Christmas Shopping Guide 1 Manage your credit during the holidays

Holiday shopping takes up a consid- more effectively manage their credit. up costing you more money if you get erable amount of time between Thanks- • Know what you can afford. Swiping to January and can't pay the balance in giving and Day. Shoppers now and dealing with the consequences its entirety. who scour in-store and online retailers in January is a recipe for a rocky new • Try not to juggle cards. Many in the hunt for the perfect annually year. In some cases, it can benefit shoppers juggle multiple cards to avoid spend hundreds of billions of dollars consumers to make purchases with building up too big a balance on one par- during such pursuits, and what they their credit cards as opposed to their ticular card during the holiday season. swipe when making purchases could debit cards. But that's an easy way to lose track of go a long way toward how their new For instance, when making purchas- how much you have spent. Rather than years begin. es online, it's often safer to use a credit juggling cards, use only the one with the Overreliance on credit cards to make card rather than a debit card linked to lowest interest rate. holiday purchases can prove crippling your checking and savings accounts, • Monitor your balances. Swiping a once the calendar turns to January. as using the latter can make your life's credit card is easy and hassle-free, and According to an analysis of statistics savings vulnerable to hackers. But don't many retailers both big and small now from the Federal Reserve, the average start swiping your credit cards until you • Resist retailer cards. When mak- accept various types of cards. Keep a household consumer debt in the United know what you can afford. Examine your ing in-store purchases, chances are close eye on your balances, checking States was more than $15,700 as of finances and only use your credit card the cashier will invite you to sign up for them online after each shopping trip. June of 2015. That's roughly one-tenth if you know you can repay the balance a retailer credit card, even offering an This can help you control your spending the average mortgage debt, suggesting before it incurs any interest. If you can't immediate discount if you do so at the and also can alert you to any fraudulent that many consumers are relying too pay the balance in full at the time the registers. While this discount may seem activity. heavily on credit cards when making payment is due, use a debit card so you too tempting to ignore, keep in mind Shoppers who must use their credit their purchases. are only spending money you already that many retailer credit cards come cards this holiday season can employ This holiday season, consumers con- have and not taking out what amounts with considerably higher interest fees several strategies to ensure they don't cerned about swiping their credit cards to a high-interest loan on your holiday on balances that are not paid off in full. dig themselves into a financial hole by too often can take the following steps to purchases. So that discount at the register may end the end of December.

2 The Bowie News 2017 Help Santa round up his reindeer and you could win tickets to see The at the Bowie Community Center Help find Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, and Rudolph hidden in the Holiday Shopping special section. Circle each of the nine reindeer and bring your paper by The News office at 200 Walnut St. Bowie to be entered in a drawing for tickets to see The Nutcracker at the Bowie Community Center. Deadline for entries is Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. For more information call 940-872-2247.

Christmas Shopping Guide 3 4 The Bowie News 2017 Christmas Shopping Guide 5 Don’t forget to consider shipping options The holiday season can be hectic, • Ship early. Waiting to ship all at and thanks to that sometimes frenetic the same time may be more convenient, pace, it can be easy to put things on but it can prove more costly as well. If the back burner. While it's OK to put off you typically finish your holiday shop- some things until the holiday season has ping just a few days before Christmas, come and gone, shipping gifts to loved then waiting to ship everything will cost ones does not fall into that category. more money than shipping gifts as you Shipping can be expensive, espe- buy them. cially for last-minute shoppers who want The longer you wait to ship gifts, to ensure their gifts arrive in time for the the more you can expect to pay if you holidays. But the following are a handful expect those gifts to arrive on time. of ways to ship smart and save both time Shipping gifts as you buy them, espe- and money. cially if you get much of your shopping • Ship directly to the recipient. Last- done early, can save you short-term or minute shoppers who are buying online overnight shipping fees, which can be can save money by shipping gifts di- significant. rectly to the recipient. • Comparison shop. Much like you While shipping directly to the re- can save money by comparison shop- cipient may seem less personal than ping for holiday gifts, you can save sending a gift you wrapped yourself, by comparing shipping costs as well. postal service, to see which offers the delivering gifts intact and on time, items many online retailers allow shoppers Pack-and-ship companies compete for best deal. are sometimes lost or damaged. to send gift-wrapped items directly to consumers' business during the height • Insure the items you ship. The holi- By insuring your packages, you're another person. Just be sure to have of the holiday shipping season, so day season is the busiest time of year ensuring you won't be out of luck should the recipient's correct address when compare the costs between the various for the pack-and-ship industry. While the your package be lost, damaged or sto- choosing this option. pack-and-ship companies, including the industry is often remarkably effective at len before it reaches its destination.

