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ENJOY! NOVEMBER 2015
The Benefits
to buying local this holiday season H
oliday 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 Black Friday and Cyber Monday, those days still account for a relatively small amount of the hundreds of billions of dollars that are spent each holiday season.
Shoppers now have a bevy of options at their disposal as they embark on holiday shopping season. Traditional instore retailers are still around, and online shopping continues to grow in popularity with each holiday season. But many holiday shoppers are looking to buy local this holiday season, and such a decision can pay a host of dividends for both shoppers and the communities they call home.
Buying local benefits your local economy. Studies from Civic Economics, an economics and strategics planning firm, found that independent, locally-owned retailers return a far greater percentage of their revenue into their local economies than national chain stores. One such
study examined the disparity between revenue recirculation among independent, locally-owned businesses in Raleigh, North Carolina, versus four major national chains in the city. The former recirculated 51.1 percent of revenue into the local economy, while the latter recirculated less than 14 percent. Similar results were discovered in many cities, indicating that buying local not only benefits local business owners, but also the communities those owners and their customers call home.
local, shoppers may find merchandise made by local craftsmen is more unique than mass-produced items found on the shelves of national retailers. Recipients may cherish more unique items that they cannot find on their own, and that appreciation may even spur them to visit more local retailers after the holiday season has come and gone, benefiting their own communities in so doing.
Shopping local may provide access to more unique gifts. In addition to the economic benefits of buying
it also pays dividends for their customers and the communities they call home.
Local business may provide a more personal touch. Buying from national chains has its advantages, but cusBuying local creates jobs in your community. One of tomer service is not always one of them. Should your the biggest ways local business owners in Raleigh recircu- loved ones encounter problems with their gift that lated their revenue in the local economy was job creation. requires assistance, they might be forced to wait on the While national chains also create jobs, such jobs only phone for extended periods of time as they and thousands benefit your community if the chains are located within of others wait for customer service representatives to your community. If your local mall is a considerable drive answer their calls. Local businesses do not deal with nearaway, chances are the chains within that mall are not ly the volume of customers as national retailers and, employing many of your fellow community members. therefore, are capable of addressing concerns more quickLocal businesses in your community are more likely to ly and personally than large chains. employ residents of your town. Buying local not only benefits small business owners, but
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Beth Medved Waller, Principal Broker
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NOVEMBER 2015
Gifts
no food fanatic should go without F
ood plays a big role come the holiday season, when friends and family tend to gather around the dinner table to share good meals and catch up on the year’s happenings. But while food plays an integral role at holiday gatherings, food also makes a great gift for that friend or family member on your holiday list who loves to savor a good meal no matter the time of year. Thanks in part to celebrity chefs and television shows that teach viewers how to make gourmet meals at home, it’s now easier than ever before for food lovers to expand their culinary horizons. Gifting such food fanatics can be fun and may even inspire a love of unique cuisine in holiday shoppers, especially those who consider the following gift ideas. Cooking kit: Ingredients and other essential elements of good meals were once taken for granted. But more and more foodies are now creating their own foods from scratch. Bacon fans may fall in love with a kit that helps them cure and smoke their own bacon, while those who love fresh, homemade bread may appreciate a bread-making kit that includes flour, a pan, some recipes, and other items necessary to make the perfect homemade loaf of bread. Cooking kit options are vast so find a food your loved one can’t go without and purchase the appropriate kit. Gardening tools: While the holiday season might not seem like the ideal time to buy your favorite foodie some gardening tools, such items make the perfect gift for your loved one who wants to grow his or her own fruits and vegetables. Locally grown produce has become increasingly popular among foodies focused on eco-conscious cooking practices, and it does not get much more local than home cooks’ own backyards. Cutlery set: Though it’s easy to overlook, cutlery goes a long way toward making home cooks’ jobs easier. The right cutlery set, which may include one or two chef’s knives, a vegetable knife, a santoku knife, a bread knife, and other knives home cooks will appreciate, can make preparing a meal easier and more efficient than cooking without a set. High-end cutlery sets can cost several hundred dollars, but shoppers on more limited budgets can still find quality cutlery sets for less money. Food getaway: Many foodies love to travel so they can experience cuisines popular overseas or in different regions of the country. Men and women whose spouses love food can plan a food-themed getaway weekend to a locale that specializes in a type of food their significant others enjoy or have always wanted to try. For example, men and women who love lobster may enjoy a trip to Maine’s annual Lobster Festival, while those who can’t get enough barbecue may appreciate a trip to one of the country’s more notable barbecue spots, such as Memphis, Kansas City, North Carolina or Texas. Food-themed gifts make the perfect holiday present for food fanatics, and shoppers have an endless array of options to satisfy their favorite foodies’ appetites.
