Warning About Shopping For Gift Cards This Holiday Season!

Gift Card Warning: Check Retailer's Health

Two-thirds of shoppers plan to give gift cards this holiday season, making those little plastic cards the second most popular gift after clothes, according to a national survey by Consumer Reports. But some experts warn that these gifts could be worthless if the current trend of retail bankruptcies continues.

Diane Turton wants to give you the heads up that if you tend to give gift cards around the holidays, you need to be careful that the cards will be honored afterward.

Stores that are planning to close after the holidays are still selling cards through the holidays even though the cards will be worthless January 1. There is no law preventing them from doing this. On the contrary, it is referred to as 'Bankrupcy Planning.'

Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about:

Circuit City filed Chapter 11
Ann Taylor 117 stores closing nationwide
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close 27 stores; More to close after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
Pacific Sunwear closing all stores (owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores; More to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing all stores
Levitz closing remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores; More to close after January
Home Depot closing 15 stores; 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens 'N Things closing all stores
Movie Galley closing all stores
Pep Boys closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a many stores after January
Ethan Allen closing 12 stores
Wilson Leather closing all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
KB Toys closing 356 stores
Loews to close some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

It is estimated that consumers will lose about $100 million this year on gift cards due to bankruptcies. If you are still holding on to gift cards from last Christmas or birthday, now is the time to use them. If you are planning to purchase gifts cards as presents this year, check up on your retailer's health or opt for a "Mall Gift Card” instead.

No More Wall Paper Woes

No More Wall Paper Woes

If you've finally had enough of the brown floral wallpaper in your hallway then take some action! Removing wallpaper may seem like an overwhelming job but the end result's well worth the effort. You can of course rent a steamer or purchase chemically based wallpaper removal paste but we have two solutions below that are much less expensive and just as effective:

• Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water. Use a paint roller or large brush to apply the solution onto your wallpaper. Once it has throughly soaked through, the paper should peel off easily.
• Use a spray bottle filled with a half-and-half mixture of fabric conditioner and hot water and apply to the wallpaper. Leave on for about 30 seconds and then scrape and peel away.

Removing wallpaper can be a messy job so make sure you prepare the room first by laying drop cloths over your furniture and the floor and have a garbage can handy for cleanup. Once all the wallpaper has been removed, wash the walls with warm water and let them dry throughly before prepping the walls to be painted. Wallpaper's not as hard to remove as most people think so don't let it deter you from buying your next home.

Today's Tip For A Greener Life

Which Organic Foods Matter Most?

Research clearly shows that pesticides and chemicals in food adversely affect our health. The more we avoid exposure to these pesticides the better. Even if you wash your produce throughly, pesticide residue still remains and although peeling fruit will eliminate some of the pesticides, you'll also peel away nutrients and fiber.

Research clearly shows that pesticides and chemicals in food adversely affect our health. The more we avoid exposure to these pesticides the better. Even if you wash your produce throughly, pesticide residue still remains and although peeling fruit will eliminate some of the pesticides, you'll also peel away nutrients and fiber.

All certified organic foods must be produced according to strict rules and regulations without chemical pesticides. Buying organic food can be expensive so we've provided a list of fruits and vegetables that usually contain the highest and lowest levels of pesticides:

The Most Chemicals
peaches
apples
bell peppers
celery
nectarines

strawberries
tomatoes
green beans
raspberries
spinach

The Least Chemicals
onions
bananas
frozen sweet corn
pineapples
avocados
mangoes
frozen sweet peas
watermelon
cauliflower
kiwi fruit

We've only discussed fruits and vegetables in this article but other foods such as grains and rice also contain pesticides. Some dairy and meat products contain levels of antibiotics and growth hormones so it's important to educate yourself on the benefits of eating organically. Even if you're on a budget, using the above list will help you make wise, healthy choices that incorporate at least some organic foods.