I have been trying to get all my Christmas shopping done early this year so I don’t have a last minute rush. So far I have done most of it online which saves quite a bit of time. One website that I came across that has a really good range of gift ideas is Optics Planet. They sell cameras, binoculars, Ray Ban sunglasses, microscopes and MP3 player, just to name a few items. They have a useful gift guide where you can filter by price, category and occasion which is great if you want some ideas. They also offer free shipping within the US on an order of more than $29.95.

I read this article that suggests some parents are so desperate to get a Wii console before Christmas that they are paying up to £500 for the console on ebay. The console is priced at £179 but is currently unavailable in most UK stores. When stock does become available it has been selling out as soon as it hits the store. The Wii is a great console but I don’t think I would pay £500 for one.

I came across this website the other day that sells fine jewellery. They have an extensive range from diamond engagement rings and wedding rings to coloured stones jewellery and loose diamonds. One feature I really liked on the website is the ability to design your own ring. You can choose the setting and the shape of the stone and what type of gold you require before selecting your ring size and purchasing the item. The nice thing about this feature is that the picture on the website updates as you change the options so you can see exactly how the finished ring will look. The earring section of the website has another nice feature where you not only have a good clear picture of the earring but also a 3D view of the earring when you click on it. Many websites are let down by small or unclear pictures of items but here you can see every detail of the item before purchasing.

From Friday bank account holders will earn more interest on cheques paid into their account. UK banks and building society will have to pay interest on money paid in by cheque after two working days. Customers will also be able to withdraw money after four days if they are paying into a current account. The cheque will also be guaranteed even if it bounces after six days. Some banks like Lloyds TSB already pay interest on cheques once they have been deposited but the new rules will make the practice common place.

With Christmas only a few weeks away I have been trying to get the last of my Christmas shopping done. So far I have tried to do the bulk of it online and have been taking advantage of some online coupons from coupon chief. They have quite a few new offers including Swiss Army coupons which give you 10% off your order and Staples coupons that give you 20% off, perfect for stocking up on all your Christmas stationary.

I read this article about some really expensive turkeys. The turkeys have been fed on the finest organically produced cereals and roam free in maize fields. The birds are raised to 25 weeks instead of the usual 10-12 weeks so that they have extra fat which apparently helps to tenderise the meat. They are also slaughtered humanely and hand plucked. All of this contributes to the £100 price tag.

There seems to be a new demand for wooden toys caused by nostalgic parents who remember playing with a dolls house or a wooden train set when they were younger. John Lewis has seen an increased turn over of 24% on its wooden train set and best sellers at Hamleys include a tub of wooden building blocks.

I read this article that suggests that groceries ordered online have a shorter shelf life than those brought in store. A survey conducted by Which? found that on average the best before date was a day earlier for good brought online. They tested four different supermarkets buying the same 10 items in store as they did online. The researchers brought goods from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose. They found little difference between the four supermarkets.  The supermarkets have questioned the accuracy of the research. Personally I purchase my shopping online every month and have noticed that some items have a short shelf life.

I buy and sell items on ebay on a regular basis and so far have not had any major problems, other than a few items being lost in the post, which have always been promptly replaced. I do however; tend to assume that most ebay users are honest. This article made me rethink that. Sheryl Johnson sold items on ebay that she did not actually own and managed to make £800 from the exercise. Police traced her because she had given her victims her name and address so they could send her cheques. She admitted to two counts of fraud and has been given a twelve month supervision order.

With Christmas coming up and finances getting a little tight I have been looking around at Loans. I found this website that offers a good loan comparison service. They have various types of loans including unsecured loans and homeowner loans. Their best buy table shows you the top loans that are available now. They show the amount that you can borrow, the typical Apr and also give you more detailed information. The most useful thing about this website is being able to compare the important things like the loan amount and the Apr across a range of products and companies.

Nintendo have launched two new DS Lite bundle packs in time for Christmas. They come in a choice of gold or metallic pink. The gold console comes with The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass whilst the pink console comes with Nintendogs. They will be launched in the US on the 23 November with a UK release date to be confirmed later.

I was looking around at garage flooring and found this website called cayguygarage.com that has a range of floor tiles and other flooring solutions. They have a good range of grated garage flooring that is perfect for workshops and garages. It is slip resistant when wet and not affected by hot tyres. It also comes with a 12 year warranty and free delivery within the US.