile Jupiter in Taurus on 16 February and the take-the-long-view approach of Mercury in Pisces sextile Pluto in Capricorn on 18 February. On 19 February Sun conjunct Neptune in Pisces will amplify your child’s innate sensitivity. He or she will absorb everything so you’ll need to ensure his or her pals are “good” for your child to be around. If your little one tells you they don’t trust someone, listen as they’re tuned in to others’ souls. And yes, your child has spirituality and soulfulness in spades.

Why not find out much more about your child with a 50-page BabyStars astrology report? Order one now and you’ll be reading about him or her in a couple of days. Or if you’d like send a gift to someone special, indulge them with a luxury baby gift basket.

Read the monthly stars
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Study shows that communities aren’t always crazy about corporate gifts

Not all corporate gifts are welcome.

In certain situations, they aren’t exactly met with a warm reception. This is the findings of a research published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

The study tried to understand how gifts given by community members to those of anther social position affected the dynamics and ties within the community.

To establish this relationship, the authors Wallendorf and Weinberger looked at a particular situation—the Mardi Gras celebration after the Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

The research showed that following Hurricane Katrina, locals celebrated Mardi Gras by simply sitting on lawn chairs, sharibng conversations and food, and watching as the parade went along.

New Orleans has traditionally banned commercial logos and funds on Mardi Gras parades, but people started to wonder how the Hurricane Katrina would change this longtime ban. When it first sought corporate sponsors for the Mardi Gras that year, the locals weren’t exactly receptive.

Locals would rather receive gifts from within the community, from people of a higher social status of the community. This strengthens the cultural spirit and solidarity.

By comparison, corporate gifts only served to imperil the cohesiveness of the community and gave the impression that the community couldn’t stand on its own.

And I guess there would be an “icky” feeling of opportunism, too. I imagine the right time to for corporates to give money, time or energy to the community is when times are good…

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People will spend an average $126 on Valentine’s Day 2012

It’s no surprise that Valentine’s Day is easily one of the most expensive holidays of the year.

In 2011, the National Retail Federation reported that the average adult spent around $115 on Valentine’s Day gifts like flowers, greeting cards, and chocolates last year. Only 58.1% bought their  partner something last year—a rate that’s been steadily declining since 2007, where 63.4% celebrated Valentine’s Day.

Despite this decline, the industry is still strong on its feet, as spending on Valentine’s Day this year is estimated to reach $17.6 billion, with an average adult planning to spend $126.03 on their loved ones.

According to the National Retail Federation’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey for 2012, this is the biggest average amount that will be spent throughout the 10-year history of the survey.

Consumers will spend most of the money on jewellery, as $4.1 billion will go to this industry. Around 19% of the survey respondents expressed their plan to buy jewellery for their partners.

Around $74.12 of their budget will be spent on their spouses, while $25.25 will be spent on children and $6.92 on friends. Even pets have a special place in consumers’ hearts as $4.52 will be spent on them.

Men will spend $168.74 on Valentine’s retail items such as jewelry, clothing, and flowers among others—whereas women will be spending only about half the price at $85.76.

Come on girls, indulge your man with something great for Valentine’s Day!

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Send your Valentine’s gift through Parcel2Go

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re not quick enough, your gift for a loved one living in another area may never reach its destination!

Parcel2Go, the leading online parcel delivery service in UK, urges lovers should plan their gestures of love well ahead of the big day.

Lovers spending their Valentine’s Day away from each other don’t have to suffer through the day and feel uncared for.

Parcel delivery services like Parcel2Go make it possible for lovers to somehow still celebrate this day by coursing their gift with a professional carrier.

Naturally, some people will end up sending their gifts at the last minute. Parcel2Go can accommodate such requests that need to be sent within 24, 48, or 72 hours until it reaches the destination.

To know how much it would cost for you to send your gift through Parcel2Go, you can get a quick quote from Parcel2Go.

The price will depend on the weight, height, width, and destination of the recipient’s gift.

Naturally, it’s gonna be cheaper if you do it earlier and you don’t choose anything too heavy!

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How selling secondhand gift cards works

You’ve probably seen the racks of gift card displays at the supermarket, post office and department stores. But have you considered buying or selling them through online gift card exchanges?

Secondhand gift cards can be traded through such websites as GiftCardCastle.com, PlasticJungle.com, and CardHub.com,  in a few swift clicks.

