2011 Holiday Gift Guide: Top 5 Quick & Dirty Gifts that will Impress with Minimal Effort!

There is no question that the holidays are stressful.  There is no need to spend countless hours searching for the perfect gift for your neighbors or relatives far away. Don't have time to shop and then drop the gift off? What a time suck, right?  Well, here are your Top 5 Quick and Dirty Gifts that will Impress with minimal effort on your part:



Photo Panels are  Perfect for Grandparents - Snapfish.com by HP sells photo panels that are a lasting gift. Just upload your favorite photo, choose a Photo Panel 5x7, 8x10 or 11x14 and you will have a lasting gift ready for use. It has an easel on the back so it is ready to display. Order and send it directly to your recipients with a gift note!  Prices start at 14.99 but use Snapfish promo code WINTER2011 for 30% off all photo gifts at Snapfish.com by HP! click here to order







Send them Yummy Gourmet Popcorn - The Popcorn Factory makes gift giving easy. Order one of the many delicious popcorn options and send it to your loved ones with a personalized note - no gas required. click here to order
Can't decide what flavor to choose? No worries...try them all!  Order the 18 Pack Sampler - Special Price!  This smorgasbord holds 18 bags of premium popcorn. Flavors include: Butter, secret-recipe Caramel, Almond Pecan (x2), spicy Jalapeo, Ginger Teriyaki, salty-sweet Kettle, cheddary Cheese, Buffalo Ranch (x2), White Cheddar and more. Click Here for $10 off $50 Holiday Special at ThePopcornFactory! Use Promo Code: STOCKING10



 Wine Gift Baskets - Wine.com offer a wide assortment of gift baskets. This a gift a family or a couple can enjoy for many days. Order a basket with wine for adult and gourmet snacks the kids. Drop ship it to your friends and family with  gift note. No need to drop your basket off. Click here for 1 cent shipping.

Monthly wine clubs at Wine.com

Seafood Lovers - This is a gift for family members like parents or a sibling and his or her wife. Give lobster or give 'surf and turf' "FILET AND TAILS FOR 2". Treat your family to restaurant quality meals in the comfort of their own home. Shop Legal Sea Foods Today. Can't afford to fly to see your relative to take them out to dinner?  Click Here to Get a Complete Lobster Dinner with Legal Sea Foods



The Perfect Taligate Lovers Gift! - Do you have friends and relatives who love to tailgate at sporting events? Wouldn't it be great for them to serve homemade beer? Click Here to Order a Beer Kit - A Great Gift! America's most popular brewing kit. Complete, easy-to-use. Only $39.95


Start Shopping for holidays today! Use this great gift ideas.

Regifting: Turning Unwanted Gifts Into Gold

It may be true that, when it comes to gift giving, "It's the thought that counts." But sometimes--particularly when the giver doesn't know the recipient too well--a particular gift isn't the best choice for the person who gets it. According to 2007 research from eBay, 84 percent of U.S. adults receive unwanted gifts during the holiday season.

One solution to these unwelcome gifts is regifting, or passing the present on to someone who would appreciate it more.

"Regifting and reselling on sites like eBay are great ways to let someone else enjoy a gift that isn't right for you or to earn some extra money," says Marsha Collier, author of "Santa Shops on eBay" and "eBay for Dummies." "It is important to be thoughtful when regifting and reselling. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or ruin any relationships."

Collier offers these additional tips on regifting etiquette:

• Don't mention it. When you're regifting, be wary about the original gift giver and your new recipient. So pass along the cheer but not the news.

• Rewrap it. Lest you accidentally regift the card, too, take the time to at least rewrap the present. Previously opened or wrinkled paper is another way to sabotage your regifting plans.

• Do keep track of regifts and where they came from. Nothing is more embarrassing than giving a regift to someone, only to discover that he or she is the one who gave it to you in the first place.

• Not everything makes a good regift. Items to avoid include candles, soap, bargain-bin books, mysterious CDs/videos, software, tasteless jewelry, scarves, fruitcake or anything the giftee would be puzzled to receive.

If you don't want to regift an item, another solution is to resell it. A great place for reselling is eBay and it's also a great way to make some extra money during the holidays. Collier offers these tips for reselling:

• Do your research. Take a look at how similar items have sold by looking at the completed listings.

• Take photographs. Use a simple white background. Photograph the front, back and any detailing of the item.

• Make your title searchable. Use keywords that someone might use when searching for your item: color, size, brand/designer, new or pre-owned.

• Be descriptive in the listing. Include as much detail as possible: size, color, measurements, designer, embellishments and any flaws.

• Communicate. Try to answer potential buyers' questions promptly and with as much detail as possible.

To learn about eBay and selling online, visit ebaystores.com

Regifting can be a great way to help unwanted presents find appreciative owners.

Walmart.com Valentine's Day Deals

Okay - you don't really think of www.walmart.com as Valentine's day destination,but hey how many of you picked up Christmas gifts there last year? Now you can shop and save for Valentine's Day at Walmart.com. The fact is Walmart has all kinds of merchandise that makes great gifts. Last Christmas, I picked up shower gel gift sets that were under $5 - they were the perfect items for spare gifts.

