Smart Advice For Making Better Jewelry Decisions

There are so many options and beautiful pieces available, so it helps to understand some basic maintenance ideas. This advice can help you in your search for some answers!

This can dull your stones and the metal of the piece.

Jewelry is an investment that can last generations. When choosing jewelry, focus on buying a quality, ensuring that the piece you choose is of high-quality. High-quality jewelry can be told by its superior craftsmanship and displays excellent craftsmanship. The person selling the piece should know its history, such as its manufacturer and the source of the gemstones. It is essential to purchase high-quality if you want it to become a treasured heirloom passed down for generations.

Look at what you like close up, and keep that in mind so you can compare it with other diamonds you look at. Be aware that some dealers will use cheap tactics to make a diamond look bigger or better.

Pay attention if they usually wear studs or hoop earrings, white gold or yellow, and colors of jewelry that the person wears.This will help you get started in your search for the perfect item of where to start when purchasing that special item.

Before you think about picking up new jewelry, take a look at what’s new and trendy. The only thing that beats getting a new piece of jewelry is getting it for a discount.

Costume jewelry is pricey and can retain its value in many cases, but a piece that shows too much wear and tear will not be worth the money or time. A piece will increase in value.

If you are buying jewelry for someone who values her individuality, try finding a special piece that is crafted specifically for them. A unique piece like this that matches their personality appears creative and thoughtful, necklace or bracelet conveys respect for and appreciation of the recipient’s creativity and personality.

You can pin it centered at your waist or near the hip.

Store Windows

You can save big money if you take the time to look for better prices. Check online, in the store windows, and in store windows. If you purchase something on clearance, you can get it for almost 50 percent off of its original price.

Untangle knotted necklaces with delicate chains and necklaces. It’s easy to give up on some knotted metal mass; however, but saran wrap can come to the rescue. Put the necklace on the plastic wrap and cover it with a little mineral oil or baby oil.Use a sewing needle to untangle the necklaces. Wash it gently with a bit of dish soap and then pat dry.

Have a purpose in mind for the jewelry you purchase. There is no need for a large amount of unused jewelry. Think about the outfits you can wear the jewelry with when choosing different pieces.

When selling a piece of jewelry online, be sure to develop attractive and persuasive imagery of the pieces. This is very important since customers cannot …

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Headboards for Beds Shopping Tips

Headboards for Beds Shopping Tips

A headboard is usually either a wooden or metal piece that connects to your bed to provide stability, support, and style in a bedroom. Many people choose to buy one with a shelving system for placement of a couple books, and maybe a small reading lamp. Choosing a headboard is not rocket science, but it does take time to compare size, cost, and appearance, to find a piece you like best. Whether you’re looking to buy a queen size, king size, or full size, there’s plenty of colors and styles to choose from.

Do you need to measure? If you’re replacing your existing bed with a new bed of the same size, there’s no need to measure the bedroom. If you’re upgrading to a bigger size bed, it’s wise to pull out the old tape measure before buying a new bed. The last thing you want is a huge bed in a tiny room. It will take up too much space. If you need to buy a custom headboard to fit onto your existing bed, you’ll need to measure accordingly and submit the measurements to the vendor.

Choose the right style. Bookcase beds, or cabin bed style headboards, are nice for a small bedroom where it’s difficult to use a separate dresser, or a night stand. These include shelves on top and some models include drawers underneath the bed. The price ranges from $100 for cheap Sauder particle board material, to $1,000 for quality Elite Classics and Powell furniture. The price is higher for queen and king size. Solid oak or maple wood cost the most money.

Another popular style headboard is the wooden sleigh style. The back of the bed slightly arches vertically up the wall with a curve in the middle. It turns your bed into the focal point of the room. The downside is the lack of space. It does not come with shelves. If you don’t like wood then compare prices for upholstered headboards. Fabric upholstered headboards are very attractive. Choose from leather, micro-suede, or patterned fabric. Leather is very expensive and since it’s cold to the touch, it may require extra sheets or pillows if you rest your head on it. Consider metal instead of wood or fabric. Wrought iron looks romantic and modern.

