Mike's Shopping Informer

Find your Energy Hogs with Electricity Monitors

by Jaishree Knauff

It’s hard to know much energy to conserve when you don’t know how much you are using. For most of us, the only information we get is what is presented in our monthly electricity bills. What if you could get down to the appliance level and figure out how much power in the form of kilowatts is being consumed? Or even better, if you knew what that translated to in terms of actual dollar costs- you would be equipped to make better decisions about how and when to use energy consuming devices. The answer is in the form of Electricity Monitors. These handy devices allow you to measure how much power is consumed by anything that runs on electricity. Here’s how it works: you insert the plug of the device you want to measure into the electricity monitor. You then plug the electricity monitor into the electrical socket. You can get instant statistics on volt, amps and wattage consumed. There are several models of Electricity Monitors available on the market today with different features and levels of details to measure electricity consumption. One of the most popular brands available is Kill a Watt meters from P3. Their most basic model, the Kill a Watt P4400 features an LCD display that shows you how much many kilowatt hours are being consumed and lets you cycle through voltage (volt), amperage (amp), wattage (watt), line frequency (Hz), and power factor (VA) for the device being monitored. To go a step further, the KIll A Watt EZ Electricity Monitor P4460 model extrapolates the data so that you can forecast usage by week, month and year. EED’s Watts Up Meter work in a similar fashion to the P3 Kill a Watt Monitors, in that you plug your device into the electricity monitor to get consumption statistics. Where they differ is EED Watts UP Meters’ ability to let you plug in your utility rates so that you can calculate how much that translates into actual costs. The standard model, the Watts Up 57777 can calculate cumulative consumption and cost of the monitored device if it’s left plugged in for a period of time. The Watts Up Pro 99333 model can store load data for a week or month and can be downloaded to a computer and further analyzed with the Watts Up Pro software. The main difference between the Pro model and the Watts Up Pro/ES 82756 model is that the later can store twice volume of data. Blue Line’s Power Monitors follows a different mechanism to track your real time power usage. You have two components with this solution: a sensor and a monitor. The sensor attaches to your electrical meter which is located outside your home. Using a wireless data transmission, the sensor communicates with the LCD display which can be located anywhere. It transmits real information on kilowatt usage. By entering your utility rate, this innovative solution can even calculate how much your electricity is costing you. By viewing your real time and cumulative electricity costs , you can make better informed decisions about using energy more efficiently.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

Shop For Toys With Great Play Value And Save

by Robert Miller

When it comes to buying toys you may be surprised to find that buying the cheapest doesn't always save you the most money. There are several factors to consider when weighing the decision of what toys will be best for your children. The important thing is to examine all the factors to determine what toys will be the best choice for your child. The least expensive toy will not always save you the most money. Price is a factor in every purchase we make, and rightly so. There is no reason to over spend on an item, but also keep in mind that the least expensive item can sometimes be missing features of one that is just a few dollars more. A great example of this are Playmobil play sets. At first glance you may think they are pretty expensive for a small play set. Once you get inside the box, and see all of the detail and extras that come in every Playmobil set, you will be able to see that it was worth every penny. When you buy a toy you should expect it to last a long time. Many of the toys that are made today are very disposable, you are expected to only get a few hours of play out of them before they break. If you add up just 5 purchases of $15.00 that don't stand up to kids playing with them you will have spent $75.00! By increasing that $15.00 spent to say $30.00 to $40.00 you could pick up one high quality item like Wedgits. Wedgits are a super tough high-quality building toy that will stand up to just about any abuse. So just by selecting Wedgits over a lesser quality item you could end up saving $35.00! Think of your toy purchases as investments. Every time you make a toy purchase you need to get a return on your investment. If you purchase a toy for $10.00 and your kids play with it for 2 hours and never play with it again you just spent $5.00 per play hour. This is not very good play value, especially if the toy breaks at that time so there is no way for them to play with it again. Instead if you you spent $49.99 on a good quality set of wooden blocks, and the kids play with them for an hour a week for the next 1 year, then you box them up to be passed down to the next generation of builders your cost per play hour is just 97 cents! That is assuming that they only play with those blocks for a year! Wooden blocks are a toy that kids will play with year after year. When you are looking around for toys for your kids make sure you take into account all of the possibilities. Remember that your toy purchases are an investment, an investment in your children. The best way to make a good investment is to be informed, and make sure that you take everything into account. In other words find out what things will really cost you, not just what the price tag says they will cost you!

