This Valentine’s Day give gifts from the heart for the heart.

This Valentine’s Day give gifts from the heart for the heart.

(ARA) – Buying the standard bouquet or box of candy for the love of your life doesn’t show you’ve put much thought into the sentiment. In fact, if your valentine is like many others, they are just six weeks into the new year that likely began with all sorts of promises to get fit or lose a few pounds. Will chocolate really say “I love you?” Will flowers convey your devotion?
Instead, consider a gift that not only comes from the heart but benefits the heart. Here are better options for Valentine’s Day when you want to say:

“You are adored.” There is nothing like a spa treatment to put your loved one on a pedestal. “A facial or massage is the gift of relaxation and self-care,” says Kate Rice, a massage therapist and the national massage educator for Life Time, The Healthy Way of Life Company. She says a gift certificate can be part of a bigger pampering day – perhaps along with breakfast in bed or an end-of-day bubble bath. “People tend to think of massage as a luxury, but it’s therapeutic and can help reground them. It’s also the perfect gift for someone who does so much for everyone else.”

“We’re in this together; we’re a team.” Working together on a common goal can make lasting memories. Signing up you and your valentine for a 5K, 10K, triathlon or other physical event can create memories to last a lifetime. That’s how Michael Lorenzen, 29, of Chicago ended up registered for his first ultra-distance triathlon. “My wonderful girlfriend, Brigit, gifted me a 2012 entry into a triathlon in Wisconsin.” He says his initial reaction was irritation, followed quickly by panic, which soon transpired into gratitude. “She did it because she knew I’d never sign up myself. I’ve never done an ultra-distance triathlon. I know I can, but committing to doing it is a big deal to me.” The gift, he says, showed him that she believes in him. It’s hard to get more romantic than that.

“I want you in my life forever.” The vow is “in sickness or in health,” but we’d all prefer good health. If your special someone knows they need to get fit or stay fit, they might need more than a gentle nudge. Hiring a personal trainer – for a private session or for the two of you – is a way to show your commitment to life and to each other. Tom Manella, vice president of personal training at Life Time, says they sell about 2,000 gift cards a year for personal training services. “The gift of fitness lasts,” he says, suggesting health-related gifts such as metabolism testing for someone who wants to refine his fitness goals, or a heart rate monitor to help her reach goals. “Valentine’s Day is about expressing how much you love someone,” he adds. “What better way to do so than giving the gift of health?”

Resist the urge to go the traditional (and unimaginative) route this Valentine’s Day. Think of your gift ideas with health in mind to make your love last. For more information, visit www.lifetimefitness.com.

Tags: shopping for spouse, This Valentine’s Day give gifts from the heart for the heart., Valentine's Day gift-giving tips, Valentine's Day shopping, Valentine's shopping

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Tips for safe online shopping

(NC)—Canada is very much online. Almost half of us shop online now, researchers say. There are about 13 million Facebook accounts, 3.5 million Twitter accounts, and we send nearly five billion text messages each month, states the Better Business Bureau. And because of this high degree of online activity, we are also susceptible to fraud. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, in 2009 for example, there were almost 4,500 victims of online fraud in Canada, reporting $14.5 million in losses.

Below are some safe shopping tips from Equifax Canada, the country’s largest credit reporting agency:

• Look at the address. If you’re shopping on a website and you’ve hit the “checkout” button, you should see a change in the Web address at the top of your browser. If the site you’re shopping on is equipped with security layers, you should see “http” change to “https”, and you might also see a small padlock icon, depending on your browser.

• Be careful about the information you give out. We’re often asked for our email addresses, postal codes and shopping habits online and while these can seem like innocent questions, they’re often used to create a profile of you for marketing purposes. If it gets into the wrong hands, all of that information about what you like and how you shop, can provide clues that are helpful in stealing your identity.

• Monitor yourself. To keep track of how your personal information is being used, consider signing up for a credit monitoring product. With this product, you will be notified if anyone signs up for an account in your name or with your personal information. Keep a close eye on your bank account and credit card statements to make sure that the purchases that are logged are ones you’ve made. It’s also a good idea to make the effort to check your own credit reports throughout the year for any illicit or unauthorized activity. This will not affect your credit rating, since you are allowed to check your credit report as often as you like throughout the year.

