It may not be time to light the Yule log just yet, but Christmas is not that far away. And while most of us enjoy the holiday season, it seems there is just no getting around the hustle and bustle that those few weeks will bring. However, there is a way to reduce the amount of stress that the season can bring. By planning ahead and taking care of some of those holiday chores ahead of time, you can greatly reduce your "to-do" list once December rolls around. And less holiday stress means more time to enjoy the events and traditions that you love most about Christmas.
Organizing and planning prior to December can be a key factor in feeling calmer and more joyful for the holidays.After all, when you've simplified your "to do" list, you've automatically made room for more time to enjoy what's really important: friends, family, and a true appreciation of the holiday spirit. While many of us get into the spring cleaning season, fall is another good time to give the homestead a good once over. Now is a good time to get carpets and drapes cleaned, paint rooms that need a sprucing up, and polish silver. If your cleaning projects are completed before Thanksgiving, you will be able to hang the Christmas lights and tinsel in a sparkling home without worrying about those stains and spills. And while you're in the cleaning mode, don't forget to power wash your porch area so it's ready to sport those light strands in style. You might also want to clean out a few closets and get unused items ready to donate - it's the perfect time of year to share.
Even though you are not ready to dig out decorations for show, you can do a quick run down of supplies that you might need for your decorating efforts this year. Perhaps some of your light strands stopped lighting, or a couple of ornaments got broken. Take this opportunity to make a list and check it twice of the supplies that you might need so that you will be ready to hit the stores at the first sign of a Christmas sale. You can also check over your table and baking supplies, to ensure that your table will be festive and your cookies will be ready to whip up.
Nothing can drain the Christmas spirit faster than a crowded shopping mall, so get the gift list taken care of now. Internet shopping has made it easy to satisfy everyone on your list from the comfort of your home office. So make a cup of Christmas cheer, snuggle into your coziest pajamas and shop till you drop! If you are really feeling ambitious, you can even get your wrapping done before the Thanksgiving turkey ever goes into the oven. Planning ahead can ease much of the stress of the holidays, and make Christmas a much more enjoyable time of the year. Get those chores out of the way, and get ready to celebrate the season the way it was meant to be savored.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Plus Size Accessory Shopping Tips
You can have a fantastic outfit, and it will still seem to have something missing, unless you have the correct accessories for the look you are trying to achieve. Women have always known that accessories make or break an outfit. The right accessories can give any outfit the WOW factor. The wrong accessories will make any outfit into a disaster. Choose your accessories carefully, and be right in style. You will love being a fashion plate at every event you attend.
Some accessory designers are finally adding pieces to their collections that are designed for the woman of size. Not only do plus size consumers make up a significant part of the female population, plus size women are starting to demand fashionable clothing. There currently are few accessory lines that are specifically created for plus size women. However, full sized women are voting with their wallets for accessories that meet their needs.
Your look can be either accentuated or degraded by your purse. For example, small purses tend to make their carriers look larger; a tiny purse can make a heavy woman look downright fat. A bag that is too large will also look unnatural. Focus on selecting an appropriately-sized purse that meets your needs and is consistent with your other style choices. A single quality bag, neutrally styled, will meet your daytime needs, and a single dressier purse for dress-up is a good start. You can add as many more as you like to suit your style, as long as they are appropriately sized.
Dainty jewelry tends to not look good on a plus-size girl; small things will make you look larger. You can still wear that classic string of pearls, but make it more appropriate by choosing a longer necklace and knotting it. This will give it more substance without detracting from its classic style. Bangle bracelets and other larger pieces also look good. If you want to wear some dainty jewelry, you still can, but be sure to balance it with something bold and strong. As always, proportion is a very important part of dressing.
Larger size women can still look fabulous by matching their outfits with adorable shoes. Even if a woman has a wide foot, she can still wear some trendy looks. A classic style is the espadrille. It's a fun and youthful style that looks good on almost every person. Plus size women shouldn't be afraid to wear heels. If you are uneasy about wearing three inch heels, start with a shorter style. Be careful when searching for bargains. Cheap shoes will show wear. If you want to look trendy, then you have to pay for the look you want. Be daring and pay a little extra for higher quality. Choose styles and colors that will match your outfits, and you're ready to go.