Article source: ArticlePros.com

Tainted Chinese Toys Might Be Sold In Local Thrift Shops

by Jim DeSantis

A multi million dollar settlement between toy maker Mattel and 39 states leaves open a question as to what happens to the millions of potentially tainted toys still in homes across America. Will those toys be found at a yard sale or thrift shop near you?

Toy maker Mattel Inc. has agreed to pay millions of dollars to 39 states for not being more quality control conscious. The toy giant trusted Chinese manufacturers to make toys that, it turns out, were tainted with dangerous levels of lead or hazardous magnets. Overlooked in all this is the danger of those toys resurfacing and endangering more children.

Mattel will pay $12 million to 39 states to settle investigations launched by State Attorneys General in the United States over alleged dangerously constructed toys made in China for Mattel and shipped to the U.S. in 2007.

Mattel, through its Fisher Price branch was forced to recall more than 21 million Chinese-made toys beginning in August 2007 when it became known that many of the toys may have been poisoned with lead paint or had tiny magnets that children could accidentally swallow.

While all the affected toys were pulled off shelves by December 2007, many of the toys may still be in circulation and could possibly resurface in communities around the country through backyard and garage sales or at thrift stores that are so popular in America. Cash strapped families often turn to second hand stores and garage sales to purchase toys because the price is right and because their children may only use the toys briefly.

Why sell tainted toys? Families need the extra money so they sell the toys rather than give them to non-profit oganizations or thrift stores. Is this you? Have you checked to see if your toys are on the recall list? You can find out on line at the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

As part of the agreement with the states, Mattel will lower the acceptable level of lead in toys shipped to the states with lead levels that are far lower than federal standards. Previously, toys that were being imported contained contaminants or parts that were outside the maximum federal guidelines.

The case has prompted federal regulators to tighten the guidelines even further and Congress is considering new laws that will demand even stricter quality control standards.

At a news conference, the spokesperson for the Attorneys General, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley told reporters: "We are pleased this agreement with Mattel and Fisher Price will result in much safer standards."

States taking part in the settlement are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Some of the dollar amounts are: Massachusetts will receive $625,000 as part of the settlement. The state plans to use $500,000 of the money for a grant program funding organizations that foster awareness of the dangers of lead paint and $125,000 will cover legal costs, Coakley said.

Vermont will get almost $450,000, Wisconsin will receive $234,700, New Jersey will get $259,000 and Delaware will receive $197,000.

In a written statement, Mattel officials stated: "Mattel has demonstrated its commitment to children's safety by pledging to meet standards even more stringent than those currently required. Mattel also has taken steps that go beyond current requirements to give parents greater confidence that the Mattel toys that they buy this holiday season will be the safest ever."

Mattel is not the only toy maker paying up. California also took part in negotiations, but reached a separate agreement under its Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. California officials held out for a larger portion of the settlement. Nine toy companies, including Mattel, will pay California $1.8 million over lead-tainted toys.

Industry analyst Sean McGowan was quoted as saying the settlement had been anticipated because of heavy legal costs faced by the States that would have been required to continue a lawsuit and the risk to the toy companies of even greater financial damages.

McGowan told reporters: "Anything that would put to rest this question (of toy safety) is a net positive, as long as it's not terribly crippling, and $12 million is pretty good to put to rest state-level actions."

But, the settlement is not the end of potential legal and punitive damages faced by the toy companies. There are still class-action suits from consumers that are pending.

The tainted toy scandal has created fear among consumers. Toys with "Made in China" branding are being avoided by U.S. consumers, where possible, but, toys with "Made in America" branding are difficult to find as manufacturers continue to outsource to countries with cheap labor costs.