6 The Bowie News 2017 Buying local helps your community Holiday shopping dominates many people's free time between the day after Thanksgiving and the final days before Christmas. While many people may shop 'til they drop on and , those days still ac- count for a relatively small amount of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are within your community. If your local mall spent each holiday season. is a considerable drive away, chances Shoppers now have a bevy of op- are the chains within that mall are not tions at their disposal as they embark employing many of your fellow com- on holiday shopping season. Traditional munity members. in-store retailers are still around, and Local businesses in your community online shopping continues to grow in are more likely to employ residents of popularity with each holiday season. your town. But many holiday shoppers are look- • Shopping local may provide ac- ing to buy local this holiday season, cess to more unique gifts. In addition to and such a decision can pay a host of the economic benefits of buying local, dividends for both shoppers and the shoppers may find merchandise made communities they call home. by local craftsmen is more unique than • Buying local benefits your local mass-produced items found on the economy. Studies from Civic Eco- shelves of national retailers. nomics, an economics and strategics Recipients may cherish more unique planning firm, found that independent, items that they cannot find on their locally-owned retailers return a far own, and that appreciation may even greater percentage of their revenue spur them to visit more local retailers into their local economies than national after the holiday season has come and chain stores. gone, benefiting their own communities One such study examined the dis- in so doing. parity between revenue recirculation • Local business may provide a more among independent, locally-owned personal touch. Buying from national businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, chains has its advantages, but customer versus four major national chains in the service is not always one of them. city. The former recirculated 51.1 per- Should your loved ones encounter cent of revenue into the local economy, problems with their gift that requires as- while the latter recirculated less than 14 sistance, they might be forced to wait on percent. the phone for extended periods of time Similar results were discovered in as they and thousands of others wait many cities, indicating that buying local for customer service representatives to not only benefits local business owners, answer their calls. but also the communities those owners Local businesses do not deal with and their customers call home. nearly the volume of customers as na- • Buying local creates jobs in your tional retailers and, therefore, are capa- community. One of the biggest ways lo- ble of addressing concerns more quickly cal business owners in Raleigh recircu- and personally than large chains. lated their revenue in the local economy Buying local not only benefits small was job creation. While national chains business owners, but it also pays divi- also create jobs, such jobs only benefit dends for their customers and the com- your community if the chains are located munities they call home.

Christmas Shopping Guide 7 Establish a charity budget for giving Budgets are an important component education and community, and then go of personal financing. Without a thor- from there. ough understanding of the rate of money • Assess your giving ability in dollar going in and out of their bank accounts, value. Be sure charitable giving does people cannot accurately assess their not come at the expense of necessary potential for spending and saving. daily living. Budgets are also handy for paying off • Divide the available funds against debt and planning for the future. Those the charities selected. who budget may find they have more • Set aside specific times of year that money to devote to leisure or other entertaining. Clatchy analysis of U.S. Bureau of you will make the donations so as not to worthwhile endeavors, such as donat- As a result, men and women who Labor Statistics, the poorest Americans feel burdened at any one time of year. ing to charity. wait until the end of the year to donate often donate larger percentages of their • Leave an emergency fund for dona- Establishing a charity budget makes may not be able to be as charitable as incomes than their wealthier counter- tions that cannot be planned, such as it possible for people to focus on doing they would like. parts. diaster relief or to help someone with good and helping others. Charitable giv- That's why focusing on charity as part Generally speaking, the typical medical bills. ing also comes with the beneficial side of a yearly budget can stretch dollars amount most people aspire to donate to • Sign up for recurring payments for effect of establishing extra tax deduc- even further. charity ranges from three to 10 percent yearly giving to take the work out of tions for some individuals. Establish a giving level of taxed income. remembering to give. Many people only think of charitable By examining their finances, people Make a charitable Other organizations can distribute giving at the end of the year, when the donations to the kinds of charities you can get a better picture of how much giving budget work holiday season tends to inspire philan- money they have for discretionary prefer, making giving even more auto- thropy. • Make a list of charities that have matic. spending, including charitable giving. meaning to you. However, many people's end-of- However, income alone may not dictate Budgeting for charitable giving en- year finances are already stretched If you do not have specific choices, ables greater year-round control of just how charitable a person can be. select categories, such as politics, thin thanks to holiday shopping and For example, according to a Mc- funds for beneficial purposes.