Friday, 23 November 2007
Shopping in Italy is a wonderful adventure
Shopping In Italy
Italy's hottest shopping draw is of course fashion. Milan is home of the country's fashion industry, but Rome is the main Italian bazaar where the threads are put on the market. Here you can find the ultra chic garments of celebrated designers numbering in the hundreds. Quality is very high and the range of materials includes leather, cotton, silk and wool.
Other than garments, Italy is pre-eminent in the production of quality glassware, furniture, jewellery and porcelain goods.
Shopping In Rome
While Rome is overrun with international fashion boutiques, shopping in the Eternal City can still offer its own very Roman flavour. For the ultimate in windows shopping, the area around via Condotti at the foot of the Spanish Steps is the place to go. You can gaze at the creations of Armani, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and the other grand names in the elegant windows under the baroque or neoclassical facades. But remember that rents in Rome are sky high and so are the prices.
For antiques, head to Via dei Coronari. It's a narrow pedestrianised street near Piazza Navona. The 500-meter long thoroughfare is lined with antique stores and galleries.
For the true Roman experience, you have to visit one of the city's many markets. The Sunday morning flea market at Porta Portese is an overcrowded event where you can buy almost anything. It's held on via Portuense south of the Porta Portese gate. Beware of pickpockets.
From Monday to Saturday, the morning market is in via Sannio, just outside the Roman walls by San Giovanni in Laterano. Here you can browse huge volumes of cheap clothes.
Shopping In Venice
Venice has long been a place of trade and remains a busy retail center. Though the big name fashion houses are well-represented, the joy of shopping in Venice lies in hunting down those local novelty items that evoke the spirit of La Serenissima.
However if it's brand name fashions you're after, Venice won't disappoint. The island's busiest shopping strip is the Merceri. It runs all the ways from the Piazza to the Rialto Bridge and almost all the celebrated Italian labels have boutiques here.
For other items, Calle della Mandola is the place to browse books and glass beads. And Campo Santo Stefano is the square for antique hunting. However, you can't leave Venice without getting a souvenir carnival mask.
Carnival is the great event held every February but the masks are manufactured as souvenirs all year-round in Venice's small workshops. You can get everything from full size porcelain masks with a hefty price tag to inexpensive ornaments such as silver earrings in the shape of carnival masks. The other great specialty of Venice is glassware from the island of Murano. These include such items as vases, clocks and wine bottle caps. And you can also get decorative items such as rings, bracelets or pendants made out of the delightful colored glass. These can be very inexpensive and make great souvenirs of Venice. Other delights special to Venice include porcelain dolls and Burano lace work.
There is wide selection of hotels in Italy . Check out the internet for hotels in Rome or Venice hotels.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Italy's hottest shopping draw is of course fashion. Milan is home of the country's fashion industry, but Rome is the main Italian bazaar where the threads are put on the market. Here you can find the ultra chic garments of celebrated designers numbering in the hundreds. Quality is very high and the range of materials includes leather, cotton, silk and wool.
Other than garments, Italy is pre-eminent in the production of quality glassware, furniture, jewellery and porcelain goods.
Shopping In Rome
While Rome is overrun with international fashion boutiques, shopping in the Eternal City can still offer its own very Roman flavour. For the ultimate in windows shopping, the area around via Condotti at the foot of the Spanish Steps is the place to go. You can gaze at the creations of Armani, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci and the other grand names in the elegant windows under the baroque or neoclassical facades. But remember that rents in Rome are sky high and so are the prices.
For antiques, head to Via dei Coronari. It's a narrow pedestrianised street near Piazza Navona. The 500-meter long thoroughfare is lined with antique stores and galleries.
For the true Roman experience, you have to visit one of the city's many markets. The Sunday morning flea market at Porta Portese is an overcrowded event where you can buy almost anything. It's held on via Portuense south of the Porta Portese gate. Beware of pickpockets.
From Monday to Saturday, the morning market is in via Sannio, just outside the Roman walls by San Giovanni in Laterano. Here you can browse huge volumes of cheap clothes.
Shopping In Venice
Venice has long been a place of trade and remains a busy retail center. Though the big name fashion houses are well-represented, the joy of shopping in Venice lies in hunting down those local novelty items that evoke the spirit of La Serenissima.
