Last-Minute
Gift Guide
Ty Kernea | Herald-Citizen
A Special Supplement to the
Herald-Citizen Thursday, December 18, 2014
2 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
All I want for Christmas A
ll I want for Christmas is my glad you haven’t Where Christmas shopping finished! sent in the subWe Are I’m not a shopper so shopping scription card yet. for gifts can be a chore. But I love to Magazines are give gifts. Don’t like to shop and love available on all to give. How contradictory! That’s why topics — someI search for ways to keep shopping at a thing for every minimum, and I steal ideas from boy and girl, man friends and family and printed articles. and woman. Or Anyone, anyplace. give a newspaper Subscriptions. Buy a magazine, keep subscription, even a subscription card that is tucked if your aunt gets among its pages, and give the magathe local paper, zine along with a handwritten note that pay for the next Susan says, “Merry Christmas all year long! three months’ isRay You’ll receive an issue every month.” sues. If your brother opens the gifts and says Buy one for that he already receives this magazine, everybody. I hope all my Grands like ask what other one he’d like and be their blankets with their names embroi-
dered on them. One Grand ask for a soft blanket, so all are getting one. If your Uncle John asked for a flashlight, wouldn’t other relatives like one? If sister needs a water bottle, the kind that holds either hot or cold beverages and made of the safest materials, get a water bottle for everybody. Or how about giving all your neighbors and friends a hunk of good cheddar cheese, a box of fancy crackers, and a jar of olives? Gift cards. Not the plastic kind, the personal kind. In July, four of my Grands gave me handmade birthday cards that read, “I’m taking you out for a treat at — — — — —.” (They each chose a different place.) The time we spent together, just the two of us, lick-
ing ice cream cones or munching cupcakes was worth much more than the cost of the treat. And not just grandmothers would like this gift. Grandfathers, aunts, uncles, parents, neighbors, and even children. How about a gift card for chores? Clean out the kitchen cabinets, paint a room, make home repairs — you know what your parents or children would like done. Put a cleaning cloth or paintbrush or wrench, whatever fits the task, inside a beautiful gift bag and when the gift is opened, determine a time that the chore will be completed. And most everyone likes a trip or a special event. One of my all-time favorite Christmas gifts was a promise for a ticket to a Ray Charles concert.
Husband and I sat center front, three rows back, while Ray Charles and the Nashville Symphony performed on stage. Make it personal. It’s probably too late to order and receive a cell phone case with the grandchildren’s picture printed on it, but there’s plenty of time to write, “You get to choose your favorite picture for a new phone case!” And wouldn’t a recent bride or a teenager love this gift? There are very few shopping days left. Surely, on Christmas Day, I’ll have a gift for one and all. Susan Ray is a Cookeville writer. Read her blog online at http://susanrray.com.
For Christmas, I want an iPad and some Barbies These Sycamore Elementary Dear Santa, first graders have been good and For Christmas I’d like a Skylanhope Santa will reward them ac- ders Trap Team, a toy pickaxe, a Wubble Bubble, a cotton candy cordingly with lots of toys. maker, a shotgun, a Zombie Strike crossbow, more Nerf guns, Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like some Lit- a tablet and Monopoly. tlest Pet Shop, a pool, a little dog Love, house, a mint dress, a tree house, Nicholas McCloud and a talking and walking fox. And for one of my BFFs, a Mon- Dear Santa, ster High house and some smiley For Christmas I’d like a little dinosaur and a big dinosaur, a huge stickers. huge candy cane, and Frozen. Love, Love, Bridget Lynam Karla Alyea Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a doll Dear Santa, house, a baby doll, a dog, a 3DS, For Christmas I’d like a Hero Factory Lego set, Wubble Buba snow globe and bubbles. bles, an Olaf snow cone machine Love, and chocolate. Katie Wright Love, Billy Love Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a panda bear, a talking doll, a fluffy hot Dear Santa, pillow that’s zebra, and the new For Christmas I’d like a dress Barbie holiday doll and Frozen and heels, a Barbie box, a Lego box, a big pool, a yard, red and makeup. blue boxes, a Barbie Easy Bake Love, Oven, and my sister to stay for Macy Bryant Christmas. I love you, Santa. Love, Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a fluffy Aailyah Haney dog, a game, a Wubble Bubble, Dear Santa, and a robot. For Christmas I’d like a laptop, Love, a little puppy that’s real, a four Jace Merrell hundred Wii, a big TV, some money and gum. Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a cross- Love, bow, a car, a Wubble Bubble, a Andi-Eli Hernandez dog, cat, fish and a Game Cube. Dear Santa, Love, For Christmas I’d like soft toys Jace Mitchell and pillows, a pool, a Hello Kitty fridge, a penguin soft toy, a WubDear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a teddy ble Bubble, a cotton candy bear, a Rudolph toy, a new real maker, Frozen makeup and a cat, makeup, a real penguin and panda. Love, a new scarf for Mom. Nathalie Ruiz Love, Gracie Manning Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like lamb Dear Santa, I want a real BB gun and a four- toys, clothes, a sewing machine, wheeler that runs (I know you tennis shoes, cotton candy macan do it!) I want a toy truck and chine, books and Olaf. a bubble thing that doesn’t pop Love, with gloves, a big pool (real big) Shelby Chilcutt and XBox Call of Duty with controllers and a crossbow. Love, Jordan White Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like an Air Hog, a pool, a talking horse, a Wubble Bubble, a toy Santa, a store, a password journal, a talking dog, the moon, a 3D TV and 3D glasses, a new bike, a new basement, a cat and Rudolph the reindeer. Love, Gavin Godsey Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a cotton candy maker, a remote control, parts to a go-cart and a tool kit to make it, and to go visit my friends. Love, Nathan Peace Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like Frozen toys, makeup, clothes and shoes, a password journal, and Wubble Bubbles. Love, Leni Prater Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like robots, a pool, a remote control airplane, video games, a tablet, XBox One, Minecraft, a bubble machine, an iPhone, Legos, books, hero toys, a shirt, paper, a DVD and shoes. Love, Elber Alonzo Jose
puter. Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like an Elsa Love, doll, an Anna doll, a puppy dog, Ly’Crissa Paige a Barbie doll, a talking dog, a candy cane, a little penguin and a Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a laptop. mixing machine. Love, Love, Kiara Grafty Brighten Poole Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like a box of candy canes, a soft blanket, Anna and Elsa makeup, an Anna dress, Frozen chapstick, a bucket of paint, a stuffed animal, a new friend and an iPad! Love, Orianna Hibbard Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like makeup. I want a pool and a Christmas tree that lights up, some clothes, crafts and a statue. Love, Heather Alyea
toys, a cotton candy maker and For Christmas I want an iPad Zoomer Dino. and some Barbies. Love, Love, Marcotulio Velasquez-Perez Jr. Shelby Jones
Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a controller, Legos, crayons, headphones and paint. Dear Santa, Love, For Christmas I want a bell, toy, Mason Williams an Elsa doll, an Olaf and a bow. Love, Dear Santa, Emily Lane For Christmas I want a snow globe with a snowman and a real Dear Santa, Santa like you. For Christmas I want a VTech Love, watch, a book about Christmas Savannah Owens that is 500 chapters, some new character button warm clothes Dear Santa, and something I need. For Christmas I want a Ninja Love, Turtle and a toy Santa. Logan Jefcoat Love, Wyatt McCormick Dear Santa, For Christmas I want candy, Dear Santa,
Dear Santa, For Christmas I want some My Little Ponies, a soft blanket, second grade math book, new clothes, Plushies, a bike, a soft scarf and an Elsa Barbie doll. Love, Chloe Jones Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a toy horse. Love, Jaycee Mangrum Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a cotton candy maker. Love, Luke Jefcoat See Sycamore, Page 4
Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like race cars please, a new sleigh, stuffed animal, a playhouse, books, a toy elf, a pool, crayons, a toy boat, a snow globe, a picture of me and a plane that flies. Love, Ean Brooks Dear Santa, For Christmas I’d like some more mix for my Easy Bake Oven, an Elsa doll, more Beanie Babies and a baby Lalaloopsy. Love, Serena Walker Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a real horse, toys, a book, stuffed toys and an Easy Bake Oven. Love, Rosemary Neiberger Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a pet fish, a cat, an iPad and an XBox One. Love, Christopher Schiefer Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a com-
HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014 — 3
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
Madison Hobs, Northeast
Sophya Roman, Northeast
Merry Christmas! From All Of Us!