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Have an old fashioned Christmas with Goodies from
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• Traveling Games • Puzzles for All Ages • Infant’s First Toys • Wooden Railroad Extra Tracks • And much more!
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NOVEMBER 2015
Gifts
for on-the-go loved ones era, give your loved one some cash toward buying a new camera for his or her next adventure. If money is no object, do your homework, researching cameras based on your loved one’s interests. More adventurous travelers might want cameras that can withstand the wear and tear of outdoor sports, while travelers who focus more on sightseeing might not benefit from cameras designed for more daring photographers. Research cameras online, and ask employees at local elecWhether the wanderer on your tronics retailers which type of holiday shopping list prefers to camera is best suited to the traveltravel domestically or overseas, he er on your list. or she can’t hit the road without certain gear. Camping afficionados might appreciate a new ministove or grill so they can eat like Many airlines allow customers to kings no matter how far they transfer their airline miles to retreat into their favorite forests. whomever they choose. Some airFor the international jetsetter on lines, such as Delta, allow miles your list, perhaps a new set of to be transferred to a maximum luggage might make the perfect of four people, and such transfers holiday gift. If your budget is a incur both a fee per mile transmore tight, consider a traveler’s ferred and a transaction fee. In kit with luxury shampoo, condiaddition, airlines may limit how tioner and body wash and lotion. many miles you can transfer or only allow members of their mileage programs to transfer their Part of the joy of traveling is doc- miles to other members. Airline umenting a trip with a great cam- miles can be a great gift for travel enthusiasts, saving them substanera. Cameras come in a wide range of styles, and good cameras tial amounts of money. Learn the can range from a couple hundred ins and outs of your mileage prodollars to more expensive models gram before giving miles as a gift. that cost upwards of a thousand
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any people love to travel, but some take their wanderlust to another level. Men and women who seem perpetually on-the-go may not stop to discuss items on their holiday wish lists, but holiday shoppers can find the right gifts for those loved ones who never seem to stop for long before moving on to the next place.
Gear
Airline miles
Camera
dollars. If your budget does not allow for a more expensive cam-
If the traveler on your shopping list prefers to travel by car rather
than airplane, a gas card can go a long way toward trimming the cost of his or her travels.
line under the stars. Such experiences can make trips that much more memorable.
Experiences
Travel enthusiasts range from weekend warriors who can’t wait to arrive at their favorite campsite to international jetsetters. Holiday shoppers can find a host of gifts suited to all types of travelers this holiday season.
example, travelers headed to London may appreciate a tour of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. Men and women visiting New York City for the first time might appreciate a boat tour to If you know a loved one will be traveling to a particular locale in the Statue of Liberty or a nighttime boat ride along the Hudson the near future, look into his or her destination and book a unique and East Rivers that allows them experience for him or her. For to take in Manhattan’s famed sky-
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ORNAMENTS & FIGURINES
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Justin Zimmerman, Hearing Instrument Specialist
(240) 436-2653 Creekside,
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3111 Valley Avenue, Suite 112C, Winchester
A6 ENJOY!