However if it's brand name fashions you're after, Venice won't disappoint. The island's busiest shopping strip is the Merceri. It runs all the ways from the Piazza to the Rialto Bridge and almost all the celebrated Italian labels have boutiques here.
For other items, Calle della Mandola is the place to browse books and glass beads. And Campo Santo Stefano is the square for antique hunting. However, you can't leave Venice without getting a souvenir carnival mask.
Carnival is the great event held every February but the masks are manufactured as souvenirs all year-round in Venice's small workshops. You can get everything from full size porcelain masks with a hefty price tag to inexpensive ornaments such as silver earrings in the shape of carnival masks. The other great specialty of Venice is glassware from the island of Murano. These include such items as vases, clocks and wine bottle caps. And you can also get decorative items such as rings, bracelets or pendants made out of the delightful colored glass. These can be very inexpensive and make great souvenirs of Venice. Other delights special to Venice include porcelain dolls and Burano lace work.
There is wide selection of hotels in Italy . Check out the internet for hotels in Rome or Venice hotels.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Shopping for me, but not for thee: the complications of voluntary simplicity
As Judith Levine tells it, it was the winter of 2003 when she figured out what Calvin Coolidge knew 80 years earlier: The business of America is business. Levine, author of the controversial Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children from Sex, was walking home in the snow lugging Christmas gifts when she decided that she had had enough. Looking at her wind-beaten fellow shoppers, she announced, "I'm not buying it." She pledged to give up shopping for one year.
Naturally, no writer could let so interesting a potential experience go unrecorded. So now we have her new book, Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping (Free Press). Except she doesn't really stop shopping. As her experiment begins, Levine claims that she means to limit herself to the necessities of daily life. One scans through Levine's list of necessities with growing incredulity. High-speed DSL (hey, it's for work!), cable television, the occasional $55 haircut, "organic French roast coffee beans," skiing?!
Levine airily insists that necessities in New York are different from those of a "farmer in Bangladesh." But she seems to forget this relative wealth when she describes the daily life she leads with her partner, Paul. She paints a pitiful picture: This "highly insecure" existence includes two residences (an apartment in Brooklyn and a house in Vermont), flexible work that allows the couple to take off and ski in the afternoon, three cars, a windsurfer, and a healthy diet of such Whole Foods staples as "Thai sweet black rice" and "Mexican huitlacoche fungus."
Moreover, throughout their ostensibly shopping-free year, the couple expands their Vermont home. (Since they agreed to do so before Levine's pledge, they figure spending $30,000 on renovations doesn't count.) Yet Levine assures us that--thanks to "rampaging corporations" and ruthless "GOPpies"--they are on the verge of "starv[ing] and freez[ing]." They Lack such necessities as a microwave, a hedge trimmer, even a cappuccino maker. Bangladeshi farmer, eat your heart out.
So we're only a few pages into the book and Levine's premise is shot. All Not Buying It can offer in the way of authorial suffering is Levine's running out of Q-Tips. Sadly, she can't achieve the "impeccable ear hygiene" to which she's accustomed with mere tissue. Levine goes without seeing Fahrenheit 9/11, which for a self-described "rurally urban, wholesomely hip, ironically butchy" New Yorker must truly have been torture. And of course, she "cheats" (she must concoct some drama, after all, and giving up Q-Tips wasn't cutting it), breaking her no-shopping pledge for the most unromantic item imaginable. She buys a pair of roomy, greenish polyester pants. For $138. It's like cheating on your husband with the pimply IT guy and paying for the hotel room.
With the "not buying it" premise fizzling out, the book devolves into a paint-by-numbers screed on the evils of capitalism: It's destroying democracy, paving over the rainforest, polluting the air, fraying the social fabric, etc. There's not a thought here that couldn't fit on a bumper sticker. In one tell-tale example, Levine rhapsodizes that the giant ads in Times Square should be replaced with "children's art, artists' videos, recipes, and safe-sex comics."But most galling is the sense of entitlement Levine evinces on every page. She fumes against Ronald Reagan for actually collecting on the National Defense Student Loan she never expected to pay back. She rails against consumerism but is appalled when one of her fellow Voluntary Simplicity groupies announces she is only buying used books. This affront "hits me directly in the royalty statement," she whines.
