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In stores

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Shopping in the local retail stores has distinct advantages. The recent toy recalls had a big impact on how I shopped this year but that wasn't the only reason. This holiday season there were more considerations to take into account than in years past. Would it be easier to shop online? Yes, but lessons learned from past experiences outweighed the choice to shop online.

Shopping locally for the gifts for my family was a challenge however I believe it was time well spent. Upon choosing an item, I was able to examine it for small parts, the quality with which it was made and it's origins. If these items were bought online I would have had to rely on the description provided by the site.

Clothing is always a guessing game no matter where you shop. Being able to actually see the article of clothing allowed me to judge how the sizes ran, since all sizes aren't consistent when labeled s-m-l. An example is a shirt may be labeled large but by the cut dimensions may not fit someone that normally wears a large. Thus it is too big or a little to snug.

Buying household appliances in the stores I consider a must. Being able to compare the product on the shelf with other products gives a visual advantage. Seeing the product online again I'd have to rely on description and try to judge the space needed for that item. Buying a microwave at the local retailer gave us the chance to examine the ease of use for the intended recipients. We were also able to inspect the box the microwave came in for signs of damage.

Toy shopping this year was especially daunting. The recent toy recall made me take a closer look at the toys once I found them in the store. Finding the toys our children wanted I then was able to ask myself about their possible hazards. I found a few of the toys had small parts that could cause a problem for a younger sibling. I changed my mind numerous times before I made my purchases. If I had been purchasing online I wouldn't have had these options once I clicked the button.

Another consideration this year was economical. When comparing price in years past I found shopping locally to be less expensive. Once I added the shipping and handling charges and the interest charges on the credit card, the items would cost more. One of the problems I see using the card is it's too easy to run up the balance only to be shocked when the statement comes in January.

This year I paid with cash and allotted a certain price range for each item. This gave me control over my spending without

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