NOVEMBER 2015
2007 FORD
2013 FORD
2011 TOYOTA
2010 FORD
FOCUS
FUSION
CAMRY
FOCUS
Grey, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 96k miles, Stock# 95782
White, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 88k miles, Stock # 06164
Silver, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 120k miles, Stock# 76133
Green, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 91k miles, Stock# 236159
2011 CHEVROLET
2010 MITSUBISHI
1998 FORD
2012 CHEVROLET
IMPALA
LANCER
MUSTANG
SONIC
Silver, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 120k miles, Stock# 53174
Red, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 122k miles, Stock# 25374
Black, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 47k miles, Stock# 164595
Blue, 5 Speed Manual, AC, PS, PW 63k miles, Stock# 89535
2007 CHEVROLET
2006 GMC YUKON
2013 FORD
2008 CHRYSLER
TAHOE
DENALI
ESCAPE
TOWN & COUNTRY
Gold, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 162k miles, Stock# 9063
Gold, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC, loaded with extras! 136k miles, Stock# 52855
Grey, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 71k miles, Stock# 63854
Silver, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 110k miles, Stock# 10675
2012 FORD
2008 FORD
2005 CHEVROLET
2008 BUICK
TRANSIT CONNECT XLT
EDGE
TAHOE
ENCLAVE
White, AC, PS, PB, 92k miles, Stock# 5504
White, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC, CD 120k miles, Stock# 4687
White, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 128k miles, Stock# 5262298
Maroon, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC, 120k miles, Stock# 4687
2008 GMC
2008 CHEVROLET
2004 CHEVROLET
2009 CHEVROLET
SIERRA
SILVERADO
SILVERADO
SILVERADO
Maroon, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 115k miles, Stock# 8349
Black, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 122k miles, Stock# 21204
Maroon, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 161k miles, Stock# 1893
White, AC, PS, PB, PW 143k miles, Stock# 18440
2006 DODGE
2004 FORD
2005 NISSAN
2003 GMC
RAM 1500
F-150
TITAN
SIERRA
Grey, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 129k miles, Stock# 3315
Red, AC, PS, PB, PW, CC 101k miles, Stock# 44655
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SECTION
Front Royal/Warren County Living
Gifts for avid readers on your list
for the movie buff in your life G M
fans would no doubt appreciate having instant access to the hundreds of films available to subscribers of these services. A 12-month subscription to Netflix or
Film fans can be fun to shop for come the holiday season, and shoppers have a host of options at their disposal to make their favorite film buffs happy.
Reading is one interest or hobby that has never gone out of style. People who enjoy reading tend to devour book after book and are always eager for the next installment from their favorite authors. Books and other reading materials can make perfect gifts for anyone with a love for literature.
First edition texts
Noble are two of the more popular standalone reading tablets. E-reader apps also are available through Apple and Amazon to work on various mobile devices. A tablet can be a welcome gift, especially for a reader who appreciates on-demand reading material.
Protective case Help readers protect their tablets with protective cases. These run the gamut from the utilitarian to the decorative. Some tablet cases are designed to look like books themselves, with a soft interior cushion for the e-reader and a hard shell to keep it safe.
Book accessories
Collectors very often are interested in the first edition or first printing of classic books. Publishers may offer only a limited Readers need their own collections of number of books in a first edition or first accessories that cater to their love of the printing, and such editions tend to be rare. written word. Look for clocks made out of literary volumes, lamps that look like a A first edition of a favorite book can stacked book collection or framed photos make a cherished gift. These books often of favorite book covers. Some publishers can be identified by a unique numbering offer printed works reissued in decorative system or even by the words “first edicovers to make the books an eye-catching tion” or “first printing” on the copyright addition to any home’s décor. page. Work with a reputable bookshop or Someone who lends out favorite works dealer to find expensive and rare prints. may like a personalized library embosser, which will imprint a book page with the name of the person loaning out his or her Some book purists stand by their decicollection of books. sions to only read paper copies of their favorite books, feeling there’s something special or more enjoyable about holding a Whether they are carrying books back to hardcover or paperback in one’s hands and making progress through paper pages. the library or traveling with an e-reader in tow, avid readers might appreciate a funcOthers are enamored with the conventional tote bag. Order pre-printed literary ience and portability of having an entire library saved on a digital device. E-read- tote bags or customize a tote based on the tastes of the gift’s recipient. It even can feaers come in different sizes and offerings from various manufacturers. The Kindle® ture photographs or the jacket of a favorite from Amazon and Nook® from Barnes & book.