Like so many anti-consumerist proselytizers--from the suburban-sprawl activists to the McDonald's haters--what Levine is really talking about is taste. Isn't it dreadfully vulgar, she grumbles, how Americans spend their money? The movies they watch, the houses they buy, the politicians they elect? Why don't they spend their money on the stuff Levine prefers?
Levine claims that shopping became a less important part of her life during her experiment. Not so. For Levine, even the smallest purchase became a way of signaling who you are: You're investing not in a pair of shoes but in an idea of yourself. Whether she's buying organic veggies from the local co-op or her beloved SmartWool socks, Levine is constantly searching for affirmation of what a caring, enlightened person she is.
Levine's no-shopping pledge has all the anti-capitalist bona tides of Adbusters' "non-brand" brand, Blackspot, or, better yet, one of Citibank's "Live Richly" ads. Spiky haircut? $55. Organic coffee beans? $7 a pound. Excoriating everyone else for overconsumption? Priceless.
Articles from: http://findarticles.com/
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Keep Your Confidence
To get what you want in life you need confidence. Your friends, your mate and the car that you drive must reflect your personality, class and success. Then why not your keychain should have all these things? Yes, that little piece that holds your very important keys and the one that you carry around with you everywhere. As you carry it anywhere and every time it needs to look good and are a true reflection of your personality and style.
Just imagine yourself asking for your keys, telling everyone that they are the ones in Chevrolet Equinox keychain, that shinny chrome keychain that holds your precious keys. The same one that you asked to engrave with your initials so everyone will know is yours. Nobody can miss a keychain like that, we all tend to look for shiny things and if it looks good it is hard to forget.
When you think of a Chevrolet Equinox you think of the comfort and safety that an SUV provides, you think of your family and long trips. You will never put your family in a vehicle you don't trust, once again you must have confidence in your car. The keychain that holds the keys to your wonderful car must be one that matches your car. They can't be in any keychain they have to be in the very best. Only the best would do for you. That is why the next time you show your keys you have to make sure that they will be attached to black leather with gold Chevrolet Equinox keychain. Just have a look at the various key chains and you will understand what does style means?
If you have spend so much time and effort choosing a car that you trust, like a Chevrolet Equinox, then do not forget its keys. After all that time spend looking for that SUV, that will take your family from home to school, sports practices, shopping, weekend trips and much more, you can't have an ugly keychain to hang your keys. Your car is important to you and you can't put your car keys in an old key chain, you definitely need a Chevrolet Equinox keychain. After all, you cannot compromise on the looks and you definitely have a taste for good things in life, however small that may be!
May be you want some one you love to trust in you, then why don't show him or her how much you care with a keychain, a little detail that says you care. The next time you are going to gift something special to that important person in your life, give him or her metallic Chevrolet Equinox keychain engraved with a short message on the back that shows you care. The best thing about the Chevrolet Equinox key chain is that they can be personalized, by engraving their back you can add that personal touch that show others a little bit more about you. Now, what are you waiting for, show others the car that you trust for the people you love. Don’t let your keys get lost in oblivion with wrong keychain; get a Chevrolet Equinox keychains , today.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Just imagine yourself asking for your keys, telling everyone that they are the ones in Chevrolet Equinox keychain, that shinny chrome keychain that holds your precious keys. The same one that you asked to engrave with your initials so everyone will know is yours. Nobody can miss a keychain like that, we all tend to look for shiny things and if it looks good it is hard to forget.
When you think of a Chevrolet Equinox you think of the comfort and safety that an SUV provides, you think of your family and long trips. You will never put your family in a vehicle you don't trust, once again you must have confidence in your car. The keychain that holds the keys to your wonderful car must be one that matches your car. They can't be in any keychain they have to be in the very best. Only the best would do for you. That is why the next time you show your keys you have to make sure that they will be attached to black leather with gold Chevrolet Equinox keychain. Just have a look at the various key chains and you will understand what does style means?
If you have spend so much time and effort choosing a car that you trust, like a Chevrolet Equinox, then do not forget its keys. After all that time spend looking for that SUV, that will take your family from home to school, sports practices, shopping, weekend trips and much more, you can't have an ugly keychain to hang your keys. Your car is important to you and you can't put your car keys in an old key chain, you definitely need a Chevrolet Equinox keychain. After all, you cannot compromise on the looks and you definitely have a taste for good things in life, however small that may be!