What is the height of your ceiling? The height of the bed should not be too high so that it looks awkward in a room with a low ceiling. Start shopping around and compare deals. Find low prices on Internet discount bedroom furniture stores. Also take a look at furniture clearing houses and antique shops. If you want to buy something cheap visit Walmart and Target. Find online bargains using sites like Nextag. You can land amazing deals on the Internet, but the problem is the delivery cost involved. You might also consider garage sales, estate sales, and consignment shops. You’d be surprised what you can find on free classified sites like Craigslist. People often need …

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How To Scour For The Best Online Shopping Deals

How To Scour For The Best Online Shopping Deals

Online shopping has become a huge part of people’s day to day lives. With anything we could need at our fingertips, it’s often easier than buying in store. And online can often be the best place to find the greatest deals because of a variety of sites and offers. If it’s clothing or jewelry deals, or bigger purchases like furniture, you can find tons of great deals.

The first benefit to shopping online is price comparison. There are plenty of sites online that can tell you where a specific product is sold and have a side by side comparison of price, including the shipping so you can see the real total. This is great when you are looking for something carried in multiple places like a pair of shoes or a video game title.

You’ll also want to check out websites for coupon codes, like Coupon Cabin and Retail Me Not. These sites compile checkout codes for shopping websites that may save you a percentage on a purchase or give you free shipping. When looking for online shopping deals, you should always check these sites before completing your check out. You never know what money you can knock off from your total, so don’t forgo this step.

Deal websites are a great choice as well. They often post daily deals of specific items that last 24 hours or deals that last until sold out. The prices you can get on some of these deals are deeply discounted from retail, but because they are in that small window you have to act fast. You’ll want to bookmark these pages or even set your favorite as your home page every time you open your browser. That way you’ll always be in the know of what the deal for the day is.

If you shop consistently at certain sites, sign up for their newsletter. Often they will send out news of sales both online and in store (if they have a physical location) to their subscribers before the public knows about them. At times they’ll even let you shop early by a day or two through a special link in the e-mail. Just make sure you pick and choose who to subscribe to; too many e-mails from too many companies is going to be very overwhelming.

If you keep on top of all of these things, you’ll be sure to score yourself a great online shopping deal the next time you are in the market for, well, anything!…

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Refrigerators – How To Buy A Refrigerator

Refrigerators – How To Buy A Refrigerator

The refrigerator is usually the most expensive and frequently visited appliance in the home today. We rely on it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep things cold and fresh for our families. Whether you are shopping for that first refrigerator to go in that new house you just bought or replacing an old one you have had for years, you will want to carefully consider all the choices to make sure you get the perfect one for you and your family. The whole process can become quite confusing considering refrigerators available today come in more styles, colors and sizes than ever before. Whether you decide on a traditional top mount, side by side, french door, or a 4 door refrigerator, the following will teach you exactly what you need to know so you can start shopping for that perfect model.

The first thing you will need to know before you start shopping for a new refrigerator is the size of the area where you intend to put the refrigerator. It is a lot more important to have the dimensions of the space where the refrigerator is going to go rather than the dimensions of an old model you are replacing. The key measurements are width, height, and depth. If you plan on getting one with an ice maker or ice and water dispenser, you need to make sure there is an existing water line or a cold water pipe that can be accessed to add a water line to in order to get water to the refrigerator.

When measuring width, make sure you take into consideration all wall moldings and trim if the new refrigerator is going directly against a wall. Measure one side to the other including the molding and then again without the molding. Make sure you check to see if the molding can easily be removed in case you are a little short on space when it comes to the width needed to accommodate the refrigerator you eventually pick out. Another thing to consider when looking at the area where you plan to put the refrigerator is where the doors will swing open. Pay close attention to the design of the kitchen and make sure there is not a wall, cabinet, or island that the door will hit when swung open.

The next measurement you will need to know is the total height of the space you intend to put your new refrigerator. Don’t make the mistake a lot of people make which is measuring their old refrigerator instead of the actual space. Take note of any trim on the bottom of the cabinet if there is one above where the refrigerator is going to sit to see if it can be removed or shaved off a little in case you need a little extra space for the model you pick out.