• Change your passwords. It’s good to switch your log-in passwords every so often.

More information is available at www.equifax.ca or toll-free at 1-800-465-7166.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Online Shopping, online shopping safety tips, Online shopping tips, shopping online, Tips for safe online shopping

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Valentine's Day gift-giving tips

(ARA) – Giving your significant other the right gift can make or break your Valentine’s celebration. If you’re also giving something to your best friend, mom and children, you may need a little help finding the perfect token.

Erase some of frustration involved in finding the perfect gift and enjoy the holiday of love and romance with these great Valentine’s gift-giving tips:

* Want to take a unique route but lack a good idea? Start searching for ideas online. Traditional gifts can be altered slightly with gifts that incorporate jewels, chocolate or flowers in an unusual setting. For example, a bouquet of chocolate-covered strawberries designed to look like a bouquet of roses, puts a unique twist on several of the more popular gifting items.

Or deviate completely from the traditional and look for gifts your loved ones would appreciate, but never expect for Valentine’s Day. Use your computer to help you find great gift ideas for others on your Valentine’s Day shopping list like your grandma and best friends. Use search terms like “gifts for grandma” and “Valentine’s gifts for friends” to help find ideas.

* If you have an idea in mind, find product reviews and recommendations from experts and savvy shoppers with a few quick online searches. Use forums like FatWallet to read reviews on products ranging from electronics to travel. This way not only will you be able to confirm that your idea is a great one, but also ensure you find the best prices, and the best retailer for that product.

* Don’t forget to search for coupons and deals to maximize your savings. Use Ebates.com to purchase the gifts for everyone on your list and earn cash back on every purchase through thousands of retailers. For example, if you choose to go the traditional route and order your girlfriend a beautiful bouquet of flowers from FTD, you can earn 20 percent cash back from your purchase, on top of any discount coupons available on Ebates.com. Keep that extra cash back handy to make your Valentine’s Day celebration even more special.

Many retailers provide free shipping or delivery, and you may discover you can stack deals, allowing you to save plenty of money this Valentine’s Day and helping to ease your gift shopping frustrations.

Celebrate the holiday of love and romance this year in style with great gifts for your loved ones. Go online, gather great and unique ideas and don’t forget to save while shopping.

Tags: love gifts, shopping for spouse, shopping tips, Valentine's Day gift-giving tips, Valentine's Day shopping

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Mobile phones will increase the enjoyment of shopping

(NC)—In just five years, 5.6 billion mobile devices will be sold – in a world inhabited by 7 billion people. With cell phones gaining in popularity and prices dropping, new intuitive and creative mobile applications are emerging to tackle some of life’s most mundane and productivity-sapping tasks.

Take shopping for example. Research from IBM shows that Canadians tend to adopt new shopping technologies faster than most. The number of Canadians willing to use mobile technologies to shop, for example, increased by 160 per cent year-to-year, second only to the United States in uptake.

The same research revealed the number of Canadians who use two or more technologies (such as a website, mobile device, or in-store kiosk) increased by 65 per cent over last year’s results, almost double the global result.

Today smart phones and UPC tags are used to check competitor prices while in-store shopping. The next step in mobile purchasing is to shop seamlessly across channels, receive promotions based on the items we scan, and use a personal mobile device to avoid the checkout lane.

While most mobile applications available today don’t yet harness all of the capabilities our mobile devices can offer, it is expected that within the next five years these technologies will come into play.

Applications will also become more contextually aware in the coming years and will begin to alert you, and retailers around you, of upcoming events. For example, if your mobile calendar indicates you are planning a party, it may send this information to your nearest grocer who will in turn send you discounts and special offers for hosting parties.

Shoppers have demonstrated they want to use mobile devices to enhance their shopping experience. They have also demonstrated they will spend more and be more loyal to retailers who listen.

More information is available online at www.ibm.com/industries/ca/retail.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Mobile phones will increase the enjoyment of shopping, Online Shopping, phone shopping, shopping by phone, UPC tags

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Shopping online lets Canadians escape the mall

(NC)—The holidays are almost here and many Canadians are wondering when they will find the time to fit in holiday shopping. More and more Canadians are finding a simple solution to the time crunch – shopping online. Avoiding the hours it takes to drive to the mall, hunt for a parking spot and fight the crowds means more time for spending time doing the things Canadians actually enjoy about this festive time of year.

