Wedding gowns now on discount
BUY IT NOW
Getting carded: Sure, gift cards are so unimaginative. But they’re also so very popular. A WalletHub survey found that the omnipresent cards are the most desired gift of the season. Retailers know this well and should be flooding the market with discounted gift cards all month. And those same retailers will also get creative with gift cards, too, DealNews.com says. Last year, the shopping site reports, Dell offered gift cards worth up to $250 with purchases of TVs and game consoles, and Starbucks gave away $5 gift cards with every $10 spent on holiday coffee.
Here come discounts: Those women who will be like Meghan Markle and walk down the aisle to marry their prince should like this bit of news: Wedding dresses usually hit their lowest prices in December. Bridal stores are trying to clear their inventory to be ready for the load of new styles that will be delivered at the end of the year. This means that brides can save as much as 30 percent on gowns, as long as they don’t mind wearing styles from 2017.
The toy aisle: Any child can tell you that December is the month for toys — and so can retailers, who will offer Lego, Barbie and Star Wars toys at their best prices of the year. The best Lego deals are expected to come at Target and Toys
‘ R’ Us, while discounts to rev up sales of Star Wars merchandise to tie in with premiere this month of “The Last Jedi” could overshadow everything.
Deck the halls: Every smart shopper knows that seasonal merchandise is at its cheapest the day after a holiday. So those folks who want to re-stock on Christmas decorations — particularly lights and inflatables — can expect to see huge markdowns on Dec. 26. Those holiday revelers who can’t wait that long should expect to see deep discounts on trees starting around Dec. 20.
CAR MATTERS
Buying strategy: Some car buyers swear that the year’s best prices are in December. Indeed, analysts have noted that several things work in consumers’ favor, such as the need to sell off 2017 model-year vehicles and a desire among dealers to meet year- end sales goals. But the data show that the pricing advantages are not large enough to justify a purchase if a customer is not otherwise ready, according to Edmunds.com. A more helpful tip is to shop near the end of the month — any month — when dealers are usually willing to sell for less.
THINGS TO EAT
Stocking up: If you’re going to eat it, drink it or cook with it in December, you’ll probably find it on sale at prices that should encourage you to buy extras. Think baking staples, from butter — yes, it’ll freeze — to sugar to muffin cups. And when you buy frozen seafood and wine for New Year’s parties, pick up some for later. For more sensible meals, buy the frozen veggies and prepared soup stocks while they’re on sale.
Cookie time: Just in time for the holidays, Wendy’s has fresh baked cookies in its stores. The menu includes sugar, chocolate chunk and double chocolate chunk cookies, baked inhouse and selling for $1.39 each.
YOUR MONEY
Rules for giving: Christmas is a time of giving. But there’s no reason why you can’t benefit from a donation to your favorite charity in the form of a tax deduction. And you don’t have to give cash. A donation of household items, used clothing or other property also can merit a tax write-off. But there are requirements for you to be able to claim a deduction. First, you have to be able to itemize deductions rather than take the standard deduction. In addition, your deduction must go to a qualified charity, and if you get something in return, such as dinner, you can deduct only the portion of the donation in excess of the fair market value of what you received.
College debt: November often is when new college graduates who borrowed money for school have to start making payments on that debt. Do a good job of managing that debt, and you can save money while building a solid credit score that you’ll need to buy a home or a car. Keep track of who you owe and how much you owe; set up automatic payments that will keep you on schedule and could get you an interest-rate reduction; and try to pay more than the minimum amount each month to pay off the loan faster. Finally, if you run into trouble, don’t wait; reach out immediately to the company servicing the loan and to any co-signer.
GETTING A JOB
Career fairs are planned in December:
■ A Choice Columbus Career Fair is planned for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North — Worthington, 6500 Doubletree Ave.
■ A Construction Trades Career Fair is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Fort Hayes Career Center, 600 Jack Gibbs Blvd. It’s open to high school students and young adults interested in construction and related careers.
■ National Career Fairs plans an event in Columbus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High St.
THINGS TO DO
The art of saving: December can be overwhelming, and expensive, because shopping and parties are on the to-do list. One way to take a breath and clear your head — free of charge — is to visit the Columbus Museum of Art during PNC Free Sundays. View the museum’s works of art and take advantage of hands-on creative experiences for the whole family. Free admission is offered every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is at 480 E. Broad St.