4 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
‘I promise to be good until Christmas’ These Northeast Elementary School first graders have plenty of gift suggestions for Santa they’d like to see under the tree on Christmas morning: Dear Santa, I have been kinda of bad. I wish I had a Barbie doll house and a Barbie doll and my own speaker for my bedroom. I will leave you some cookies and milk. Have a good time. Love, Ella Thomasson Dear Santa, I have been good, Santa. I want the best toy. I want a phone. What else? I want an XBox One. And I would like another XBox 3 and another XBox 4. I have been a good boy, Santa. I want Legos Chima, and I want a Lego Santa. Love, Mark Beam
Love, Jaeda Blair
Addison Dodgen
that you have. Love, Ashlynn McCollum
Dear Santa, I want a tablet and a DS. Love, Simone Savage
Dear Santa, I would like a Barbie doll set, a Dear Santa, tablet, a phone and a Frozen doll. I want a tok can and toys and a Dear Santa, Dear Santa, Merry Christmas! I have been a good boy. I would little toy dog. I wish I had a flat ball that I saw Dear Santa, Love, like a Hot Wheels car and some Caden Morrison on TV and Hot Wheels. I want a Jeep, an iPod, Kindle, Lauren Griebenow bubbles to blow. I would like a Love, Frozen stuff and a baby horse. Ninja turtle, too. I will give you Dear Santa, Love, cookies and some milk. Have a I want a baby doll with a bottle Kyler Randolph Kiahnna Viamonte and some diapers. fun night. See NortheaSt, Page 5 Julissa Hale Love, Sebastian Gaspar Guzman Dear Santa, I want a puppy and a Ninja TurDear Santa, I want Santa’s Rampage and an tle. XBox. I want an Imaginext Kobe Tolliver Lion’s Den Castle. I’ll leave you Dear Santa, your favorite milk and cookies. I want a Barbie Dreamhouse. Love, Skylynn Phy Chad Maxwell
Dear Santa, Dear Santa, I am being good at school. I What I want for Christmas is a want a Princess Belle Barbie, puppy and my ears pierced. please. I love you, Santa. I have Olivia Dillon been good at home. I would like to know if you are having a great Dear Santa, I want the Mario game for the time. wii, and last Christmas I got Love, Dear Santa, nothing from Santa. I like a little animals. I like little Sophya Roman Silas Pirkle cars. I like Little People. I have been good. I would like a Barbie. Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. And I Dear Santa, Love, want some stuffed Elsa and Anna For Christmas I would like an Sarah Johnson dolls. And I will leave cookies Easy Bake Oven, please! Jade Hargis and milk for you. Thank you! Dear Santa, I love you, Santa. I have been a Love, Dear Santa, really good girl this year. I want Kylie Norville I want a motorcycle for Christa doll. mas. Dear Santa, Love, I would like a Dora and friends Lilian Daugherty Hannah Wray doll. I have been a very good girl this year. I will leave some cook- Dear Santa, Dear Santa, I want a Nintendo 3DS. I have been good this year. I like ies and milk for you. Dylan Davis you. I want a Legos Marvel set Love, Lilian Elias and a snow globe. I love you. Dear Santa, Love, I want a doll for Christmas, and Dear Santa, Keagan Pomeroy I have been a good boy. I want I want a stuffed dog. Spider-Man, Batman and Caidence York Dear Santa, Can you give me a soccer ball, Nightwing. Thank you. Dear Santa, Nike and Legos? I will have milk Love, Santa, can I have a puppy? Nicholas Carter and cookies for you. Santa, I want a Barbie. Love, Santa, I want a computer. Dear Santa, Luis Ibanez Lopez I have been a good boy. I want Alicia Francis Chima and also an XBox. Please Dear Santa, Dear Santa, I am a good girl, so good. And and thank you. I want a toy robot. Santa is nice. Santa is real nice, Love, Love, and Santa is nice to the