Doing a gift card exchange is easy enough. When exchanging your gift card, you simply go to the gift card exchange site (aside from the three I mentioned, there are loads of others) and type in the details of the card.

The site will then state what it’s willing to pay for the gift card. The amount can be as high as 90% of the gift card’s amount, depending on how popular it is. For example, a Best Buy card worth $100 can give you as much as $86.

If you’re happy with the offer, you can then either sell the card online or have it sent through mail. Usually the payment is by Paypal, a cashier’s check, or an Amazon gift card.

Now, the gift card exchange site will in turn sell the gift card for a slightly higher price. Essentially, the site acts as a middleman and the additional price for which it sells the gift card is its profit. With this business model, gift card exchange sites like Plastic Jungle get to earn money and you, the seller, has an easier time disposing of your gift card.

Of course, there’s always an option to sell the gift card yourself to people you know or through sites like eBay. By doing so, you may be able to sell the gift card for a much higher price. However, you must be prepared to take some risks. You won’t get the guarantees offered by gift card exchange sites, and will have to be more scrupulous when dealing with prospective buyers.

It’s best to deal only with eBay sellers who have 100% customer satisfaction ratings and perhaps to limit your spend to be on the safe side.

So far, I’ve not sold any gift cards myself, but I sure have bought a few secondhand!

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Join the “Gift Peace a Chance” Contest

We all know somebody who goes out of their way to help their neighbors, friends, family, even practical strangers! That person doesn’t do it for recognition, but you might as well submit that person’s name to the “Gift Peace a Chance” contest.

The “Gift Peace a Chance” is a Martin Luther King Day contest, held by Giftcards.com, one of the top gift cards and rewards cards retailer, and its parent company Wolfe LLC.

To honor people who have constantly worked for peace in their own little ways, the contest will reward authors of the winning entries with a $150 Visa Gift Card.

The reward isn’t the best part about the contest—winning entries will be placed in the Giftcards.com blog! With the most inspirational stories displayed in the blog, Giftcards.com celebrates the joy of giving back and caring for others.

Those who want to join only need to write a short story about anyone they know who has given back in their own ways.

The contest starts on February 3, and the winner will be chosen by February 10, 2012.

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7 Valentine’s Day gifts to help improve your relationship

Do you need a relationship rescue? Has it gotten a bit stale – or eeek! – tense lately? Could you do with some help to get your relationship on track?

Here’s some Valentine’s Day gift ideas that will make you much happier than a bunch of flowers!

1.  Relationship Coaching helps couples realign their shared values in the relationship and reconnect to the love, respect and shared values that bought them together in the first place. Couples sessions cost $140 and may be claimed back on MBF depending on your cover.

2. It’s not just for Sting! Tantric bodywork teaches you how to use tantric energies to heal mind, body and spirit, and live a more fulfilling, beautiful life. Sexual partners will deepen their day to day relating, vulnerability and intimacy, Sexually, well you find out! Courses run regularly in Brisbane and Maleny.

3. Love Letter for Hire helps people find the right words to say in a love letter. Each time your loved one reads your letter, they will relive your love and most intimate moments. Letters start from one page for $99.

4. This is a fun way to handle common couples’ complaints! Handle My Complaint is used to handling complaints – even “My partner isn’t romantic”.  They’ve created a series of letters which are quick and easy to send and FREE.  Letters include: “Housework is romantic – 5 easy steps show you how”, “Let me help you plan my Valentine’s Day surprise” and “Please tell me what you want this Valentine’s Day”. Perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond!

5. Book an interactive online psychic reading with one of Australia’s leading psychic profilers,  Julianna Suranyi. Couples can ask two questions about their relationship in a live chat session for $44, which would give them clarity about why they behave the way they do, or how they can understand each other better, or what the key things for each of them are to improve their relationship.

6. Not sure if you’re meant to be? Why he drives you crazy? If you’re just going through a rough patch or it’s a lifelong pattern in your relationship? Find out quickly and discreetly (they need never know you’ve ordered it) with a comprehensive 35-page email LoveStars astrology report, delivered within 5 minutes to your inbox for $29.

7.  The most useful Valentine’s Gift for any couple especially those who have been married for less than 10 years is The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It explains the needs of people within a relationship.  Diamonds won’t be appreciated by a woman who only wants quality time with a partner while being helpful means nothing to the man who wants praise.  Knowing what your partner wants can make a huge difference to a relationship especially if he knows what you want.

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