If you like to pick gifts for friends, lovers or kids, there is a list of items that might peak your interest and be easy on the wallet:
Personalized Gifts for Valentine's Day at Walmart.com
Valentine's Day Jewelry at Walmart.com
FTD® Valentine's Day Red Rose Bouquet with Vase. $35.08 - Same Day Delivery
Polaroid 8 MP i830 Digital Camera & 6" Digital Picture Frame, Pink Just $138.84 for the bundle
iPod shuffle 1GB, Purple $78.72

A Cute Gift for Kids!
Lots of Love Teddy Bear and Chocolate Gift Basket $19.88

David's Cookie's Valentine's Deal

Order Valentine's Gifts in January and Save Before Markups!

I once heard Michelle Singletary,personal finance columnist of the Washington Post, speak at an event about saving money for Valentine's Day. She made a comment about spending $50-$100 for roses the days before Valentine's Day and saving 50% on the same roses two days AFTER V-Day. That is a huge difference!

Retail Secrets for the Savvy consumer has a way for you to save on your Valentine's Day treats. Many flower and candy company's are offering special deals THIS MONTH. Did you know that you can order your flowers today and have them sent at anytime while taking advantager of NORMAL or REDUCED pricing? You definitely can. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is promoting saving 40% now to lock-in on savings. Not only are the prices lower right now you can actually save $10 on Valentine's Day items at 1-800-Flowers.com!code BST2, exp. 1.27.08 Why wait and pay full price for something that you can order now and have sent later with a siginificant discount?

Thinking of sending loved ones gift baskets for Valentine's Day? GiftBaskets.com is offering 10% off all Gift Baskets with promo code ZK-8978. This offer is good until February 15, but in my experience if you want your pick of the baskets, order early.

For chocolate lovers you can order your sweetie some delicious treats from World’s Finest® Chocolate. If you pick out your sweet treats now you can save. Order World’s Finest® Chocolate Valentine's Day heart shaped boxes Free Personalization + 50% off shipping orders of $50+. Other than savings, ordering early also gives you the best selection.


If you are not into giving edibles or flowers you can check the wonderful keepsakes at Things Remembered. It's Valentine's Day selection is quite lovely. They have all sorts of special gift items for women, men and kids. Monogrammed keepsake boxes, bracelets, flasks, NFL related items - they have something for everyone. And if you shop now, you can save. Right now they are having a clearance sale! Save Up to 75% off on select gifts! I visited the Valentine's Day gift selection and virtually everything is marked down. Plus you can save 20% on orders over $125 at Things Remembered Code: LOVE20

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? This Valentine's Day add a little heart to every room in your home or office. You’ll fall in love with ou one-of-a-kind selection of amore-themed jewelry, accessories and household decor from Lillian Vernon. Plus there are extra savings of 15%. Click the the box at the left (note the promo code at the bottom) to shop and save through 1/31/08. (Why not order your Saint Patrick's Day stuff too with your 15% discount?)

Get shopping now, order your deliveries on a discount just like a savvy consumer.

Save $5 off your Valentine's Day order at The Popcorn Factory,code MAR5, exp 3.31.08

Shop Online for 2008 Deals and Valentine's Day Promotions

A new year means new deals. Never shop online without first checking sites like Retail Secrets for a promotion code or coupon. Most retailers online offer some sort of discount. Here are some deals to get you saving and shopping:



Free shipping on all video games and video game hardware at BestBuy.com. Now through 1/5.


Lane Bryant
Save 25% on any order of $75 or more. Use promo code 000251518 at checkout. Expires 1-10-08.
Save 20% on any order at LaneBryant.com. Use promo code 000209168 at checkout. Expires 1-10-08.

Macy's

Macy's One Day Sale! Save 20-50%+ Values & Web Busters. Valid 4-Jan-08 through 5-Jan-08.
White Sale at macys.com. Save 20-60% plus Free Shipping. Valid 6-Jan-08 through 13-Jan-08.
Fashion Clearance at macys.com! 99 cent shipping on clearance clothing, shoes and accessories! Save 50-70%! Valid 11-Jan-08 through 13-Jan-08.

Maternity Apparel
$6 shipping--every order,every day at Mimi Maternity!
Shop new sale items at Mimi Maternity
New 2-For deals every week at Motherhood Maternity!


Initmates
Sale! Get any 2Playtex bras for just $30 at One Hanes Place! Save up to 45%! Playtex turns 75, and you get extra savings to celebrate!
All Shapewear is on sale at One Hanes Place!Save up to 45% on instant slimming!



Special Buys at JMS.com







Valentine's Day Gift Deals and Gift Ideas

Although Valentine's Day is a month away, there are advantages to shopping early! A few vendors are running deals that end February 1. Of course, everything costs more during the two weeks before February 14. So shop now to save. Why pay more when you can pay less! Check Retail Secrets throughout January for other pre-Valentine's Day deals.

Give World's Famous Chocolate this Valentine's Day. Delicious chocolate in heart shaped boxes from World’s Finest® Chocolate.

Royal Romance Tower$41.50
Sweet Heart $11.50 - A heart filled with chocolate covered almonds.

Lillian Vernon


Here are some great Valentines gifts and home decorations to purchase with your 15% off:
Wooden Valentine Heart Wall Plaque$12.98











"I Love You" Light-Up Pens$7.98









"Chocolate" covered strawberry candles$4.98








This Valentine’s Day, add a little heart to every room in your home or office. You’ll fall in love with our one-of-a-kind selection of amore-themed jewelry, accessories and household decor.