Christmas is looming again and it's time to shop, whether we like it or not. Personally I prefer to avoid the Christmas crush in the bigger stores and shop online, from the comfort of my own computer. But that's just my little quirk.

Here are some ideas for gifts under $15:


1. Blue Dolphin Ocarina

If you have played Legend of Zelda you may already know what an ocarina is. If not, its a terracotta wind instrument with holes, something akin to a recorder or flute.























2. Japanese Design Mouse Mats
If you have the same boring plain mousepad as everyone else, be different!! Gold leaf mousepad featuring Japanese artwork.





















3. Reusable Leather Journal/Note pad Holder
This is my personal pick for the cutest gift ever - perfect for the person who carries a notebook everywhere they go.






















4. 15 Wines Under $15
Technically this isn't just one present. But who cares. Wine makes a good present. (Checks vintage) Then again, maybe not (*pops cork*)























5. Penguin Holiday Pendant
This would make a great present for a daughter / granddaughter / niece - very cute, very Christmassy. The pendant is the same size as a standard scrabble tile.

Happy Shopping!!

technorati tags: christmas, gifts, cool gift under $15, gift ideas, Christmas gift ideas, frugalChristmas, gift ideas for christmas,

Let's face it. Social networking is taking over the world. People seem to love the format, the feel, the connection with other people. Unfortunately, many online shopping sites are going to start looking like dinosaurs as technology moves faster than the people who run the sites.

Thankfully, there are a few sites that are stepping up to the online shopping/social networking fusion. I like to call it Shopping 2.0!

One of these notable sites is Canadian deal hunting site, Wishabi.ca


















The design is cute, the interface is friendly, and you can even sign in with Facebook. Canadians who once had trouble finding products to ship to Canada from the US can now band together and feature deals specifically for those living in Canada. The site also promotes cross-border shopping in which you can find the best deals from the US and Canada and compare/rate to find the best deals. This feature also calculates the hidden fees associated with shopping across the border such as cross-border fees and exchange rates so there are no nasty surprises when it comes to checkout time.

Each merchant has a ranking determined by Wishabi members so you can research a store's performance before committing to buy. If you find a great deal, you can share it with your online shopping friends and gain points depending on the popularity of your chosen item. I did a search for "canvas messenger bag", as I am considering adding yet another bag to my growing collection. The deals were excellent. I found quite a few bags for under $40 Canadian dollars. I was able to filter the results by price, and deal rating points. Deal ratings are calculated using feedback from the Wishabi community and statistical analysis to allow users to make informed decisions on price trends and the right time to buy. Members are also rewarded in cash by finding a better deal than the current Wishabi deals. The minimum payout is $20 CAD and payment is made by PayPal. I predict that community-driven sites are the future of online shopping, with the power ultimately resting in the hands of the consumer.

Last minute deals ending 29 June 2009. (US time)


ViewSonic 22"Widescreen LCD Monitor
42% off
This monitor is marked down from $295 to $169. Shipping is free for a short time so... you might want to get in quick to take advantage of this offer.

SanDisk 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo
77% off
This deal is incredible - normal price $79.99 - you can buy it today for $17.77
















Iomega 500GB Prestige Desktop USB 2.0 External Hard Drive
This external hard drive is usually priced around $99 - this one is marked down to $69.
















Apple iPod 30GB
$399 is the usual price - today $99.99

technorati tags: last minute deals saving discount shopping coupon save

Acer TravelMate 3290 14.1'' Laptop Core 2 Duo, 1GB Ram, 80GB HD

This deal caught my eye today - for those looking for an inexpensive laptop, this refurbished 1GB RAM / 80GB HD provides the opportunity for big savings. My personal laptop came from DealsDirect and I was thrilled with the service and the laptop itself.

Today's price is $699 and suggested retail price is around $1400. You might need to hurry, though - this deal begins at 11:23PM Sun 21/06/2009 AEST and will end at 11:59PM Mon 22/06/2009 AEST.

technorati tags: shopping laptop deal special bargain

You might also be interested in this offer, it seems that the guys at SurveyDollar are now paying people to take surveys. They are offering two special free bonuses including a copy of "Project Payday" and if you sign up now you can get instant unlimited access to a list of paid survey companies.

Here's your chance to get a huge 10-20% discount at Macy's. Between 10th and 15th December 2008 you can use this discount on various items throughout the store.

When shopping on macys.com
enter the promotional code: MACYSFRIEND to receive your discount


Click here for the printable PDF version:
Download the Macy's Friends and Family Coupon!

technorati tags: macys coupon codes promotional online shopping discount