A final word to the wise - Before you buy that second hand toy, ask questions of the seller. Do they know where the toy came from? Has it been checked against the federal recall list? If you cannot get answers, don't buy the toy. Your child's safety is at stake.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

Gifts with Unique Features for All

by Totally Gifts

A gift with exceptional features instantly grabs the attention of receiver. The gifts with unique traits are dignified to win hearts and make occasions celebrative. Such gifts carrying unique and wonderful features are categorised in unusual gifts. Unusual gifts collection is fabulous and meant for all occasions like Birthday, Weddings, Anniversary, Christmas, Valentine, Father’s day, Mother’s day etc. and enlighten the event. The market is flooded with unusual gifts so it is not hard to spot gifts. However, it is worthy to consider the person’s interest and passion to find an ideal gift. You can consider some exciting activity gift that is full of fun and pleasure. The driving, flying, music experience gifts are tailored for persons who love adventure. This gift experience voucher adds zest in the person’s life and makes the moments unforgettable for him. Such unusual gift idea relieves you from the boredom of presenting the typical gift ideas. Unusual gifts are also symbolic and possess novelty that shows your high regards towards the person. For example: name a star, dinner party packs, own a share, moon estates etc are out of ordinary. Name a star, is an imaginative and symbolic novelty gift idea enveloped in a sleek metal box. This specific gift pack comes with a personalised certificate with star name, facts about your named star’s position, star chart and planisphere to locate your actual star. Such gifts make the recipient that he/she is being admired in an unusual manner. Gifts that are unusual stand apart from typical gift ideas because of their extraordinary features. For persons who have hobbies of gardening would find the garden gift ideas as the perfect gift for him. This unusual gift pack includes all the necessary instructions about taking care of the plants. Unusual gifts are not easily found in any gift shop. Internet shopping provides you the access to all these unusual gifts. Moreover, it also facilitates you to shop within your budget. You can even engrave your wishes on the gifts as the option to personalise it comes at a minimal charge. So, gifts with unusual characteristics also let you maintain a better relationship.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

How Do You Know The Value Of Your Scrap Gold?

by Bud Blair

Gold prices are currently high, making it an excellent time to sell your broken jewelry and other scrap gold. However, you might have a hard time knowing whether or not you're getting a fair price for your gold. Here's a short guide to finding out how much scrap gold is worth and getting a good deal.

Scrap value is the minimum value that gold should be sold for - the value of the gold itself. Before you sell your old jewelry or other gold items at this price, think about whether or not you could be getting a better price. After all, there are a number of factors that could bring the price up.

Good workmanship could get you a price that's less than retail, but higher than scrap. Likewise, something that's antique or bears a maker's mark may be worth more, as well as any piece with gems set into it. They all have value outside the transaction, and should be removed from any gold piece that is only worthwhile as scrap. Sell precious stones to another dealer.

Once you have determined that the piece has no other value than scrap, you'll need to know what karat it is. This ranges from eight karat to twenty-four karat, and will tell you what percentage is truly gold.Twenty-four karat gold is nearly pure, and eighteen karat is about seventy-five percent pure.

Eight karat gold is found mostly in Europe, and is too low in purity to be recognized as having much value in the US. This material is about a third gold, and sometimes may tarnish. Nine karat is thirty-seven and a half percent gold, and is found mostly in the UK. The minimum US standard is ten karat, at about forty-one percent gold.This material is chosen for its hard wearing qualities, as it's harder than pure gold.

Twelve karat gold is fifty percent pure. It's rarely seen these days, but may be found in old watch cases. Fourteen karat gold is fifty-eight percent pure, common in the US, and is also made in Asia for markets overseas and in Russia. Fifteen karat gold is sixty-two percent pure, and a discontinued standard from countries in the UK. Since no fifteen karat pieces have been made since the mid-1930s, this mark tells you the piece may have antique value.

Eighteen karat gold pieces make up the majority of quality pieces, and may also be marked 750 parts per thousand. You'll find twenty-two karat gold mostly in pieces from Asia and the Middle East. It's very yellow and soft. At the top of the list is twenty-four karat gold, the softest and purest available.

Once you know how pure your gold is, finding the weight is the next step. Gold and silver are measured in either troy ounces or in grams. Look up the daily spot price per ounce (you can find it online), then divide that number by the percentage of purity of your gold. This will tell you the price you can expect to get for your scrap gold.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