8 The Bowie News 2017 Get your Holiday Shopping Passport

Main Street Bowie is excited to celebrate in partnership with American Express and have been named a Neighborhood Champion. American Express is proud to support a day and a movement that truly belong to the communities who make it pos- press, which reported that small busi- sible – the organizations, local officials, nesses generated some $15.4 billion neighborhood champions, corporate dollars on Small Business Saturday supporters, small business owners last year. American Express explains and shoppers who come together to the goal, “to support these local places celebrate their favorite places each year that make our communities strong” with on Small Business Saturday. plans “to bring more holiday shopping This year, patrons shopping on Small to small businesses.” Business Saturday can obtain a Holiday Small Business Saturday brings Shopping Passport that will go through- much needed attention to an often over- out December. looked contributor to the U.S. economy. For every $20 a patron spends in a The National Retail Federation reports participating downtown merchant, they there are some 3,793,621 retail estab- will receive a stamp in their passport. lishments, and nearly 99 percent count Once the passport is filled, they can as small businesses with less than 50 be submitted to the Main Street Office employees. by Dec. 18 to enter into a prize draw- ing. Owners of small retail shops often Patrons can fill and submit as many feel overwhelmed by the rapidly chang- passports as they wish. Questions can ing retail environment with competition be directed to Shannon by calling the on all sides and most especially from Main Street Office at 940-872-6246 or Amazon. email: [email protected]. Small business retailers have a com- Nov. 25 is this year’s official Small petitive edge that none of these bigger, Business Saturday, a day when local better capitalized and techno-powered retailers can strut their stuff on the Sat- retailers have: Their personal touch. urday bookended between mass retail- It is realized not just through the ers’ Black Friday madness and e-tailers’ personal service that specialty retailers Cyber Monday frenzy. offer, but by being vital members of the It was conceived by American Ex- local community. ‘The Nutcracker’ comes to Bowie “The Nutcracker Suite,” presented by The community center is located at house on , who is stirred For her bravery, the prince whisks the Wichita Falls Ballet Theater comes 413 Pelham. The concession stand will by a noise late at night and finds her Clara away to the Land of Snow and to the Bowie Community Center for one be open. favorite , a wooden nut- Land of Sweets where she sees dancing show at 5 p.m. on Dec. 16. Everyone is familiar with “The Nut- cracker given to her by her mysterious flowers and candy. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are cracker,” the ballet based on E.T.A. grandfather has come to life and is bat- “The Nutcracker” ballet has become $15 for adults and $10 for children. Hoffman’s, “The Nutcracker and the tling the Rat King. a holiday tradition around the world, and They are available at the Second Mouse King” and featuring the music Clara helps to defeat the Rat King, the suite brings the same story to life. Monday office or call Bonnie Kinder at of Tchaikovsky. which breaks a spell and turns the Nut- This ballet will be fun for the whole 872-4861 or 841-1550. It follows the story of Clara Silber- cracker into a prince. family, so get your tickets today.

Christmas Shopping Guide 9 paw FurReal Patrol Friends Sea Roarin Patroller Tyler

Top

Teddy Ruxpin Toys for Hatchimals christmas Colleggtibles Nintendo Switch 2017

Fingerlings figures

10 The Bowie News 2017 Star Wars Poe Daemron Fisher- Helmet Price Batbot extreme Top

Soggy Doggy Toys game Fiesty christmas Pets

Lego Star 2017 Wars BB8

Nerf Rival Nemesis Moana of MXVII-10k oceania adventure doll Christmas Shopping Guide 11 12 The Bowie News 2017 Ways to save on Christmas gifts The holiday season is a magical time of year when many people celebrate their faith and express their love and appreciation for their families. Such expressions are often made through the exchange of gifts, which can stretch families budgets. The National Retail Federation re- ports that retail sales in November and December of 2016 reached $658.3 billion, marking a 4 percent increase over the same period a year prior. For budget-conscious families, entering the holiday spending fray can have lasting effects that cast a pall over their finances for months to come. Staying within budget is not impos- sible during the holiday season. It might take a little creativity and discussion among family members, but there are ways to exchange gifts and avoid debt this holiday season. • Embrace a "Secret Santa" ex- change. Large families can save money by engaging in a Secret Santa exchange. Rather than asking each member of the family to buy gifts for one another, a To save money, adults can forgo gifting Secret Santa exchange asks each par- traditional gifts to one another, instead ticipant to pick a name out of a hat and resolving to provide an experience for then only buy gifts for that person. This a loved one. Invite a loved one over for is a great way to save both money and a homecooked meal or offer to take a time, and it saves participants from the family member out to dinner once the potential hassle of returning gifts after holiday season has come and gone and the season. there's more room in the budget. • Establish spending limits. Whether • Connect with your creative side. In families embrace a Secret Santa ex- lieu of purchasing a gift made by some- change or not, they can save money by one else, make your own gift. Skilled agreeing on a spending limit for each crafters can create a one-of-a-kind gift gift. Families participating in a Secret out of supplies they already have on Santa exchange can set their spending hand, while woodworkers can follow limits a little higher than those families suit. Such gifts are thoughtful and inex- who will be buying gifts for multiple pensive, and they will likely prove more people. memorable than another video game • Share experiences in lieu of ex- or sweater. changing gifts. Adults tend to be more Budget-conscious families don't have difficult to shop for than children, as to sit out of holiday gift exchanges, as many adults can simply buy their own there are plenty of creative ways to gadgets, clothing and other items com- express your love and appreciation for monly given during the holiday season. family without breaking the bank.