Digital reading device
Book tote
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Amazon Prime, which offers additional any movie buffs can instantly rat- benefits when shopping on Amazon.com, tle off extensive lists of their won’t break shoppers’ budgets but will profavorite films, sharing information such as vide lots of bang for their gift-giving buck. when the movies were released, who direct- Gift certificate: Gift certificates to the ed them and, of course, who played the movie theater are another great gift for the leads. Holiday shoppers on the hunt for the old school film fan who still prefers seeing perfect gift for the film buffs in their lives all the new releases in the theater. Movie might be a little intimidated by their loved tickets can stretch film fans’ budgets, espeones’ encyclopedic knowledge of movies. cially for those film lovers who need to see Such knowledge can make it difficult to every big-budget blockbuster or Oscar® find gifts that friends or family members candidate in the theater. A gift certificate will truly appreciate, but the following are a may be just what your favorite film fan handful of ideas to consider gifting to the wants to see in his or her stocking this holimovie lover in your life. day season. Box set: Box sets make great gifts for film Sound system: For those holiday shoppers fans, whether those fans prefer a particular working with big budgets, a sound system genre of film or appreciate the work of a certain director. Fans of horror movies may that enhances the experience of watching movies at home might be just the thing to appreciate the “Horror Classics 50 Movie light up your favorite film fan’s smile this Pack Collection,” a comprehensive collection of classic horror films that includes the season. Surround sound systems give movie watchers at home an experience simlikes of “The Indestructible Man,” starring ilar to that enjoyed by moviegoers in the Lon Chaney, Sr., and “Night of the Living Dead,” starring Judith O’Dea. Fans of direc- theater. Such systems can vary considerably with regard to price, with smaller systor Quentin Tarantino may enjoy the tems costing far less than larger, more “Tarantino XX 8-Film Collection,” which includes some of the director’s most beloved advanced systems that can cost several films, including “Reservoir Dogs” and “Pulp thousand dollars. If you think a sound system is all your loved one needs to make the Fiction.” If you can’t find a box set to your loved one’s liking, consider making your own most of his or her movie watching experience, speak to him or her before buying the by buying several individual DVD’s and system, footing the full bill if you can or wrapping them together. Streaming membership: Streaming serv- offering to contribute a certain amount of dollars toward the sound system of his or ices like Netflix and Amazon Prime are growing more popular by the day, and film her dreams.
ift giving is made easier when shoppers are in tune with their loved ones’ interests. Knowing a friend’s or relative’s likes and dislikes can provide a starting point as you begin your holiday shopping.
B2 ENJOY!
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Gifts
for your dearest die-hard sports fans F inding the perfect holiday gift for the family sports fan can be fun for shoppers who also can’t get enough of their favorite sports. But shoppers who don’t know the Super Bowl from the World Series might not have the first idea about what to get the person on their list who seemingly spends all of his or her free time following the home team. Fortunately, shoppers don’t need to know a lot about sports to find holiday gifts that will elicit cheers from their favorite sports fans. The following are just a handful of gifts that would make any sports fan happy this holiday season.
their favorite sports on television rather than in person. Remarkable advancements in technology have made watching the game at home not much different than being there in person, and watching from home won’t require fans to pay for travel, parking or tickets. A new smart television that makes it possible for sports fans to stream out-of-town games or watch online highlights on big screens may be just the thing your favorite fanatic is hoping for this season.