Get Smart with Smart Power Strips

by Jaishree Knauff

Do you find yourself dreading your electricity bill each month when it arrives? Do you express surprise at the amount you see when you open the envelope? Do you have to sit down and figure out how that number was computed, because for you it's just too much? People have a tendency to underestimate the amount of electricity they use especially when there are so many ways it is wasted. In fact, appliances still use up electricity even when switched off! Whatever name it's called—idle current, phantom load—it's still consumed energy you have to pay for, yet don't use. It's time to put a stop to wasted electricity with the use of smart power strips. A smart power strip is a very helpful device that cuts off the flow of electricity to appliances when they're plugged in yet turned off. Smart power strips look like your typical multi-socket power extension and they work the same way to a point; however, a smart power strip recognizes when you've turned off your appliances. At that point, the smart power strip completely turns off your devices—it's as if you unplugged them from the wall. Your gadgets and appliances will not eat up idle current. Smart power strips are able to recognize when your appliances are switched off because they are programmed to remember the usual flow of electricity running through your devices when switched on. Thus, when you switch off your devices, the amount of current changes and this change is the trigger that sets the smart power strip into action. Of course, why is there a need for smart power strips if you can just unplug your appliances? Although the best way to stop idle current is to unplug all your devices when not in use, it’s not practical to do so every single time. What if the plug for your TV goes all the way to the back and you have to move the whole thing to the side just to be able to reach it? What if you were really sleepy and forgot to unplug your DVD player? Those scenarios are just two examples in which you end up paying for wasted electricity when you shouldn’t have to. Why take the chance? It’s better to use a smart power strip so that you don’t have any worries after you turn the switch off your say your computer. Aside from nipping idle current in the bud, smart power strips also prevent power surges that regular power extensions can’t do. It’s a benefit that will help your appliances have a longer life because of the added protection. A smart power strip is an affordable tool to add to your how-to-save-more-money arsenal. Different kinds of models exist with varying numbers of sockets. Whatever your requirements are, there’s a model that suits your exact needs.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

How To Pick A Fire Escape Ladder

by Mark Simon

Fires start quick and spread even quicker which often leads to panic during a dangerous situation. A well prepared home is the best defense for saving your family during a dire time of need such as a fire. If you live in a multistory home or apartment building then a fire escape ladder is one product you must have for a safe exit. It is very common for a building fire to cutoff access to certain areas including stairways and elevators. Not to mention, it can be very dangerous to use an elevator during a fire since you have no idea where the fire has spread. Here are some tips on picking a reliable escape ladder that will always be there for you during an emergency.

Determine Length
One of the first factors to consider in purchasing an escape ladder is making sure it is long enough to reach the ground from the window the escape ladder will be lowered. A good way to determine lenght is with a piece of rope, string or even an extension cord. Take the rope and drop one end out the window while holding onto the other end. Mark the rope with a marker or piece of tape indicating the window sill location. Now you want to either pull the rope back up or drop it to the ground. Go outside and stretch the rope out from the end you dropped to the ground to the marked location. Measure the distance and you now have the minimum length for your escape ladder. It is a good idea to do this for each window since the height may be different.

Window Size
Once you know the length you need to determine how wide the fire escape ladder can be and still fit through the window. All you need to do is measure the inner width of the window. The wider the ladder the easier it will be to climb down; especially during an emergency such as a fire where every second counts. You might also want to make a note of how the escape ladder can attach to the window sill; if there is a large lip or outcropping then you need to make sure your escape ladder will accomodate.

Meets Fire Code - ASTM F2175
Every reliable escape ladder that is safe for home or commercial use has been rated by the American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM. It is very important to make sure your fire escape ladder meets ASTM standards to ensure the safety of you, your children and your residents. The escape ladder itself will be marked if approved by ATSM so this is easy to identify most the time.

Ease of Use
Determing the lenght, width and standard for your fire escape ladder will determine what ladders will actually accomodate your situation. Before coming to a final decision make sure the escape ladder is easy to use. You will likely only use the escape ladder during a time of dire emergency and panic is very common in these situations. Start by checking out how easy it is to deploy the fire escape ladder; if you are ordering online because of price or convenience this may not be an option but you can call the stores customer support to get a better idea. If you can checkout the escape ladder you are considering at a physical store prior to purchasing online. Or you might check to make sure the online store has an easy return policy in case the escape ladder does not meet your needs.

Reliability
Escape ladders need to be very reliable since failure could lead to death or serious injury. I would recommend checking out consumer reviews on escape ladders as a good starting point. Another great option is to call your local fire department and ask for thier recommendation. Firefighters encounter more fires and escape ladders than anyone else so go to the experts for advice. You can also ask questions about a specific fire escape ladder; most fire departments are happy to answer these questions because it makes everyone safer.