With exciting shopping destinations like eBay.ca, Toysrus.ca, HomeDepot.ca, SportChek.com and Dell.ca, Canadians have more choices than ever for where to shop online to easily and conveniently find gifts for everyone on their list.

If you are unable to think of the perfect gift, consider using your computer to give the gift of charity. CanadaHelps.org allows you to purchase a charity gift card that works much like any other gift card—your friend can use it to choose from the 83,000 nonprofit organizations on the site to be the recipient of their gift.

Nicky Mezo, from PayPal Canada, shares some helpful tips to ensure Canadians’ online shopping experience is not only time-saving and convenient but also safe and secure.

Compare and save: Whether it’s taking the time to do a quick online search or going to smart shopping sites like eBay.ca, you can almost always find the item you’re looking for at a discount. You may be surprised at how much you can save versus mall prices.

Shop on November 28: Just like Black Friday is a big day for in-store sales in the United States, Cyber Monday is a great day to take advantage of online sales. This year Cyber Monday happens on November 28 and many online retailers both here in Canada and south of the border will be offering great deals.

Leave time for shipping: Giving the perfect gift is only perfect if you get to give it on time. Shop early online to ensure you get everything ahead of the holidays. Being ahead of the game will also help you relax and enjoy the holidays, instead of rushing around doing last minute shopping.

Buy securely: If you’re buying items online or on your mobile device, make sure you’re purchasing securely. Check for sites that allow you to use secure methods of payment like PayPal so you don’t have to share personal credit card information to help protect yourself from identity theft.

With PayPal, shoppers rest assured that their personal and financial information is never shared over the Internet or with retailers. Users say they enjoy the convenience of this ‘digital wallet’ which gives them a faster, easier, safer way to pay online. More information is available at www.paypal.ca/escapethemall.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: shopping for holidays, shopping ideas, shopping online, Shopping online lets Canadians escape the mall, shopping tips

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Online Shopping: How to find gifts without breaking the bank

(NC)—There is nothing quite like the pleasure of giving the perfect gift to your friends or family during the holidays. The only problem is your budget may not stretch as far as you would like. To counter your budget shortage, you can go online to save money while shopping.

Look for e-coupons

Going online gives you a new way to use an old trick for saving money—finding and using coupons. The Internet has brought new life to the practice of couponing. Finding coupons online is simple and there are plenty of sites and blogs out there to peruse for the deal you’re looking for.

Sign up for the “Deals of the Day” sites.

There have been an explosion of “Deal of the Day” websites in the past few years. These sites offer one or more daily deals on unique experiences or the best stuff to see, do, eat or buy in your city. “Deal of the Day” sites can be found in most major Canadian cities, as well as locations around the world. If you sign up for one of these sites the daily deal is emailed right to your inbox, making it easy to purchase if the deal is right for you.

Wait for the after holiday sales

The holidays are a great time to give gifts to family and friends, but sometimes you can’t give to everyone on your list (including yourself). One secret to saving money on gifts is to wait and check out all the deals available after the holidays. Many online merchants offer deep discounts immediately after a big holiday, allowing you to buy that gift you thought was out of your budget.

Take advantage of offers already available to you

The bottom line is you can save money on holiday shopping for everyone on your list when you buy online—if you know where to look. Visa cardholders can visit Visaperks.ca and have access to discounted goods and services from more than 70 retailers. Visaperks.ca is a great place to find deals for everyone on your list, from clothes at Gap Kids, athletic gear at adidas or electronics from Lenovo. And as an added bonus, new deals are added all the time.

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Tags: Online Shopping, Online shopping tips, Online Shopping: How to find gifts without breaking the bank, shopping online, shopping tips

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Five ways to save with online shopping

(NC)—Visaperks is a program that helps Visa cardholders save on clothing, electronics, cosmetics, and all sorts of other great stuff from more than 70 different retailers. All the perks are up for grabs in the same place: visaperks.ca.

In addition to setting and keeping a budget, there are other good dollar-saving tips for online shopping which will help keep your money where it belongs—with you.

Tip #1: Skip the Mall. Buy Online.