Membership
Some sports fans are not merely content to watch their favorite sports; they also want to compete. Devoted fans of mixed martial arts might appreciate a membership to a local MMA gym, where they Many sports fans dream of attending a can mimic their favorite competitors’ championship game, whether that game is moves all while getting in shape and the Super Bowl in the National Football meeting like-minded men and women League, the World Series in Major who share their passion for MMA. Offer League Baseball, an NBA Finals game, or to pay for the first several months of a whatever sport most stokes a particular loved one’s membership, or if your budgsports fan’s passion. Tickets have long et allows, buy a 12-month membership. been a go-to gift for sports fans, but holi- If MMA is not your loved one’s thing, day shoppers who want to go above and then pay his or her entry fees into a local beyond may want to purchase tickets to sports league, such as a summer softball the championship of a friend or loved league or a competitive basketball league one’s favorite sport. Super Bowl tickets for adults. tend to be the most expensive tickets in American sports, and such a costly gift might be more than your holiday budget The sports attire business is booming, can handle. Championships in other sports tend to be expensive, but more rea- and no sports fan’s wardrobe is complete sonably priced than Super Bowl tickets. If without a handful of items that profess his or her love for a favorite team. Visit a possible, ask a friend or relative to split local sporting goods store to stock up on the cost of a pair of tickets. clothes that help your favorite fan fit in when he or she attends a game or visits a nearby bar or restaurant to take in the game with fellow fans. Many sports fans now prefer to watch
Championship tickets
Attire
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Television
Holiday Golf Shopping Is Here! Club Membership • Lessons • Gift Certificates • Clubs • Apparel
Everything for Your Favorite Golfer is at
Shenandoah Valley Golf Club Stop by soon for the best selections! Open Daily 8AM
258803e
25 99 07
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ENJOY! B3
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NOVEMBER 2015
Cost-saving measures when gifting a large family
E
xchanging gifts with loved ones is one of the joys of the holiday season. But it can be challenging to reign in holiday spending when your shopping list is especially lengthy. Fortunately, there are many ways for holiday shoppers to cut costs this season.
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any people spend a significant portion of the holiday season selecting and wrapping gifts. After all of the effort that goes into finding the perfect gift, many gift-givers want to dress those gifts up in eye-catching packages. As the holiday season hits full swing, now is the time to get wrapping supplies in order.
Begin by shopping the sales. Some people save money by stocking up on wrapping supplies at the end of the holiday season. Those who do not look so far ahead may want to buy gift wrap and bags when these items first appear on the shelves, which affords shoppers a larger selection to choose from. Although you may be tempted to go for the least expensive wrapping paper available, investing in something a little thicker may make wrapping easier, as thicker paper is less likely to tear. Select one or two paper designs so you do not have to think too much about which paper to use for which gifts.
Hold on to wrapping supplies In addition to the billions of dollars shoppers spend each year on holiday gifts, quite a lot of money is spent on the bags, boxes and paper used to wrap those gifts. Unity Marketing says the average person spends between $70 and $100 on wrapping supplies during the holiday season. While it is nice to add some new items to the wrapping mix each year, collecting and conserving bags and tissue is a wise and ecofriendly, cost-saving measure. For those hosting the holidays this year, set up two storage bins in the room where you and your loved ones will be unwrapping presents. One bin can be used to collect clothing boxes that are in good shape, while the other can be used to organize gift bags and bows. Encourage guests to take some of the used wrapping paper to use again next year.
in one sitting, or maybe you will wrap each gift as you make new purchases. Either way, keeping supplies at the ready and organized can make wrapping go more When shopping, also grab a substantial quickly. Wrapping paper and ribbon can be supply of tape because you will need a lot stored on a modified towel rack that hangs of it. You probably will have some nonsym- over the back of a door, or invest in a wrapmetrical shaped gifts or ones that could get ping paper storage container so everything swallowed up in a lot of wrapping paper. will be together when the time comes to You way mant to choose bags or gift boxes begin wrapping. A folding table or even an to wrap such items. ironing rack can make for good horizontal surfaces on which to tackle the wrapping. Get creative with gift bags by purchasing solid-color bags and using stamps to dress Remember also to keep an envelope nearby up the design. This way the wrapping looks with any gift receipts so that they can be like it was customized for each recipient. included with the gifts as you wrap them. Let kids help, as they may have fun adding Holiday shoppers’ work doesn’t end after ribbon or bows to dress up gifts even furgifts are purchased. Now is the time for ther. wrapping and stockpiling all of the supplies
Set up a dedicated spot to tackle the wrapping. Perhaps you want to wrap everything
needed to make holiday gifts that much more attractive.