May be you want some one you love to trust in you, then why don't show him or her how much you care with a keychain, a little detail that says you care. The next time you are going to gift something special to that important person in your life, give him or her metallic Chevrolet Equinox keychain engraved with a short message on the back that shows you care. The best thing about the Chevrolet Equinox key chain is that they can be personalized, by engraving their back you can add that personal touch that show others a little bit more about you. Now, what are you waiting for, show others the car that you trust for the people you love. Don’t let your keys get lost in oblivion with wrong keychain; get a Chevrolet Equinox keychains , today.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
8800 sirocco contract on o2: easy shopping at O2
While shopping for mobile, if your eyes have struck on 8800 sirocco but price tag is making you feels lower then opting for contract deal by O2 is the best solution. O2 is renowned network provider in the market which is making the purchase of user easy under its contract phone deal. Well, to cope up with the high-end mobile phones like 8800 sirocco , contract mobile phones have made the buying easier. From the array of the deals, Contract mobile on O2 are the easiest way to buy handset of your choice and deal with the other bills
Contract on O2 is beneficial for the users who are looking forward for long-term deal by allowing the users to enjoy the ins and outs of mobile media at the fullest length. Availing 8800 sirocco phone under contract on O2 user not only enjoy the long-term deal, but also upgrade his earlier mobile phones. So, with the time today, 8800 sirocco is supporting the latest gadgets of mobile telephony and has raised the market of buying.
In contract with O2, user of Nokia 8800 sirocco mobile phone has to sign-up the deal for time duration of 6 months to 18 months. User of sirocco 8800 finds the contract mobile phone deal best suitable for larger talktime and attractive handset at the marginalized cost which easily fits in the user’s pocket. The benefits that user of 8800 sirocco enjoys is enclosed with low call rates, free roaming, free SMS for a particular period, free 12 months line rental and free mobile phone insurance.
Phoning being the basic objective of Nokia 8800 sirocco is followed by other features like Bluetooth, tri-band, voice connectivity, Megapixel camera, FM radio, MP3. The feature gives the user enjoy capturing the pictures with various functions like digital zoom and so on. Nokia 8800 sirocco mobile phones are preoccupied by the high-tech connectivity as it strongly focuses on Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE and GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz for data and voice connectivity. Well, User of Nokia 8800 sirocco enjoys seamless connectivity over the data and file transfers.
So, if you are looking for 8800 sirocco mobile phone then avail the contract offered by O2 service provider. O2 offers various benefits and services to the user so that it can suit his pocket.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Contract on O2 is beneficial for the users who are looking forward for long-term deal by allowing the users to enjoy the ins and outs of mobile media at the fullest length. Availing 8800 sirocco phone under contract on O2 user not only enjoy the long-term deal, but also upgrade his earlier mobile phones. So, with the time today, 8800 sirocco is supporting the latest gadgets of mobile telephony and has raised the market of buying.
In contract with O2, user of Nokia 8800 sirocco mobile phone has to sign-up the deal for time duration of 6 months to 18 months. User of sirocco 8800 finds the contract mobile phone deal best suitable for larger talktime and attractive handset at the marginalized cost which easily fits in the user’s pocket. The benefits that user of 8800 sirocco enjoys is enclosed with low call rates, free roaming, free SMS for a particular period, free 12 months line rental and free mobile phone insurance.
Phoning being the basic objective of Nokia 8800 sirocco is followed by other features like Bluetooth, tri-band, voice connectivity, Megapixel camera, FM radio, MP3. The feature gives the user enjoy capturing the pictures with various functions like digital zoom and so on. Nokia 8800 sirocco mobile phones are preoccupied by the high-tech connectivity as it strongly focuses on Bluetooth, GPRS, EDGE and GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz for data and voice connectivity. Well, User of Nokia 8800 sirocco enjoys seamless connectivity over the data and file transfers.
So, if you are looking for 8800 sirocco mobile phone then avail the contract offered by O2 service provider. O2 offers various benefits and services to the user so that it can suit his pocket.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Is My Power Mall Really An International Online Shopping Mall?