Once you find a fire escape ladder that fulfills the five requirements above you are ready to make your purchase. You want to get an escape ladder for each room that is more than 10 feet off the ground for a completely safe escape. Once you have the escape ladders you want to place them in an easy to access location. Do not put the ladder high on a shelf, behind boxes or under a stack of other items. The most common places are under the bed or under the window since they are easy to remember and easy to access. Some even opt to attach the ladder to the outside of the window with a quick release so that the ladder just has to drop to the ground. This is usually not aestheticly pleasing but does make things very easy during an emergency.

A high quality fire escape ladder provides a safe exit during any emergency. Don't forget to pick up a co detector to warn you of any toxic gas in your home. Resculite is proudly making homes safer with emergency products leading to a safe way out.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

Solid-state lighting

by Mark

Solid-state lighting (SSL) is an innovation in lighting that utilizes light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments or gas. Solid-state lighting has the potential to revolutionize the lighting industry. The most widely used sources of artificial illumination are incandescent and fluorescent lamps, but this is about to change: Solid-state lighting (SSL) devices promise to replace conventional light sources, with impressive economic and environmental savings. By the year 2020, electricity used for lighting may be cut by 50%, sparing the atmosphere 28 million metric tons of carbon emission annually. Not only will SSL lead to energy and environmental savings, but it will change the way we think about lighting. SSL devices are vibration and shock resistant, and exceptionally long-lived. They will allow for a wide variety of lighting, including artificial lighting similar to natural daylight. Moreover, with appropriate circuitry, the color and intensity of the lighting can be controlled. Because SSL devices can be coupled to light pipes, light may be flexibly and efficiently distributed. SSL devices also offer interesting design possibilities--they can be manufactured as flat packages of any shape that can be placed on floors, walls, ceilings, or even furniture. SSL devices for white lighting are already being used in certain cost-insensitive jobs. Examples of such uses include illumination for equipment subject to strong accelerations and lighting of objects where space is at a premium, like glove compartments. White LEDs are also used for such special applications as providing nighttime lighting for the text frieze inside the dome of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. Illuminated channel letters and light box signs have become the most commonly used type of electrical signs. Channel letters have deep sidewalls with recessed light sources. Box signs utilize a recessed light source to illuminate a translucent front surface made of plastic or glass. Channel letters and light box signs commonly use Neon, fluorescent or LEDs as their light source. Unlike neon and fluorescent light sources, LEDs are solid state devices that have no filaments and glass parts to break. LED assemblies provide sign companies a versatile ready-to-use light source, reducing sign installation and maintenance cost. LED lit signs provide longer product life and increase efficiency of brightness, minimizing long term maintenance cost. Electronic Engineering Services

Article source: ArticlePros.com

What are the different types of CFL bulbs available?

