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How to Be a Savvy Online Christmas Shopper

 

Christmas in Nigeria is a family event – a time to come together and celebrate the special people in our lives. Between the bowls of joloff and the banging of fireworks, one of the ways we show how much we care is by exchanging presents, and there’s nothing worse than worrying that your gifts will seem inadequate once given. 

While it’s not all about the presents, it does give us a warm and fuzzy feeling to know we’ve chosen well, but even this cannot offset the worry that comes from going over budget and being concerned about how you’ll cover your costs once Christmas is done. 

The trick is to shop savvy; to tread the fine line between giving great presents and not breaking the bank. Here are our three top tips to help you.    

Shop around 

When it comes to picking out presents, it’s important not to make your purchases without first shopping around, especially at Christmas time when money is tight. This means that you shouldn’t buy gifts from the first place you find them, but should compare a number of different retailers to see who’s offering what you want at the lowest price. You’ll likely be surprised by the variation you discover once you dig a little deeper and begin to search out the superior offers. Even if prices are similar, hold off on buying for a bit and keep an eye out for sales and promotions, as shops often use these as a way of getting ahead of their competitors over the Christmas period.    

 

Review before you buy  

Last but not least, be sure to do your research before you buy. The best way to get your hands on presents their recipients will appreciate is to review them prior to purchase, and websites like Trustpilot have been set up for this specific purpose. Not only this but make sure you read the products’ descriptions in detail too. The same rule applies to anything you spend your money on during the holiday season; whether it’s a present for your mother-in-law or indulging in a spot of online shopping or gaming for yourself. This detailed review of the Book of Dead slot at KittyBingo.com, for example, is a great tool for consumers, as it allows you to gain an in-depth understanding of what you’re spending your money on before committing. 

 

Take advantage of the Black Friday sales 

While the best sales tend to happen once Christmas is over, there is a particular retail event that could help you to save some serious cash. We’re talking about Black Friday, which has fast become the biggest shopping occasion in the Nigerian calendar. With dozens of different businesses getting on board and slashing their prices, you’ll find there are some truly amazing offers out there, which can help you to get your hands on the presents you want without breaking the bank. The trick is to be clever, so sign up to the mailing lists of your favorite websites in advance to make sure you’re the first to hear about any discounts or promos they’re hosting.   

When it comes to buying the perfect Christmas presents without breaking the bank, there are three primary rules to follow: shop around, take advantage of sales, and do your research to gain a better idea of what you’re purchasing. Follow these, and you should find your holiday shopping is a lot less stressful and significantly cheaper too!  

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Culture Featured Music

Downtown Gift Guide: 11 Deluxe Releases From Classic Artists

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just a few days behind us, there is still plenty of time for some gift-planning for this holiday season. Below are 11 deluxe album releases from classic artists for Downtown readers to consider:

1) Phil Collins Take A Look At Me Now: Collector’s Edition

Available in both LP and CD formats, some of Phil Collins’ classic albums have been remastered with new liner notes added in. Phil’s 2010 covers album, Going Back, is in revamped format, now condensed to 14 songs with an alternate tracklisting.

2) David Bowie Who Can I Be Now? (1974 – 1976)

Less than a year after the tragic and sudden loss of David Bowie comes the release of Who Can I Be Now? (1974 – 1976), the second in a series of Bowie box-sets. Available in 12CD, 13LP and digital formats, the collection includes the previously-unreleased 1974 album The Gouster in addition to other previously-unreleased mixes.

3) Led Zeppelin The Complete BBC Sessions

Available as both a 3CD and a 5LP set, The Complete BBC Sessions captures Led Zeppelin in its best form — live, that is — between the years of 1969 and 1971. An expansion of the original BBC Sessions release from nearly 20 years ago, this collection includes eight previously-unreleased recordings, in addition to extensive liner notes from Dave Lewis.

4) The Cars The Elektra Years 1978 – 1987

The Elektra Years includes all six Elektra-released studio albums released by The Cars. This collection was digitally-remastered by The Cars’ principal songwriter Ric Ocasek while its artwork was overseen by drummer David Robinson. Arguably the most underrated classic rock band of all time.

5) Toto Live In Montreux 1991

Toto is largely known in the States for its ballads, as opposed to being known internationally as one of the most accomplished musical collectives ever to reach pop radio; its members have played on thousands of albums. At this Montreux Jazz Festival performance from 1991 — the set includes a CD and DVD with the same setlist — the group mixes up a few hits with some Sly Stone and Jimi Hendrix covers.