My Power Mall offers online shopping through over 1000 retail outlets and this means members can choose goods for convenient home delivery from millions of articles of merchandise. The growing popularity of shopping online is one of the reasons My Power Mall has become so popular so quickly, but is it really an international online shopping mall? The short answer at the moment has to be "no" or maybe "not yet", but let's look at the whole picture.
Online shopping becomes more popular every day and it is hardly surprising when you consider that it offers such convenience. It is no longer necessary for shoppers in isolated communities to make a long pilgrimage to a big city to find the items they want to purchase; shopping online means they can sit at home and buy what they want with a few clicks of their mouse. Parents are no longer forced to choose their purchases while trying to control active kids who would rather be anywhere other than at the shopping mall. Heavy or inconveniently large purchases no longer have to be lugged around, they are delivered right to the shopper's front door.
If convenience is not enough to persuade the average person to shop at online shopping malls, the shopping rebates available online will tip the balance in favour of the online shopping mall. My Power Mall offers online rebate shopping to anyone who becomes a member, but that is only part of the story. My Power Mall is not just about saving money; it is about making money as well. Members who introduce new members to My Power Mall also get paid a percentage of the shopping rebates earned by the people they have brought in.
At the time of writing this, My Power Mall is barely six months old and is undergoing incredible growth. In their FAQ they say: "We were surprised when so many International members joined us", the mere fact that this statement is included in the FAQ certainly makes it seem that the company has been overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown worldwide.
My Power Mall is an American company and was launched primarily to appeal to citizens of the United States. The vast majority of the retailers included in the 1000+ stores available at the launch of My Power Mall will only ship goods within the US but, again according to the company's FAQ, they are "working toward having a truly International Mall". They go on to say that they are working hard at locating merchants who will ship to all the countries represented by their international members. How successful they will be in performing this task remains to be seen. Finding even a handful of merchants to cater for each of the countries represented would involve locating hundreds of suitable retailers and vetting retailers of international companies would be a massive task.
The owners of My Power Mall are apparently committed to expanding the company to become an international online shopping mall but, right now, they have a long way to go before they can truly offer an international shopping mall. At the time of writing this, My Power Mall is an international home based business opportunity but a United States focused online shopping mall.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Online shopping becomes more popular every day and it is hardly surprising when you consider that it offers such convenience. It is no longer necessary for shoppers in isolated communities to make a long pilgrimage to a big city to find the items they want to purchase; shopping online means they can sit at home and buy what they want with a few clicks of their mouse. Parents are no longer forced to choose their purchases while trying to control active kids who would rather be anywhere other than at the shopping mall. Heavy or inconveniently large purchases no longer have to be lugged around, they are delivered right to the shopper's front door.
If convenience is not enough to persuade the average person to shop at online shopping malls, the shopping rebates available online will tip the balance in favour of the online shopping mall. My Power Mall offers online rebate shopping to anyone who becomes a member, but that is only part of the story. My Power Mall is not just about saving money; it is about making money as well. Members who introduce new members to My Power Mall also get paid a percentage of the shopping rebates earned by the people they have brought in.
At the time of writing this, My Power Mall is barely six months old and is undergoing incredible growth. In their FAQ they say: "We were surprised when so many International members joined us", the mere fact that this statement is included in the FAQ certainly makes it seem that the company has been overwhelmed by the amount of interest shown worldwide.
My Power Mall is an American company and was launched primarily to appeal to citizens of the United States. The vast majority of the retailers included in the 1000+ stores available at the launch of My Power Mall will only ship goods within the US but, again according to the company's FAQ, they are "working toward having a truly International Mall". They go on to say that they are working hard at locating merchants who will ship to all the countries represented by their international members. How successful they will be in performing this task remains to be seen. Finding even a handful of merchants to cater for each of the countries represented would involve locating hundreds of suitable retailers and vetting retailers of international companies would be a massive task.
The owners of My Power Mall are apparently committed to expanding the company to become an international online shopping mall but, right now, they have a long way to go before they can truly offer an international shopping mall. At the time of writing this, My Power Mall is an international home based business opportunity but a United States focused online shopping mall.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
How to Shop for a Car... Without Actually Shopping for a Car
My lease is up soon and I want to be sure I get what I want... which usually means ordering the vehicle four months ahead of time. So a little advance planning is in order.