people. I Brayden Stevens Shaan Heer want boots. I want a purse. I want a Google Play card, and I will Dear Santa, I will be good. I want an XBox, Dear Santa, give you cookies and milk. Legos and nothing else. I love I want an American Girl doll, a Love, girl Elf on the Shelf and an Easy Santa. Emily Alatorre-Neri Bake Oven. Love, Love, Alex Flach Dear Santa, Molly Barnhart I have been a good girl. I want a DSi and games, and for my Dear Santa, mom some jewelry and my sister I have not been naughty. For Dear Santa, Christmas I want the Walmart I want a television and a phone. some make-up. Love, toys I picked out. Thank you. Taylor Harville Gregory Poligkeit Love, Caliynn Flynt Dear Santa, Dear Santa, On Christmas I am going to I want all of the Frozen stuff Dear Santa, I want an Airhog and a Doodle give you cookies. Bear and a Barbie Dreamhouse Elijah Miller and a Baby Alive and a Hello Kitty doll and a Barbie car. I have Dear Santa, I want a TV and a video game. been a good girl. Riley England Love, Ellie Sharp Dear Santa, I want a dolphin toy for ChristDear Santa, I would like something for my mas. brother, and I would like some- Luis Martinez-Soto thing for my cat. I would like Barbie and a turtle. I would like Dear Santa, a dog and a baby cat, and I would I love you. For Christmas I want like a present for my mom and a cookies. Hannah Rigdon new bike. Miya Guilkey Dear Santa, I want teddy bear. Thank you Dear Santa, I wood like an iPhone please for coming to town. and a book to read please and a Ryu Dotson Monster High bathtub with We are OPEN: Frankie and Chloe. I promise to I love Santa, leave you something. I promise He knows when you are bad or Tues - Thurs nice. to be good until Christmas. 11 - 8:45
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Wolverine in a blue and yellow suit and How to Train your Dragon Gronckle. Dear Santa, Love, For Christmas I want make up, Alex Britton money, a snowman, an iPad and a computer. Dear Santa, Love, For Christmas I want a snow Ivy Griffin globe, an Elsa doll, a microscope, an Elsa dress, a pogo stick and a Dear Santa, real live cat. For Christmas I want a Zoomer Love, Dino, Glen doll, gray Hulk, Arica Young
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HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014 — 5
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
NORTHEAST: I want to have a snowflake maker From Page 4 Dear Santa, I wish I had an Easy Bake Oven, a phone and a laptop. Love, Lyric Bull
Dear Santa, I want a DS tablet. Love, Marcus Kimball
Dear Santa, I would like the movies “Toy Story,” “Rio” and “Rio 2.” Love, Dear Santa, I want a Hello Kitty race car, a Aleea Winchell Flutterby Fairy doll, a toy horse, Dear Santa, a tablet and Kindle Fire. I want a Frozen doll, a reindeer, Love, 100 horses and a parrot. Honey Wilson Love, Leela Sims Dear Santa, I would like a Lalaloopsy BakDear Santa, ing Oven. I want a dog. I want a book. I Love, want a cat. I want lipstick. I want Jordann Robertson a Barbie. I want candy. I want chocolate. I want Elsa. Dear Santa, Sincerely, I would like a phone. Ivette Flores Ramirez Love, Keiani Carter Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. I want Dear Santa, I would like a Lalaloopsy Bak- a ball. I want a doll. I want a Santa. I love Santa. ing Oven. Sincerely, Love, Allie Wray Caitlyn Carr Dear Santa, I want a Frozen book and Legos and Elsa and Anna dolls and a Frozen train and an Elf on the Shelf and a mini Rudolph and Frozen playdough. I am a good Dear Santa, I am wishing for the box that girl. has the mixing dishes at the mall. Sincerely, Jasmine Webb Love, Shaydan O’Neal Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Can Dear Santa, Can you give me a Wubble I have a coloring book? I want to Bubble and all of the Frozen stuff be with my family. I hope you have a good Christmas, Santa. in the whole world? Can I have a Junie B. book? Love, Love, Jenna Hopson Bella Arfsten Dear Santa, Dear Santa, I would like a tablet. I want a cat. I want a dog. I want Love, a pig. Breeanna Ribardi Sincerely, Dear Santa, I would like some cars. Love, Alex Lorenzo
