Four Ways to Save Money Shopping Online

Recently the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act which is going to make an internet sales tax a reality for all of us. Even as we inch further towards a sales tax being slapped on to all of our online purchases, there is still plenty of other ways to save money on your online purchases that TIME recently compiled. Here are their recommendations:

Use Coupon Codes: Sites like RetailMeNot.com, CouponCabin.com, and BradsDeals.com aggregate coupon codes from a wide variety of online merchants. Taking advantage of these can get you a pretty healthy discount.

Use Credit Card Rewards: If you have a store credit card, using that card on that store’s website usually nets you a pretty healthy discount. If you make a lot of purchases from a single merchant getting their credit card might not be a bad idea.

Abandon Your Shopping Cart: Some merchants will email you a discount offer if you put items in your shopping cart and leave them there. Online retailers figure that if you came so close to purchasing a little extra incentive can help push you into making the transaction. It may take a day or two but you can “virtually haggle” with online vendors using this tactic.

Make Your Online Purchases Now: Don’t wait for your state to start taxing your online purchases. With big-ticket items a 7-9 percent sales tax can easily add up to hundreds of dollars. If your state hasn’t imposed an online sales tax yet, make your big ticket purchases before your state decides to take a cut of the action.

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

12 things not to buy during holidays

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine gives holiday shoppers an important list of 12 things not to buy during holidays. Everyone wants to find the perfect gift for their loved ones, but in these tough economic times, your best bet may be to buy these 12 items before or after the holiday season. While it seems every store you can imagine is in the midst of holiday sales and specials, you may save even more money by holding off on purchasing the following items:

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Photo courtesy of: MSN.com

1: Laptops

2: Cameras

3: Skis

4: Bicycles

5: Cars

6: Cruises

7: Luggage

8: Jewelry

9: Linens

10: Tools

11: Suits

12: Broadway Tickets

Downtown DC Holiday Market 2012

While in Washington DC this month, be sure to swing by The 8th Annual Downtown Holiday Market, (F Street sidewalk in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery between 7th & 9th Streets, NW) and pick up a one of a kind gift for whomever you’re shopping for. This festive shopping village runs through December 23rd, and is open from 12:00pm – 8:00pm daily, featuring more than 180 regional crafters and artisans as well as boutique businesses that produce ethnic goods. Each day 60 exhibitors will sell all sorts of gifts including pottery, painting, and jewelry so be sure to stop more than once as exhibitors will change daily!

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available throughout Washington D.C. and  Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 for more information.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.downtowndc.org

Boston’s Most Stylish Shops

Timeoutboston.com helps visitors plan the perfect shopping trip in their guide to Boston’s most stylish shops. Judging from the snow that piled up on the east coast last week, one thing is for sure, winter is coming. Meaning if you plan to be in Boston in the next month or so, you can expect the weather to be rather cold and windy… and most likely snowy. Where better to be in the midst of winter’s chill than shopping! Obviously you don’t want to traipse around the frigid city searching out the most stylish places to shop. This is why this list is perfect for you. 5 shops each unique, each hip and offering items that are sure to warm you up this winter. Why not stop by marimekko , located at 140 Newbury Street, in Back Bay where you will be delighted by their huge selection of patterned clothing, handbags and home accessories. They also sell fabric by the yard, truly ideal since winter is also the time to catch up on those sewing projects you’ve been meaning to start!

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available in Boston.  Please call us at 800-587-2640 or email us at Boston@FurnishedHousing.com for more info.

Top 15 holiday toys of 2012

Toys R’ Us has compiled a list published by MSN.com of the Top 15 holiday toys of 2012. There is no time like the present when it comes to many things, that’s for sure. One of which is getting a head start on your holiday shopping. As the holiday season slowly comes into full swing, (or not so slowly if you’re already been seeing holiday T.V. commercials), there is no better time to start shopping for the perfect toys for little ones in your life. With many fun-filled gift options, this list will surely make even the pickiest child remember this season as “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”

Churchill has short-term corporate housing available Nationwide. Please contact us at 866-255-0593 or National@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Photo courtesy of: MSN.com

2012 Jersey Choice

Njmonthly.com’s 2012 Jersey Choice: The Best of NJ offers a list of the best food purveyors, retailers and wonderful places chosen by NJ Monthly readers. The list is separated into 4 sections – Food and Drink, Shopping, Health and Beauty and Recreations and Attractions.

Some of our favorites are:

Best Milkshake - Holsten’s in Bloomfield makes its own ice cream. Of course. Been doing it the same way since 1964. But it also makes its own syrups—vanilla, coffee, chocolate, strawberry, you name it. Blend ice cream, syrup, a little milk—and even a topping, like fresh strawberries, if you’d like—in a steel container, and you have an unbeatable thick shake. Most popular is vanilla, followed by chocolate. About a quarter of all shakes are ordered malted, vanilla again the most popular. When he makes one for himself, Ron Stark, one of the owners, leans toward cookies-and-cream ice cream with vanilla syrup. “You get a little extra texture,” he says. (1063 Broad St; 973-338-7091; holstens.com)

Best Wings – When Adam Richman of the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food stopped by the Chicken or the Egg in Beach Haven, he chose the chicken—the Ludicrous Buffalo chicken-wing challenge, to be exact. The legendary LBI eatery first opened its doors in 1991 and has built a loyal following serving wings and breakfast 24/7 in season. With 15 sauces—including favorites like Bee Sting and Ludicrous—you’ll be sure to heat up your Shore experience. “Chicken or the Egg is the quintessential Jersey Shore eatery,” says reader Dave Hershberger of Ringwood. Be the judge of the fiery wings yourself. (207 North Bay Ave; 609-492-3695; 492fowl.com)

Best Ice Rink – Since opening its doors in 1975, Mennen Arena in Morristown has shepherded countless young skaters through the process of learning to glide across the ice. The arena’s exceptional learn-to-skate programs and extensive public skating hours have made it an epicenter of skating in northern New Jersey. The facility has three rinks, a full snack bar, pro shop and private party rooms. (161 East Hanover Ave., 973-326-7651,morrisparks.net)

Check out Churchill’s inventory of short-term temporary housing in New Jersey and  Nationwide. Contact us at 866-255-0593 or NorthJersey@FurnishedHousing.com for more information.

Courtesy of njmonthly.com

Best of NY

Nymag.com has released their Best of NY 2010 list. It is touted as an up-to-the-moment compendium of the finest eating, shopping, drinking, and other forms of consuming in New York. Some of the more interesting picks are:

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie – Má Pêche has cookies made by Momofuku Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi. Each cookie order is baked à la minute and served on the mezzanine with a glass of ice-cold milk.

Best Bun – Baohaus features authentic Taiwanese steamed buns made with quality ingredients.

Best Vegan Treat – BabyCakes NYC offers baked, vegan and glutten-free doughnuts in a variety of rotating flavors.

Churchill has temporary corporate housing in New York City. Please call 800-658-7366 or email NewYork@FurnishedHousing.com for more info.

Courtesy of nymag.com