Of course, if you've just been discharged from your bankruptcy, or your FICO scores are low, you should have different priorities.
Your main concern should be just getting financed.
Then you should concentrate on working with a car manufacturer, bank or credit union that reports to all three credit reporting agencies.
And finally, you want to find a loan at a single-digit interest rate with little to no money down.
Is this even possible?
Yes... keep reading.
Most of the time, your best deal is going to be on a car the dealer has in stock. I started out getting cars this way. But now, with over 13 years after my bankruptcy, I have more options. As your FICO scores increase and more time passes it gets easier.
I wanted to make sure I was well prepared before I talked to a salesperson, so I went to the auto manufacturer's website. After reading about all the new features, I still had questions.
Rob Lied to Me
I decided to return to the dealership where I purchased my current SUV.
Rob, the salesman who sold me the truck two and a half years ago, was still working there.
Oh, joy.
And he remembered me...
How could he forget?
He lied to me the last time I purchased from him. And by the time I realized it-there was no turning back. (Sometimes you just need to pick your battles.)
You see, in 2003 he sold me an SUV with the promise that it came with DVD navigation.
All the sales literature was very vague so I made it very clear to Rob that this was one of my motivations for getting the SUV. To make a long story short... the SUV did NOT have DVD navigation.
My first clue came when I received a package from the navigation software company a week later with a letter saying...
"Congratulations on your new purchase. Enclosed are your navigation CDs... "
CDs?!
Crap. I knew I was in trouble.
So, to peacefully resolve the situation... I suggested a compromise. They would detail one of our cars once a month for free until the DVD navigation system
was upgraded... at cost (they never gave me the upgrade. It's been two and a half years so far, and our cars are very clean).
Why I Went Back to a Car Dealership where the Salesperson Lied to Me
I walked into the dealership with my, "car dealership attitude" in high gear. I met a young chap by the name of Rick and asked him for a brochure.
As he was stapling his business card to a color brochure I asked him if Amy, the finance manager, was still there.
Rick said she still worked there, and was in the building. He promptly rang her phone extension asking if he could bring by a visitor.
Amy helped me finance my current SUV, and is a talented finance manager... knows her stuff and takes pride in her work (rare talents these days). She's the reason I went back to the dealership.
So we began walking toward her office through the back hallway.
As we were walking, I started to think, "This will be really awkward if she doesn't remember me! After all, it's been a while and she's dealt with hundreds if not a thousand people since then."
And just before I had time to think of Plan B... we arrived at Amy's office door.
"... Hi, Stephen. I love the newsletters. I read them every chance I get. But could you change the name of the newsletter so people here don't think I filed bankruptcy?!... "
She remembered me!
Not only that, she's a reader of my newsletter!
Six important questions to ask a finance manager
I told Amy my lease was ending on my SUV in October. I then quickly went into my fact-finding mode... asking her important questions to get a better feel of what I could expect. These were my exact questions...
1. Do your lenders use the regular FICO credit scores or FICO Auto Industry Option scores?
2. Which local banks or credit unions are offering competitive financing?
3. Does the manufacturer offer a competitive rate and terms compared to other lenders?
4. Which credit reporting agency does your lender use to make a loan decision?
5. Can you dictate which score or which credit reporting agency they use to make a loan decision?
6. What minimum score is required to get the best interest rate and terms?
Amy answered all of my financing questions in a 10-minute conversation.
I said goodbye to Amy, gave Rick my card, chatted about my lingering questions, and left the dealership with a very clear game plan.
No credit reports were reviewed.
No unnecessary credit inquiries were made.
Just the right questions asked of someone in a position to answer them.
I had just shopped for a car without actually shopping for a car. You should do this as well. It will save you time, energy and credit inquiries.
Half the Battle is Going to the Right Car Dealer
As I said before, since my bankruptcy has been discharged for over 13 years, I have a lot of options with lenders. It also helps that my bankruptcy no longer appears on my credit reports.
Even if your bankruptcy still remains on your credit reports just knowing what dealer to go to and what to do when you get there can be the difference between getting financed at a normal interest rate on a car you want, or being offered high-interest financing by a crappy lender like Crapital One, AmeriCredit, WFS Financial, or HSBC Auto Finance on a crappy car you don't want.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
Of course, if you've just been discharged from your bankruptcy, or your FICO scores are low, you should have different priorities.