great ways to exchange gifts without going broke. In a traditional grab bag, everyone brings a gift that does not exceed a predetermined value and puts it
Having a large family can be expensive come the holiday season. However, there are ways to curtail your spending without taking any joy out of the holidays.
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and organize holiday gift wrap
Set a price limit. Decide in advance that gifts should not exceed a certain price. This way if you are budgeting for the Create a limited gift exchange. Speak holidays you will have a better underwith other family members who also may standing of what you can expect to spend be feeling the pinch of holiday spending if every gift should be around $30. to establish a gift exchange system. Pool your resources. Rather than giving Rather than purchasing a gift for everymany little gifts, pool your resources with one in the family, split the list accordingsome relatives and give a single big-tickly. Maybe everyone will only be expected et gift. Each person can contribute the to purchase gifts for the children, instead same amount, or family members can of buying for kids and adults. Propose contribute as much as they can afford. that you only exchange gifts with immeGive an experience. Sometimes the gift diate family members and not your of an experience, such as tickets to a extended family, such as your cousins, sporting event or a night at the theater, aunts and uncles. Develop a system that can make a thoughtful and impressive works for everyone so no one feels like gift. Again, other family members can they need to break the bank this holiday contribute, and collectively you can enjoy season. Host a holiday grab bag. Grab bags are a night on the town or another adventure.
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in the bag. Each family member then pulls a gift out of the bag. Allow everyone the option to swap with one another if one gift is more fitting for a particular person.
NOVEMBER 2015
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Protect
your purchases during the holidays H oliday shoppers spend billions of dollars during the holiday rush. Although the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day make up a season marked by giving and sharing joy with others, criminals are well aware that the holiday season can be a prime time to rip off consumers. Shoppers need to remain extra diligent to safeguard against theft and other not-so-jolly crimes.
At the store Be aware of your surroundings at all times while at the mall or other stores. Packages, wallets or purses should never be left unattended. Take notice if anyone is standing too close to you, asking them to respect your personal space if necessary. Try to reduce distractions while you do your holiday shopping. This may mean leaving the kids at home so you can focus better on the task at hand or letting incoming calls go to voicemail while you shop. Make frequent trips to the car so that you can free yourself of cumbersome packages. Being laden down with bags or boxes can make you an easy target for a thief.
In the parking lot Parking lots are notoriously crowded during the holiday season, so you may not be able to get an ideal spot. However, make every attempt to park near the entrance of the store or at least in a well-lit area of the lot. It gets dark early during the holiday season, and you want to feel safe bringing packages to your car. Store all items out of view, such as in the trunk. If you have an SUV, invest in a cargo bed cover that covers packages. If ever you do not feel comfortable walking to your vehicle alone, shop with a friend or ask a security guard to accompany you to your vehicle.
Purchasing power Paying cash for purchases can alleviate debt come the new year, but credit cards also have their advantages. Credit card companies do not hold cardholders accountable for unauthorized purchases made with a stolen card. This peace of mind can make it safer for shoppers to use credit cards over cash or debit cards when making their holiday purchases. If shopping takes you online, restrict buying to well-established businesses whose reputations can be verified. Make sure that purchases are made through a secure website or server to reduce your risk of falling victim to hackers.
Buddy system Packages left outside of empty homes can be ripe for the picking by thieves. Establish an agreement with neighbors that you will take in each other’s packages so they aren’t left unattended on front porches or in doorways.
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