The depth of the space isn’t nearly as important as the first two measurements …

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Ten Traps to Keep You From Getting a Mail-In Rebate

Ten Traps to Keep You From Getting a Mail-In Rebate

Hundreds of millions of dollars in rebates go unfilled every year due to deceptive practices on the part of retailers and manufacturers.

Companies that offer rebates know that the majority of customers do not actually file for rebates. But to make sure they pay out even less, some companies hire rebate processing firms that guarantee there will be almost nothing paid out.

If you bought a product that comes with a rebate, it may be a scam, so watch for these 10 traps to keep you from getting a check in the mail.

1. Watch the dates.

Some companies require your letter be stamped within 10 days of purchase. The problem of course is that you need the UPC label or serial number of the item and so if you don’t pay for 2nd day delivery or UPS doesn’t come in time, the rebate becomes invalid. They will tell you that the delivery delay of your ordered product is not their problem. Of course, they are the ones doing the shipping and so they make sure it’s not shipped until very close to the deadline.

2. Incorrect Receipts.

The company sends a certain proportion of rebate requests back to the consumer stating that the receipt you sent was not correct even if you did in fact send the correct receipt. They do this because they know some consumers will mistakenly assume they forgot or made a mistake. In this manner the company hopes that a certain number of consumers will drop out at this point or cannot find the original receipt.

3. Original UPC barcode cut from the retail box or serial number trap.

The company sends a certain proportion of rebate requests back to the consumer stating that the barcode was not included or the serial number was not written in. Again, the company hopes that a certain percentage will drop off again.

Some manufacturers will blame the reselling company for putting on the wrong UPC label. Of course, by the time they tell you this, your time to file has expired. When you contact the retailer that sold you the product, they point out this notice on their website: “Any use of these rebates is limited to the terms and conditions specified by the product manufacturer. If you have any questions regarding rebate terms and conditions, please contact the manufacturer directly.” And tell you there is nothing you can do. This is untrue. According to the FTC, the retailer is responsible for rebates if the manufacturer does not honor their promises.

4. The Packing Slip Trap.

Some manufacturers will ask for a master packing slip. This is usually on the outside of the mailed package and generally gets thrown out after you unpack your product. The company hopes that you don’t process the rebate until after the garbage pickup and you no longer have the packing slip.

5. Send Two Rebate Forms Trap.

Some companies require that you …

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How to Inspect a Retail Shopping Centre

How to Inspect a Retail Shopping Centre

As a local real estate agent specializing in retail property, it pays to concentrate your efforts within the market segment and monitor the activities and successes of all retail properties locally. This monitoring process involves local market assessment and regular property inspections.

The property market knowledge that you can gain from this process will help you with future leasing opportunities and sales. Retail property is of a type that needs special agent support and focus; inexperienced agents are of little value to the sale or lease of retail property.

So the properties you inspect should be broken up into three categories:

The properties that you manage now and can gain access to and get information from without any difficulty.

The properties that you do not manage or lease and that are competitive properties to your sales, lease, or management portfolio.

The new properties coming on to the market through any new retail shopping centre development.

Each of these three retail categories will give you trends to capture and monitor. Most particularly you should be gathering all the facts and information around rentals, lease types, tenancy mix strategies, tenant sales turnover, and anchor tenants, occupancy costs, and vacancy factors. This retail market knowledge is invaluable when helping your clients.

It can easily be said that these factors make the retail property industry quite special. That is why many real estate agents choose to specialize only within the retail sector. It is very difficult for an inexperienced agent to professionally service the managing, leasing, and sale of any retail property.

To inspect a retail property given all of the above information, it is wise to use some form of checklist covering all the required issues. Here are some of the key items to place within the checklist you can use:

The size of the subject property in gross lettable area should be identified. Plans of the property will also help here.

The number of retail properties in your local property precinct together with their gross lettable areas should be tallied so you can understand the gross vacancy factor of any given point in time.

The vacancy factors in each property together with the expected lease expiries coming up will allow you to address leasing opportunities. You will also be able to move tenants from property to property in specialised lease negotiations.

The details of market rentals will always be valuable across the property segment. Negotiating market rentals with new tenants and sitting tenants will be different and should be supported by up to date rental trends and evidence.