Jose Sebastian Pascual Dear Santa, I want a book. Love, Alwin Ramirez Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. • Coloring books 100 Christmas • A new book about Frozen with a CD • A new pack of Legos • A new stack of paper • Clip folder with stickers • 12 erasers • 100 socks Sincerely, Thomas Walker Dear Santa, I want to see Rudolph. I been good, Santa. I want a 4-wheeler. I want an elf, Santa. I want to see the North Pole, Santa, and I want a puppy. Love, Serenitee Sedillo Dear Santa, I want an ice cream maker. I want a football game. I want to go see the North Pole. I want Legos and little people from Batman and Power Ranger toys, squishy people and a rocket launcher. Sincerely, Dreyden Allen Dear Santa, I want Star Wars. I have been a good boy. Can you get me a football costume, a robot, 100 Transformer toys and 100 Legos, Batman and Minecraft people? Sincerely, Ben Short Dear Santa, I have been a good girl. I want a frozen doll for Christmas, please. I want to visit the North See NortheaSt, Page 6
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6 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
Honey Wilson, Northeast
NORTHEAST: Dear Santa, I try to be good From Page 5
• I want to have a snowflake maker. Pole. I love your elves. I want a • I want some glue sticks. coloring book. I want a back • I want a lot of paper pack. I want a toy Barbie house. I love you, Santa. Love Kaitlyn Flatt I want a ball. Sincerely, Dear Santa, Kadie Brewer Can I have an ice cream maker and a toy Santa and some Dear Santa, I try to be good. I want an Elsa clothes? doll, and I want an Anna doll, and Love, I want a snowman doll, and I Laila Rochelle want a Frozen castle and a fake Dear Santa, lake. I want Legos and a remote conLove, Hailey Kerr trol car. Edward Griebenow Serenitee Sedillo, Northeast Dear Santa, I want a game and an XBox. I Dear Santa, have bingo and Nerf station. I want a train set, a truck and Christmas is my favorite. markers. Sincerely, Love, Hunter Coomer Jacob Leite Dear Santa, Dear Santa, • I want a bracelet maker. I like balloons. • I want an Elf on the Shelf Ali Alyami plush doll. Dear Santa, • I want some books. • I want a puppy. You are great, Santa. Jesus is most important. I want Legos. • I want a diary. • I want another play bird. Sincerely, • I want a new germ-x. Braydon Redmon
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this retelling of “The Night Before Christmas,” the can-do kitty is called upon to deliver gifts when Santa falls ill. The feline’s “minibus flew, just like in a movie” and “Pete the Cat cried, ‘This is totally groovy!’” Harper, ages 4-8. “Here Comes Santa Cat,” by Deborah Underwood, pictures by Claudia Rueda: There are jet pack mishaps and dead fish gifts for children as a wily but mute cat holding placards on sticks to communicate impersonates Santa Claus to ensure he gets a gift after a particularly naughty year. Dial Books for Young Readers, ages 3-5. Snowy Books “Blizzard,” by John Rocco: based on Rocco’s childhood experience during the blizzard of 1978, when 40 inches of snow fell on his Rhode Island town. From the first flake right before recess to delivering groceries via sled on day six and the arrival of snowplows. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5.