Your main concern should be just getting financed.
Then you should concentrate on working with a car manufacturer, bank or credit union that reports to all three credit reporting agencies.
And finally, you want to find a loan at a single-digit interest rate with little to no money down.
Is this even possible?
Yes... keep reading.
Most of the time, your best deal is going to be on a car the dealer has in stock. I started out getting cars this way. But now, with over 13 years after my bankruptcy, I have more options. As your FICO scores increase and more time passes it gets easier.
I wanted to make sure I was well prepared before I talked to a salesperson, so I went to the auto manufacturer's website. After reading about all the new features, I still had questions.
Rob Lied to Me
I decided to return to the dealership where I purchased my current SUV.
Rob, the salesman who sold me the truck two and a half years ago, was still working there.
Oh, joy.
And he remembered me...
How could he forget?
He lied to me the last time I purchased from him. And by the time I realized it-there was no turning back. (Sometimes you just need to pick your battles.)
You see, in 2003 he sold me an SUV with the promise that it came with DVD navigation.
All the sales literature was very vague so I made it very clear to Rob that this was one of my motivations for getting the SUV. To make a long story short... the SUV did NOT have DVD navigation.
My first clue came when I received a package from the navigation software company a week later with a letter saying...
"Congratulations on your new purchase. Enclosed are your navigation CDs... "
CDs?!
Crap. I knew I was in trouble.
So, to peacefully resolve the situation... I suggested a compromise. They would detail one of our cars once a month for free until the DVD navigation system
was upgraded... at cost (they never gave me the upgrade. It's been two and a half years so far, and our cars are very clean).
Why I Went Back to a Car Dealership where the Salesperson Lied to Me
I walked into the dealership with my, "car dealership attitude" in high gear. I met a young chap by the name of Rick and asked him for a brochure.
As he was stapling his business card to a color brochure I asked him if Amy, the finance manager, was still there.
Rick said she still worked there, and was in the building. He promptly rang her phone extension asking if he could bring by a visitor.
Amy helped me finance my current SUV, and is a talented finance manager... knows her stuff and takes pride in her work (rare talents these days). She's the reason I went back to the dealership.
So we began walking toward her office through the back hallway.
As we were walking, I started to think, "This will be really awkward if she doesn't remember me! After all, it's been a while and she's dealt with hundreds if not a thousand people since then."
And just before I had time to think of Plan B... we arrived at Amy's office door.
"... Hi, Stephen. I love the newsletters. I read them every chance I get. But could you change the name of the newsletter so people here don't think I filed bankruptcy?!... "
She remembered me!
Not only that, she's a reader of my newsletter!
Six important questions to ask a finance manager
I told Amy my lease was ending on my SUV in October. I then quickly went into my fact-finding mode... asking her important questions to get a better feel of what I could expect. These were my exact questions...
1. Do your lenders use the regular FICO credit scores or FICO Auto Industry Option scores?
2. Which local banks or credit unions are offering competitive financing?
3. Does the manufacturer offer a competitive rate and terms compared to other lenders?
4. Which credit reporting agency does your lender use to make a loan decision?
5. Can you dictate which score or which credit reporting agency they use to make a loan decision?
6. What minimum score is required to get the best interest rate and terms?
Amy answered all of my financing questions in a 10-minute conversation.
I said goodbye to Amy, gave Rick my card, chatted about my lingering questions, and left the dealership with a very clear game plan.
No credit reports were reviewed.
No unnecessary credit inquiries were made.
Just the right questions asked of someone in a position to answer them.
I had just shopped for a car without actually shopping for a car. You should do this as well. It will save you time, energy and credit inquiries.
Half the Battle is Going to the Right Car Dealer
As I said before, since my bankruptcy has been discharged for over 13 years, I have a lot of options with lenders. It also helps that my bankruptcy no longer appears on my credit reports.
Even if your bankruptcy still remains on your credit reports just knowing what dealer to go to and what to do when you get there can be the difference between getting financed at a normal interest rate on a car you want, or being offered high-interest financing by a crappy lender like Crapital One, AmeriCredit, WFS Financial, or HSBC Auto Finance on a crappy car you don't want.
Article from: http://www.goarticles.com/
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