The outgoings or expenditure costs for each retail property will be valuable information. You can then see if the particular property is operating within the averages of industry expenditure trends. A property with high outgoings will always be difficult to lease.

The customer numbers and sales details for retail tenants for the shopping centre are usually held confidentially by the centre manager or landlord. This means that …

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Tips to Consider in Purchasing 10-Inch Tablets

Tips to Consider in Purchasing 10-Inch Tablets

There is no denying that the world today is characterized by an information-hungry society. This could be the reason why 10 inch tablets are all over the place and have even become fashionable to a certain extent. People utilize 10 inch tablets for accessing the world wide web, checking their electronic mails, reading a pre-downloaded electronic book or newspaper content and for other multi-tasking purposes. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you want to purchase the best tablet with 10 inch screen.

First thing that you should consider is the size and weight of a tablet. The device should be thin and light weight. It should also be easy and convenient to transport. Tablets today come in many different size variations and dimensions ranging from a 5 inch, 7 inch or 8.9 inch screen. However, many have agreed that the 10 inch tablet is just the right size to work with.

Next is the amount of internal storage of the device. In the end, this will limit how many applications you can install on your gadget. Inquire if the device is equipped with slots that can handle an expandable, removable storage. You will also want to examine the battery life of the device. Some can last for as long as 10 to 12 hours while others operate only for 2 hours or less.

Decide if you want a gadget that has 3G capabilities or a Wi-Fi only model. Although the Wi-Fi models will be easier on the pocket, the 3G models will offer more flexibility. Also take into account extra features such as a camera. This will be beneficial for video conferencing. Check the device’s price, the different applications available as well as compatibility issues.

The bottom line in choosing the best 10 inch tablet is that the device must match and be suitable for your lifestyle, budget and usage habits. Prior to buying, ensure that you will be able to maximize the different features and functions of your gadget so that your tablet will not end up as a paperweight.

Some models that come highly recommended as the best 10 inch tablet include the iPad and the Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Tab functions as a phone and comes equipped with a 3 megapixel camera and a flash player. It can also play up to 7 hours of video playback. The iPad has no camera and does not work as a phone but it has excellent battery life of up to 10 hours and can play up to 10 hours of video playback.…

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Wedding Gown Shopping – What to Expect

Wedding Gown Shopping – What to Expect

For most women, shopping for their bridal gown is one of the highlights of being engaged. It is usually a new and unfamiliar experience, so visiting the first shop can be a bit daunting at times. When you know what to expect when you begin wedding gown shopping, the whole process becomes more fun and productive.

The first thing to expect is that most bridal salons recommend appointments. If you walk in without an appointment on a Saturday afternoon, you may be put in the very disappointing position of being unable to try on any gowns that day. In most high end salons, your bridal consultant will go into the fitting room to help you in and out of dresses while your mom and the rest of your entourage await you by a pedestal and three way mirror. Be prepared to strip down to your skivvies in front of the bridal consultant! Wear modest undies for your appointment so you will not feel to exposed. As for the consultant, she has probably seen hundreds of brides in their underwear, so don’t feel embarrassed about being undressed in front of her.

Many brides walk into a bridal salon with an idea of what they think they want. If you have pictures of gowns you like, by all means bring them. Also bring along any bridal jewelry or a family veil you are definitely planning to wear. If there is a particular gown you are hoping to see, mention it when you make your appointment. Although the salon may carry the designer, it does not necessarily mean that they stock that sample. Sometimes it is possible for salons to borrow a sample from a designer with enough advance notice. There may be a fee for this service to cover the shipping and insurance costs, although the salon may apply the fee to your deposit if you decide to order that gown.

As you try on bridal gowns, some may fit and some may not. Brides who are fortunate enough to be a sample size will find wedding dress shopping to be easier; if your dress size is smaller or larger than the sample size (usually a bridal 8, which runs small), the consultant may hold or clip the back in place to give you a sense of how the style will look when it fits properly. Then it is out to the pedestal to let your mom ooh and aah over you! When you find a gown that is a serious contender, the consultant may help you try it with a veil and your bridal jewelry.

