Shopping & Services

Grocery is the #1 holiday purchase! Research shows where consumers are spending this holiday season

Submitted by msleff on Monday, December 16th, 8:01 am

With all the hype and Black Friday campouts at Best Buys and Toys R Us, you'd guess that the majority of holiday shopping budgets go to purchases like electronics, toys and clothing. But according to new research, the biggest share what comes out of your holiday wallet actually goes to ... groceries and restaurants.

New data from Card-Linked Marketing leader Cardlytics -- collected from millions of U.S. households over the past two years -- shows what consumers actually spend their money on during the holiday season. When it comes to holiday shopping Americans are spending 24% of their budget on groceries followed by restaurants and apparel. Toy purchases are actually at the bottom of the list.

The Top 10 Share of Wallet (see link/attached for graphics and pie charts for 2011 and 2012 holiday spending):

1. Groceries - 24%

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Submitted by Pretty Frugal Diva, Pretty Frugal Diva

Wednesday, November 20th, 2013, 4:23am

Black Friday Battle: Walmart to match best Black Friday deals in-store and online

ATLANTA -- If you thought retailers were crazy to open on Thanksgiving, things just got a little juicer -- but better -- for consumers.

Walmart has decided to give customers matchups on Black Friday deals, starting this Friday!

At 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, Walmart will kick off a pre-Black Friday savings event in stores and online, lowering the prices on popular toys and electronics, to match select Black Friday offers from Target, Toys R' Us and Best Buy one week early.

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Submitted by Pretty Frugal Diva, Pretty Frugal Diva

Saturday, October 19th, 2013, 7:05am

ATLANTA -- Every year there are millions of dollars spent on Halloween, from costumes, snacks and candy to decorations.

Hopefully after reading this, you will be able to save a ton on Halloween decor for your yard and home.

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Submitted by Gary Parkes, Community Blogger

Friday, October 11th, 2013, 11:53am

Newt and Callista Gingrich to appear at FoxTale Book Shoppe

WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- FoxTale Book Shoppe is pleased to welcome Callista and Newt Gingrich on Friday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

"We're excited!" FoxTale co-owner Ellen Ward said. "Let's give them a hometown welcome that will keep them coming back!"

Callista's newest children's book, Yankee Doodle Dandy educates and entertains as Ellis the Elephant experiences the American Revolution. With beautiful illustrations and charming rhymes, Yankee Doodle Dandy is a must read for young and old alike who want to know how America became a free and independent nation.

"FoxTale will also have Sweet Land of Liberty and Land of the Pilgrims' Pride available for purchase and signing," Ward said.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Monday, September 23rd, 2013, 11:24am

(WXIA) -- Now that fall is almost here, it's time to start thinking about seasonal gardening.

On Thursday, Sept. 26, all Pike Nurseries locations will hold a free Gardenfest event to prepare customers for the change in seasons.

Gardenfest festivities will include discounts on merchandise throughout the store, as well as free appetizers and wine samplings. Five percent of the event's proceeds will be donated to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

The event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Find your nearest Pike Nursery at pikenursery.com.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, September 19th, 2013, 9:37am

(WXIA) -- Kohl's plans to hire about 50,000 seasonal associates nationwide this year.

The department store chain announced Thursday that it hopes to find about 40 employees for each of its 1,158 stores, plus 6,400 people to work in distribution centers and 350 workers in credit operations.

Seasonal Kohl's employees can work up to 20 hours per week. Typical duties include unloading trucks, processing freight, stocking the store and running a cash register.

Kohl's said it will begin hiring for the holidays this month and hopes to fill all its seasonal positions by mid-November.

Visit kohlscareers.com to apply.

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Submitted by Pretty Frugal Diva, Pretty Frugal Diva

Friday, September 6th, 2013, 3:47am

Sad day for Atlanta couponers: The end of Kroger double coupons

ATLANTA -- The wave of couponers' cries heard in the Midwest and Texas has finally hit the Southeast!

For years, we have enjoyed the everyday doubling of coupons $0.50 and less. We got FREE items because of this great policy and it made handling an almost impossible budget easier for us couponers and savvy shoppers.

While I am not saying that this will hurt us (I will be posting some other things Kroger is doing), it does have me wondering -- in this competitive Atlanta market, where we use more coupons per capita then ANYWHERE in the US -- how will this fare? Will Publix jump on the bandwagon?

The end of double coupons becomes effective September 21, 2013. For this couponer, I will be having to double check my shopping list with this new rule. It's not fun, but a lot of new things are coming from Kroger, and I think this is why the program of double couponing is ending.

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