Gift Returns

"Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts"
- Laocoon in the Aeneid, book II

Almost one in five Americans expected to return at least one holiday gift. If you are one of these five then ConsumerReports has this advice for returning gifts at http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2010/12/5-tips-to-make-returning-gifts-almost-as-easy-as-getting-them.html

1. Know the time frame
Large merchants usually allow 90 days for returns but some items like electronics, computers, music, and DVDs may have shorter return periods. software, and CDs and DVDs. For example electronics bought at Walmart must be returned within 15 or 30 days. But as a gesture of holiday goodwill, if a gift was purchased at Walmart between Nov. 15 and Dec. 25, the return clock doesn't start ticking until Dec. 26.

2. Use and Keep gift receipts
My wife requested gift receipts for items we bought at Toys-R-Us and I received a hobby kit this year with a gift receipt included. Merchants used to offer store credit without a receipt but don't count on that nowadays. You may have to ask the giver for the store receipt before making a return or exchange.

3. Take your driver's license
Some companies require a government-issued ID with a receipt. This way they can track serial returners who use and return items frequently.

4. Be sure before you open the box
Once you open a box the item is no longer new so merchants may charge a restocking fee, often 15 percent of the product's cost. Digital items that can be copied like computer software, CDs, and DVDs aren't usually returnable once they're unwrapped.

5. Know where to go
If an item was purchased online and the merchant has walk-in stores, check their website to see if you can return it at a store and avoid reshipping fees.

Bottom Line

I'll be sure to use more Gift Receipts in the future.

Buy Yourself a Christmas Present

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other” -Burton Hillis

While it’s fun to get toys and games and electronic gadgets for Christmas, sometimes the gifts are more practical like socks and ties. For the ultimate in practical Christmas gifts buy something to help yourself or the family to become more prepared.

Here are two ideas for preparedness gift buying family activities:

1. Assemble a family go-kit. Have each person contribute one or more items to the go-kit and place the completed kit under the tree. See Survival Kits and Red Cross - Get A Kit and What's in Your Go-Kit? for some ideas.
2. Assemble a family food supply. Again each family member should add one or more items to the food box. Try starting with a one-month supply for one person. Then each year you can add one more box or replace an old one. See The Wisdom of Food Storage for a nice written blog written by a preparedness advocate in the Dominica Republic.

Bottom Line

A one-month’s food storage for one person can be purchased for under $25 and consists of the following:

• Grains or flour - 30 pounds
• Powdered milk - 6.25 pounds
• Sugar or honey - 5 pounds
• Salt - 1/2 pound
• Fats and oils - 1-2/3 pounds
• Dry Beans - 5 pounds

This list assumes you are comfortable cooking from basic ingredients; see The Value of Cooking. It also assumes you will get all your protein from the powdered milk and Beans, Beans, Beans... If you lack a collection of pioneer recipes, hate beans, hate cooking from scratch or want more variety in your emergency meals, then check out Meals Ready to Eat and other Options or try purchasing this list:

One Month, Shelf Stable Groceries for One person:

Starch:

• one box oatmeal (18 ounces)
• 1 pound rice
• 20 ounces pasta
• 5 pounds flour
• 1 pound popcorn

Fruit & Veggies

• 34 cans (15 ounce) vegetables
• 26 cans (15 ounce)fruit

Dairy

• 2 pounds Velveeta
• 4 cans (12 ounce) evaporated milk
• 3.2 pounds powdered milk (powder to make 4 gallons)

Protein

• 1 jar peanut butter (18 ounces)
• 4 cans (6 ounce) tuna
• 4 cans (5 ounce)chicken
• 4 cans (5 ounce) ham
• 8 cans (15 ounce) cooked dry beans

Plus a month's supply of cooking oil/shortening, sugar, syrup, jam, salt