Be aware that you will have a limited time for your appointment, which can vary by salon (typically 1 -1.5 hours). There is a good reason for this: after about an hour or two, all the white dresses just start to blend together. If you haven’t found your dream dress by then, it is best to take a break …

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Get Help With Your Overspending – How to Stop Your Shopping Addiction

Get Help With Your Overspending – How to Stop Your Shopping Addiction

Are you trapped in a cycle of overspending? Have you developed an addiction to shopping that you cannot seem to break even though you are filled with guilt and regret after each shopping binge? On top of it all, have you maxed out your credit cards or find it impossible to save for retirement or a rainy day? Overspending has become a modern day addiction. Read these vital tips to control your compulsive shopping addiction.

ARE YOU A CHRONIC OVERSPENDER? ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. Do you fret about money all the time?

2. Do you have no savings?

3. Do you go on a big shopping binges, buying things you do not really need but telling yourself at the time that you do?

4. Do you have a wardrobe stuffed with clothes, shoes and bags and other items: some of which you haven’t even used?

5. Do you lie or avoid speaking to your family and friends about your money worries?

6. Are you spending more than you earn?

7. Are you missing key payments such as credit card bills?

8. Do you feel the urge to treat yourself by buying something even though you know you have no money?

9. Does your heart sink when another bill appears in your mail?

AFFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

It’s been called the “affluenza epidemic”, the painful accumulation of debt and money worries caused by overspending, excessive consumption and consumerism. Modern society’s focus on material wealth, adverts telling us to dress better, look better, drive nicer cars, live in nicer homes, have nicer holidays had caused a huge social stress as we buy things we don’t absolutely need and don’t have the money to pay for them.

WHAT TYPE OF SHOPPING ADDICT ARE YOU?

There are different types of compulsive shopping addicts and you need to take a hard, honest look at yourself to figure out which type you are:

1. You are desperately trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses’

2. You shop simply out of boredom

3. You consider shopping a way of giving yourself a little treat as you feel you deserve it.

4. You are buying what you think are ‘must have items’. The face cream that will banish away all items for example. Or the home bread maker since it will end up being cheaper and healthier to create your own bread. Or the dress that is the “IT” look of the season.

5. You are a compulsive bargain hunter, always adding more to your shopping trolley because of the ‘buy just 1 for $5, or for $7 you can have 3!’ upsells. People who look for the bulk discounts may also be over-eaters too as they buy more food that they need ‘because it was such a great deal’.

6. Because you hang out with a circle of friends who spend a lot too. You and your friends eat in fancy restaurants, order four courses, …

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Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 13 – Stability and Lightweight

Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 13 – Stability and Lightweight

The Nike Structure Triax 13 is one of Nike’s most popular running shoes. Why? It offers stability and support while maintaining flexibility. The shoe makes running comfortable and pleasurable due to its cushioning and lightweight nature.

Just like in the previous model, the Triax 13 provides stability due to the inclusion of a hard foam compound located on the internal side portion of the shoe. This feature provides support for the area where the foot may over-pronate. However, the Nike Structure Triax 13 extends this feature towards the center of the heel.

How does this shoe offer so much support to the over-pronator while still delivering a smooth ride? Well, this model contains Air Zoom units in the heel and in the forefoot and contains flex grooves in the forefoot to allow for natural foot movement. Another new feature in the Structure Triax 13 is the introduction of a Cuboid Pod, which assists in guiding the foot during the gait.

More New Features:

1. A heel strap overlap which keeps the foot in place during the run

2. Lightweight mesh upper with syntheric overlays which provides midfoot support without sacrificing breathability

3. A decoupled crash pad which provides a comfortable landing

4. The BRS 1000 heel gives a runner crash pad protection

The Nike Structure Triax 13 shoe battles over-pronating while still providing a well cushioned sole for smooth performance. Support and comfort for the moderate over-pronator not enough for you? The Nike Structure Triax 13 is also a gender specific engineered shoe. This means that the shoe is customized for the different needs of men and women. These features make it a great everyday running shoe. Considering the long lasting nature of this shoe, the price is fairly reasonable. The shoe comes in a variety of colors that will surely suit a multitude of runners.…

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