Why online? Because if you spot an item that you like in a store, there is an excellent chance that you will find a better deal online. Jot down the name and style and any other important details to help you remember, and then search online. You can save money on everything from designer shoes to kids’ toys. Plus, you’ll be able to hone in more easily on what you are really looking for, instead of being tempted by everything within sight.

Tip #2: Search Online for Coupon Codes

Search online coupon web sites for discounts or free shipping codes. If those fail, visit a general search engine and search for “(store name) discount or coupon”. Many blogs will pass along coupon codes.

Tip #3: Ask for Discounts

Okay, so you haven’t found a discount code. Ask for one—it never hurts. Particularly at small e-boutiques, you never know if they might give you a discount.

Tip #4: Visit the “Deals of the Day” sites.

There are a new crop of sites that offer one or two items each day, heavily discounted. You have to check them regularly to see what they’re selling and then act fast, but it’s worth it. Enter ‘deals of the day’ into a general search engine and peruse the deals in your region, or if you’ve got a trip coming up, check out deals in that city as well.

Tip #5: Tap into the benefits of your Visa card

Visa cardholders can go online to Visaperks.ca and save on items like clothing, electronics, and cosmetics from retailers such as adidas, Gap Kids and Lenovo. There are a variety of great deals from more than 70 different retailers—all up for grabs in one convenient location.

More information on this topic can be found online at www.visaperks.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Five ways to save with online shopping, shopping online, shopping saving tips, shopping savings, shopping tips

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Canadians are shopping smart and savvy with online purchases

(NC)—More and more Canadians are shopping online, and for good reason. They have access to an unending array of goods, all from the comfort of their own computer. Increasingly, Canadians are going to the web to make purchases because of the great deals they are able to find. In a recent Visa survey of more than 1,450 Canadians conducted by Pollara, 54 per cent of respondents cited cheaper prices and better deals as the main reason for shopping online during busy seasons, such as the back-to-school period. In the same survey, Canadians cited crowds and expenses as the two main reasons why they avoided shopping in stores during busy shopping periods.

When you go online to shop this holiday season, you should be looking for a number of things: great prices and deals, reliable merchants, and sites that offer a variety of items, which will make your shopping experience easier and more efficient. It is an added bonus if you are able to find a number of gifts for friends and family members all at the same place, saving yourself from the tedious and time-consuming task of going from site to site.

For Visa cardholders, there is an easy way to make your online shopping experience more efficient and enjoyable: visit visaperks.ca. Visaperks is a program that helps Visa cardholders save on clothing, electronics, cosmetics, and all sorts of other great merchandise from more than 70 different retailers. Cardholders receive discounted prices or offers at a variety of well known retailers, including adidas, Gap Kids, Birks, Lenovo and Netflix—and all of these perks are up for grabs in the same place. Visaperks can help save you money on the things you love.

Whether you are interested in travelling, buying a gift for a family member or friend, purchasing a new holiday dress or buying beauty care products at discounted prices, going online is a great way to find what you need. The savvy online shopper can take advantage of all the coupons and perks that are available if they just learn where to look.

More information on how to save with your Visa credit card can be found online at www.visaperks.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Canadian shopping, Canadians are shopping smart and savvy with online purchases, Online Shopping, shopping, shopping tips

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(NC)—The store did not have your size in stock – but they do have a website, as well as a catalog, where you can order over the phone. Problem solved! To some people, this is a no–brainer, but many Canadians are still nervous about just how safe it is to use your credit or debit cards for online, over the phone or mail order purchases. The good news is that it is indeed safe – but there are steps you should take to protect yourself – and your money.

There are a lot of simple ways to ensure you are protected when shopping online. First of all, be selective about where you do your online shopping. If you’re using a computer that is not yours, especially one that’s accessible to the public, make sure you do not click any boxes that enable the site to automatically remember your login information. If there are websites you visit regularly, you may have the option to save your address and credit card information to the site – this is fine, but make sure you keep your login name and password a secret.

A good rule of thumb is to only give your card details when you are the one initiating a purchase – don’t ever provide this information when someone calls you. When shopping online, the end of an order is your ‘check–out’, just as if you were physically in a store, so you do not have to pay until you are ready to leave the site. Retail websites typically have an e–form where you can fill in your information and when placing an order over the phone, the merchant can easily take down your information then and there. In either case, if you are asked to email your payment information, do not agree to do so. Debit and credit card information should never be sent via email.