by Jaishree Knauff

In the last few years, there has been a proliferation of compact fluorescent light bulbs in the market. You can get a compact fluorescent light bulb in an enormous array of shapes, sizes, wattages, colors and for many different applications. A CFL Light Bulb can come in a standard base which is the most common size. A standard base CFL bulb has a screw in base and is typically used in light fixtures and lamps. In a standard or medium base (E26), you can get compact fluorescent light bulbs of a wide range of wattages from a 5W (15-25W incandescent equivalent) to over 25W (75w-100W incandescent equivalent). The CFL bulbs can come in different shapes such as spirals, torpedos and candles for decorative use such chandeliers and sconces, capsules or A lamps typically used in lamps and globes which are commonly found in open bathroom vanity fixtures. CFL bulbs have also evolved to provide dimmable functions and can work with most dimming switches. Three-way CFL Bulbs are now available that will produce three levels of light when used in a lamp socket with a three-way switch. CFL bulbs are come in wide spectrum of colors ranging from a warm color (2700 Kelvin color temperature) to Daylight CFL bulbs that have a color temperature of at least 5000 degrees Kelvin, which produces a very white daylight-like light. Also available are Colored CFL Bulbs, commonly found in yellow and pink color. Soft pink colored bulbs can be found in restaurants and restrooms as they product a soft pleasant color and therefore enhance the look of objects in a room. A bulb producing yellow light is difficult for many flying insects to see and therefore is appropriate for use where people gather. One of the most common type standard bulbs around, reflector bulbs are used in recessed lights which are enormously popular in homes and commercial application such as hotels, restaurants and apartment buildings. Reflectors or R-lamps are predominantly the incandescent type and found in the 40-100 watt range. CFL Reflectors draw a fraction of the power of the incandescent equivalents and therefore can save enormous amounts of energy. CFL Reflector bulbs come in various sizes to suit specific needs. Dimmable CFL Reflectors, wet location, outdoor, cold weather and dark sky variations are now available. CFL Candelabra base bulbs also have a screw in base but have a smaller footprint than a standard base. They are typically used in decorative wall sconces, some ceiling fan fixtures, and chandeliers. Another type of a base for Compact Fluorescent Light is the GU24. CFL GU24 light bulbs have two spikes projecting from the base instead of the usual screw in base. These spikes insert into corresponding holes in the fixture's socket and you twist the bulb to lock it into place. GU24 bulbs don’t require a separate ballast in that they are self-ballasted. However, you can easily replace the ballast portion of a GU24 bulb. GU10 base compact fluorescent bulbs have a similar configuration to the Gu24 in that they have the two protruding pikes that insert into corresponding holes in the socket. GU10 base bulbs are typically halogen reflector lamps. A Mogul base Compact fluorescent Light bulb (E39) has a screw in base but is different in size than a standard medium size (E26) base. Mogul base bulbs work in specific light fixtures and the bulbs tend to be higher in wattage. Pin Base Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs as their name suggests, have pins for a base which plug into a socket, as opposed to screwing into a socket with screw in base bulbs. Compact Pin Based Fluorescent Lights are much smaller than the Fluorescent Tube bulb variety. Pin Base bulbs typically come in bi pin or 4 pin configurations. They come in various shapes e.g. quads, spirals, triples and twins. Pin Base light bulbs require ballast for operation. The main difference between screw in CFL bulbs and Pin base CFL bulbs is that the latter is designed more for dedicated fixtures.

Article source: ArticlePros.com

5 Advantages to an Online Shopping Mall

by: Chris Robertson

Experts agree that shoppers will spend an unprecedented amount of money buying gifts online this holiday season. Just as "big box" stores draw an inordinate number of shoppers, so does the online shopping mall. Here are five reasons why an online shopping mall is so appealing to many:

1. No More Driving

With gas prices in some areas of California inching toward five dollars a gallon, it's no wonder that people are thinking twice about getting into their SUVs and heading to the stores. An online shopping mall allows you to get all of the gifts you need with a few clicks of your mouse - without ever starting up the engine.

2. Ultimate Convenience

With an online shopping mall, you never have to worry about the crowds on a Saturday morning, gunning for a parking spot, or where you're going to leave the kids so you can buy their holiday gifts. By definition, an online store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can shop after the kids have gone to bed, you can shop in your pajamas and bunny slippers, or you can shop at peak times with the knowledge that you're not standing in line at a checkout counter. It can't get more convenient than that!

3. Freedom to Browse

Perhaps you know precisely what you need, or maybe you're looking for inspiration. Either way, an online shopping mall fits the bill. If you know that Aunt Mary loves certain fragrances, for example, you can easily hone in on the perfect gift. On the other hand, if you're unsure what toys would appeal to your nephew, an online shopping mall lets you browse to your heart's content until you find the toy that will delight him.

4. Endless Selection

A great online shopping mall mirrors the best brick-and-mortar mall in that it has a virtually limitless selection - without having to traipse from store to store with armloads of packages. Apparel, auto parts, cell phones, computers, personal electronics, home and garden gifts, jewelry, sports, and toys are all available at a good online mall. Tens of thousands of items are all at your fingertips.

5. Great Prices

An online shopping mall has many advantages over a traditional mall, but perhaps none is more compelling than the pricing. After all, online stores don't have the overhead expenses of brick-and-mortar stores - like rent, utilities, display, sales clerks, and so forth - so they can pass along the savings to you. For that reason, they can offer products at or sometimes below wholesale prices.

If you're an avid online shopper, you'll undoubtedly do much of your holiday shopping online. Rather than shop from several online sources, you'll find it much easier to track your purchases when you make them at one online shopping mall. So put the kids to bed, put on your bunny slippers, and let your fingers do the clicking!