Christmas Shopping Guide 13 14 The Bowie News 2017 Rudolph’s nose was almost blue Adults and children alike are familiar nose almost didn't come to be. Because with the tale of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed a red nose at the time was viewed as a Reindeer." As the lyrics of the song il- sign of alcoholism, Montgomery Ward lustrate: was hesitant to be on board with the Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had bulbous, red snoot. a very shiny nose / And if you ever saw A blue nose was considered, but later it, you would even say it glows. changed. In its first year of publication, Popularized by the song written by Montgomery Ward had distributed 2.4 and sung by Gene Autry, million copies of Rudolph's story. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer dates The catchy tune came thereafter, back to 1939. followed by a cartoon short in 1948. In A copywriter named Robert L. May 1964, the stop-motion animated televi- created the story of the misfit reindeer sion special further propelled Rudolph in 1939 when working for Montgomery to celebrity and became the most rec- Ward. The retail giant was producing ognizable Rudolph adaption. marketing holiday coloring books for Today, Rudolph is known across children and wanted to come up with a the globe as the reindeer responsible clever character. for navigating Santa's sleigh through Although Rudolph is now beloved, tricky weather on Christmas Eve. He May's original ideas included Rollo and continues to be loved by many, young Reginald. Also, Rudolph's famed red and old.

Christmas Shopping Guide 15 16 The Bowie News 2017 Christmas Shopping Guide 17 18 The Bowie News 2017 Make a plan to pay during the holidays Entertaining, dinners, gifts, travel, and decorating may make for a festive time of year, but the holidays certainly can put a strain on personal finances. No one wants to experience a financial hangover come January. Therefore, making a plan for paying for holiday expenditures now can help the average person save and protect their finances. Figuring out how to finance holiday purchases can be just as important as scoping out deals and cashing in cou- pons. Here's a look at some of the ways to pay for holiday gifts. Credit cards Many consumers feel that credit cards are the safest way to make pur- chases, whether in-store or online. With credit cards, shoppers are using a line of credit. Should fraudulent purchases be made or errors in accounting occur, shoppers aren't responsible - the credit card company is in charge of tracking down or absorbing the error. Now that spending has increased after the last recession, credit card companies are again offering deals to lure in new customers. Rewards cards are quite popular. Such cards offer points, cash back or travel miles to customers who meet certain criteria. For those who can pay off balances and meet the requirements, these cards can help save substantial amounts of money. Keep in mind that regular cards carry an interest rate of 15 percent on average, while retail store cards may be as high as 24 percent. Layaway Layaway is a safe way to shop for the holidays. Layaway entitles consumers to buy an item by making installment payments. The frequency of payments depends on shoppers' ability to pay. Failure to pay will not affect a credit score or negatively impact credit standing in any way - the consumer may just lose their down payment or be forced to pay a layaway fee. Paying in installments helps lock in a special sale rate and can discourage impulse buying as well. Cash and prepaid cards Paying in cash can help shoppers avoid overspending on gifts. After setting aside a cash limit, once the money is spent, shopping is done. Paying in cash does carry some risk if the money is stolen or misplaced. Plus, as opposed to paying with credit, which can offer some purchase protection or built-in warranties, cash may have no protective benefits. As an alternative to cash, consumers may want to purchase pre-loaded cash cards in various amounts. Like cash, when the value on the card is depleted, shopping is finished. Shopping for holiday gifts requires shoppers to be financially prudent. Gifts can be paid for in various ways, and shoppers should choose the option that best suits their needs.

Christmas Shopping Guide 19 20 The Bowie News 2017