6) Peter Gabriel Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped

This release is an interesting compilation of several Peter Gabriel releases, making for a mix of live performances from 1988, 2002 and 2004, in addition to a documentary. Two DVDs that guarantee you learn a lot about the former frontman of Genesis, who is still playing on some of the world’s biggest stages.

7) The Scorpions Live In Munich 2012

The Scorpions have literally been at it for 51 years, and this DVD — a live performance from a few years back — still shows the German hard rock legends in fine form. The Scorps play all the hits in their hometown with plenty of pyro and on-stage excitement surrounding them.

8) Micky Dolenz The MGM Singles Collection

Micky Dolenz is still associated with The Monkees, having been a major part of 2016’s #1 album Good Times!. But Micky has recorded consistently over the years, even when The Monkees were not active, and The MGM Singles Collection is great proof of that. This single CD collection includes lesser-heard collaborations with Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Peter Tork and Starship’s Michael Lloyd.

9) Bryan Adams Wembley Live 1996

Bryan Adams has sold close to 100 million records and singles worldwide, and this 1996 concert — a single DVD with a booklet — shows why. In front of a capacity crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium, Bryan Adams plays hit after hit, leaving me to wonder why he isn’t one of the staple artists on classic rock radio. As an aside, his Jeff Lynne-produced 2015 album Get Up is fantastic.

10) KISS Rocks Vegas

Recorded as part of KISS’ 2014 residency at the Hard Rock Hotel, Rocks Vegas is a concert DVD with an accompanying CD; the DVD includes a seven-song acoustic set not featured on the CD. Selections from all eras of the KISS catalog are featured, makeup and not.

11) Social Distortion Independent Years: 1983-2004

The Independent Years: 1983-2004 is fairly-explanatory by its name, featuring four Social Distortion albums in vinyl form: Mommy’s Little Monster, Prison Bound, Sex, Love & Rock ‘n’ Roll, and the early years compilation Mainliner (Wreckage From The Past). Each of the four LPs is colored differently, with Social D’s 2004 album looking beautiful in gold translucent vinyl. The punk godfathers are still at it, of course, now in their fourth decade.

Categories
Culture Music

Third Man Records announces exclusives for Black Friday

This Black Friday, Third Man Records not only offers a Record Store Day Black Friday Exclusive from The Raconteurs, but also new standard vinyl releases by The White Stripes and Yusuf / Cat Stevens:

The Third Man online store will offer Get Behind Me Satan and the Yusuf / Cat Stevens 7″, as well as 30% off EVERYTHING — gift cards, vault subscriptions, new releases, and tickets excluded — beginning Black Friday and lasting through “Cyber Monday.” No coupon code necessary.

Both Third Man Records physical locations will also offer 30% off orders as well as the limited Black Friday “Steady As She Goes” 7″ while supplies last.

Categories
Lifestyle Living

Before You Shop On Black Friday…

 

As Black Friday is just around the corner, check to see if the reviews that you are reading are factual ​before you buy online. FakeSpot is an Internet tool dedicated to helping Amazon shoppers weed out fake reviews and find the most authentic products.

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Letter grades are becoming the norm, and not just for school or resturants. Simply copy the Amazon product page URL, paste it in at Fakespot.com, and click “analyze.” Fakespot then calculates a letter grade that rates how much you should trust the reviews of the selected product.

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Use Fakespot before making your next electronic, beauty, fashion or household purchase: www.fakespot.com.

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Categories
Events

Major Stores Say No to Black Friday

This year, REI–the mildly pricey sports retailer that focuses on outdoor gear–announced that it would stay closed on Black Friday. While the CEO said he would miss the income, the point of staying closed is meant to encourage consumers to do what REI is meant for: go outside.

Meanwhile, Patagonia will be holding a clothing swap at some of its locations in attempt to check consumer behavior and positively contribute to finding sustainable solutions through responsible business actions.

Other retailers are following in suit–not so much by completely closing their locations, but staying shut on Thanksgiving day. Nordstrom, DSW and Home Depot will be closed on the holiday among more retailers. Stores remaining open include KMart, Walmart and Toys ‘R Us among more.

The Black Friday rush is a legendary race for cheap goods. But in the past few years, the rush has become extremely hard on employees and has resulted in injuries (and deaths). Perhaps the pushback against Black Friday frenzy isn’t such a bad idea.

-by Kari Sonde