It’s important to keep a record of transactions, whether you save email confirmations or write down confirmation numbers provided by a merchant. Every month, do a careful review of your monthly statements to make sure you are ‘in–the–know’ about all the charges on your cards.

In addition, some credit cards offer extended security designed for card–not–present situations, such as Visa’s E–Promise. The E–Promise assures cardholders that if they have tried, and have been unsuccessful in resolving a dispute with an online, phone order or mail order merchant, they can contact their Visa card issuer directly to help resolve the credit card charge in question.

So, if what you are looking for is only accessible through online, phone or mail order purchasing, don’t worry. Using these tips, you can rest assured your personal information and funds are just as safe and secure as if you were shopping directly in a store.

www.newscanada.com

Tags: Online shopping tips, safe online shopping

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Everyone likes to save money, but some purchases it just doesn’t pay to skimp on. If you’re buying an item that affects your well-being – like shoes or a mattress – it’s smart to buy the best you can afford.

Your mattress directly affects your ability to get a good night’s sleep, according to WebMD. Poor sleep has been linked to a host of physical and mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, hypertension, memory loss and appetite changes.

If you’re not resting as well as you know you should and it’s been 10 years or more since you bought a mattress, you may need to take advantage of summer mattress sale season. The summer holidays – Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day – and the weeks in between are a great time to find a new deal on a mattress, as retailers tend to ramp up discounts and promotions at this time of year.

“The Better Sleep Council recommends that you replace your mattress every five to seven years,” says Jim Ruehlmann, a mattress expert with mattress-maker Simmons, which has marketed the popular Beautyrest brand for 86 years. “If you haven’t gone mattress shopping in a while, you may be surprised and a bit overwhelmed by the variety of choices, advances in technology and plethora of sales you’ll find this summer.”

Ruehlmann offers these tips for making your next mattress purchase:

* When it comes to comparison shopping, patience pays off. Watch the sales fliers that will be arriving in your mailbox or tucked into your local paper. The “red, white and blue” holidays are prime sale time for mattress sellers. If you have an idea of what you want, chances are it will go on sale this summer.

* Play the pricing games to your advantage. Stores near each other rarely carry the exact same make and models of mattresses, so it can be difficult to do a direct price comparison. To get a fair comparison, note the construction of a model you like, including the types of foams, coil count, etc. Then take that information to a competing store and see if they have a bed of similar construction and quality that feels just as good – but for less money.

* Brush up on new technology. If it’s been 10 years or longer since you bought a mattress a lot has changed. For example, if you tried memory foam years ago and didn’t like the hot, quicksand sensation older foam types created, you may be pleasantly surprised at how new technology has eliminated that problem. For example, Simmons Beautyrest NXG mattress line features memory foam that provides the supportive sleep, contouring comfort and pressure relief of traditional memory foam, but helps dissipate heat and has quick recovery – meaning the foam doesn’t make you feel hot when you lay on it and springs back to shape quickly as you move.

* Coils count. In traditional coil mattresses, those coils are what make a mattress comfortable – or uncomfortable. Quality coil construction equates to better sleep. Coils should provide motion separation, comfort, conformability and back support. Beautyrest Smart Response Pocketed Coil Technology is a dual-action design. The top section of the coil, which is tapered, conforms to your shape for comfort and pressure relief. The firmer barrel-shaped bottom section reacts to body weight and sleeping position for individualized back support and alignment. You can learn more at www.simmons.com.

* Never settle. You’ll spend more hours in bed than on your couch, so keep searching until you find one that you feel good about. When testing in the store, lay on the bed however you normally sleep and stay that way for a few minutes. Be sure to try the bed with your sleeping partner beside you, so that you can feel the level of motion when one of you moves around.

* Ask about the store’s policies for delivery charges, returns, testing periods and removal of your old mattress. Every store is different, and the policies may affect where you decide to buy.

Finally, says Ruehlmann, “Buy the box spring.”

A mattress and foundation complement each other. Buying just the mattress may reduce its comfort and support – and shorten the bed’s lifespan.

Tags: bedding, Mattress shopping, mattresses

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