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Fresh selection of holiday • Teens & Adult Therapy picture books for kids NEW YORK (AP) — Looking to keep the kids entertained during long holiday car rides or dinners? Tell all your gift-buying elves to wrap up a book. Among this year’s Christmas selections: Board Books “Maisy’s Christmas Tree,” by Lucy Cousins: Maisy the mouse and pals Cyril and Tallulah prepare for the holiday, from trimming the tree to singing carols. One side of the book is cut out in the shape of a tree, something little ones might appreciate. Candlewick Press, ages 2-5. “Dinosaur vs. Santa,” by Bob Shea: A smiley little dino wears a bright orange snowsuit, makes gifts for his parents and sneaks downstairs on Christmas Eve only to scurry back to bed due to someone in red ho, ho, ho-ing in the dark. Disney-Hyperion, ages 3-5. Cat Lovers “Pete the Cat Saves Christmas,” created and illustrated by James Dean, story by Eric Litwin: In
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HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014 — 7
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
Gift Guide: How to choose a new cellphone ANICK JESDANUN AP Technology Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Now is a good time to get a smartphone. The latest devices hit shelves in time for the holiday shopping season, and there’s likely to be a lull in new releases until next spring. So why wait? Here are some things to consider before hitting stores. If you’re upgrading from an older model, you can skip the first part aimed at first-time smartphone buyers. Do you need a smartphone? Maybe you’ve been doing fine with just a basic cellphone, but many people who get smartphones discover things they never thought they could do. You can install a museum’s app to get a map or learn about the current exhibits, or you can catch up on e-books with a reading app. You can also check email and Facebook more easily and take great pictures and quickly share them. But you’ll pay more — not just for the device. Monthly fees for voice, text and data tend to be higher compared with basic phone plans. Which system should you pick? This is the most important decision because it will influence your future smartphones. It’s not easy to switch once you have all your apps, contacts and favorites on one system. With Apple’s iOS, you can choose between a variety of iPhone models — ranging from the giant iPhone 6 Plus to the older and smaller iPhone 5s and 5c. The iPhone 6 is a good choice in between and comes with all the bells and whistles, including a chip to make payments in stores that accept Apple Pay. Phones running Google’s Android operating system include even more choices from several manufacturers, including Samsung, LG, Motorola, ZTE and Sony. Android is more flexible in the sense that phone makers can customize it to their liking, and app developers have more say in what they write for Android phones. That flexibility has led to a freefor-all environment, though. Settings and features vary so much from phone to phone that it’s tough to ask a friend or look online for help. And some Android
Marcio Jose Sanchez | AP, File
The iPhone 6 plus, left, and iPhone 6. The latest devices are out for the holiday shopping season, and there’s likely to be a lull in new releases until next spring.
apps won’t work with all phones. Because Android gets too fragmented many app developers work with iOS first. Apple is the only company that makes iOS phones, and it must approve what goes into its app store. That helps ensure quality, but it means trusting Apple to make those choices for you. One advantage of iOS is that iPhones work well with other Apple devices, including iPads and Mac computers. Android can’t pull that off because the hardware and the software aren’t as tightly integrated. There are several other systems vying for third place. Microsoft’s Windows is the most promising, after BlackBerry tumbled from pioneer to also-ran. Windows is a good system, but it has fewer apps.
How should you pay for it? You used to simply pay $200 for the best phone, and the phone company covered the remaining $450 or so, making up for it in higher service fees over the life of your two-year contract. Lately, phone companies have been trying to wean customers off subsidies by having customers bring used phones or pay full prices in installments. With T-Mobile, that’s the only option. In return, you pay less in monthly service fees. If you forgo subsidies, you generally come out ahead if you sign up for a larger data plan — 10 gigabytes or more with AT&T and Verizon and 20 gigabytes or more with Sprint. The monthly discounts aren’t as big with smaller data plans, so you’re giving up more in sub-
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sidies than you get in discounts. But the installment plans have other advantages, including the ability to trade your phone in for a newer model before the typical two-year contract is up. You can buy phones through your wireless carrier or go to a retailer such as Best Buy or Wal-Mart. You can also find phones on eBay and Amazon. Check with your carrier first to make sure it’ll work, as networks in the U.S. vary. How much should you pay? It might be tempting to spend a lot for the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, but you should ask yourself whether you need all that power. This is especially so if you are paying full price. (If you’re getting a subsidized phone
with a contract, then why not make the phone company pay for the best?) There are several phones available for $200 or less, at contract-free prices, compared with $600 to $700 for the typical high-end phone. You’re typically giving up a better camera, a better screen and a faster processor. But what you get in a budget phone is often good enough for such basics as email, Facebook and even video. First-time smartphone owners will notice a huge difference over their basic phones. Smartphone veterans might want something more, especially if the phone is their primary access to the Internet. Heavy users might even consider paying more for additional storage. Phones fill up quickly with photos and video and downloaded music.
8 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, December 18, 2014
LAST-MINUTE GIFT GUIDE
Laila Rochelle, Northeast
Brayden Stevens, Northeast
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