Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Do you plan to spend more on holiday gifts this year? If you’re the average shopper, one survey says you probably will.
If you’re the average shopper, chances are you may be spending a bit more on gifts this season than in years past. Earlier this month, American Research Group reported that its phone survey earlier this month showed that Americans plan to spend an average of $854 on gifts this holiday season, up nearly a third of last year’s average of $646. That’s also the highest average since ARG’s 2007 survey, when survey respondents’ average was $859—that amount fell by about half in 2008. Here are the average amounts of planned spending survey takers have reported since 2002. Year Average Spending Percent Change 2012 $854 + 32% 2011 $646 - 2% 2010 $658 + 58% 2009 $417 - 3% 2008 $431 - 50% 2007 $859 - 5% 2006 $907 - 4% 2005 $942 - 6% 2004 $1,004 + 3…
Monday, November 19, 2012
Want a great deal? You may have to spend part of your Thanksgiving to get it. Tell us what you think about retailers pushing the start of the holiday shopping season onto Turkey Day.
Looking to grab some great Black Friday deals? Better be prepared to scarf down the turkey and put away the pumpkin pie quickly. It’s becoming a tradition for the holiday shopping season to start well before the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone. But your holiday food might still be warm by the time retailers offer the first “Black Friday” deal. Take, for example, Walmart. The retailer is rolling out its first Black Friday deals Thursday—that’s Thanksgiving night—at 8 p.m. Not to be outdone, Target is inviting customers to grab its Black Friday deals at 9 p.m. Thursday. The early deals means those hoping to save money during their holiday shopping will be spending part of another holiday heading to stores, fighting the crowds and waiting in …
Friday, November 2, 2012
Get ready for Santa's first stop in Cobb County at Town Center Mall in Kennesaw.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Angela Chao
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Friday, November 2, 2012
This week's Cobb, Douglas and Paulding Weekend Spotlight features Santa's Arrival at Town Center at Cobb. Santa Claus makes his first stop of the season Friday evening in Kennesaw. Festivities take place from 6-8 p.m. in Center Court and include entertainment by Radio Disney, face painting, holiday activities and more. St. Nick will be escorted to his holiday home with live reindeer at 7 p.m. outside the Food Court Main Entrance. The first 200 children visiting Santa that evening will also receive a special gift (no purchase necessary), and all guests will receive festive giveaways (while supplies last) throughout the event. Got a great event coming up in your community? Upload it onto your Patch, then email Editor Angela Chao at angela.…
Thursday, November 1, 2012
A cheesy potato casserole and delicious cranberry sauce are sure to light up your Thanksgiving dinner table!
It’s time for Thanksgiving, my favorite time of the year! Not only do you get to see family, but the food is plentiful and delicious. If your family is anything like mine, there are multiple side dishes to choose from to accompany the all important turkey. Everything from green bean casserole to sweet potato pie has been served at our table and now, I would like to share some fantastic side dish recipes that may become a part of your Thanksgiving tradition. Ingredients Potato Casserole 3 lbs Red potatoes, sliced 1 lb Broccoli, chopped 1 10.75 oz can Cream of chicken 1 cup Sour cream ½ lb Ham, sliced 1 tsp Paprika 1 tsp Black pepper 1 tbsp Kosher salt 1 tsp Garlic powder 1 tsp Basil ½ cup Cheddar cheese, grated ½ cup Asiago, grated ½ cup …
Friday, November 25, 2011
Georgians are part of a national movement to keep holiday cash at home.
“Look, Charlie, let's face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It's run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.” – Lucy van Pelt to Charlie Brown in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Americans have worried about losing the true meaning of Christmas since at least 1965, when Charlie Brown lamented the holiday’s commercialization in a Peanuts special. This year, there’s a movement afoot to bring Christmas closer to home. An apparently anonymous essay circulating on the Web has drawn the attention of people in Georgia. It calls for buying local services as gifts instead of products manufactured in foreign countries: You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city…
P D Murray
8:21 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012
It leaves nothing for kids to get excited about, by the time you start decorating and putting out displays in the store the same time as halloween, it's confusing. Let us have the opportunity to "Give Thanks" with our families. The poor folk who work retail deserve that time for themselves. Enough already! more ›