Holiday Shopping Tips for College Students (and Everyone Else!)

Tip #1 Consumer Reports is getting the message out with full-page newspaper ads telling consumers NOT to fall for the extended warranty sales pitch. Read the article, Extended Warranty Hooey in the August 2006 issue at the Library (page 70), or right here to find out why.

Tip #2 Save time shopping:

• Shop on Mondays or Tuesdays, preferably before noon
• Make a list, and don't get sidetracked by that extra cute thing for someone already checked off
• Shop on the Internet (see the next tip!)
  

Tip #3 Tips for on-line shopping safety from the Federal Trade Commission. (Here are the highlights):

• Order only on a secure server
• Know who you're dealing with
• Check delivery dates
• Check shipping and handling fees
• Keep receipts & website printouts

And of course, since shopping on-line is the fastest, easiest way to compare prices, do it and get the best deal you can!

With all the spare time you save shopping early and/or on-line, you'll have time to work on this:

ACROSS 1. Nickname for the Internet 4. Vendors 6. Federal agency charged with protecting consumer rights 7. First letters of most web addresses 8. Santa's gift delivery method 11. Gadget clicked on the computer 12. A consumer transaction 13. Web location of a business, organization or person 14. Computer symbol 19. Federal _____ Commission 20. Symbol often used to identify that a server is secure during online transmissions 21. Personal information to protect during online transactions 23. Time of celebration 26. Activity done under mistletoe 27. On a computer 28. Trickery 29. Santa's Work____

DOWN 2. Kind of tree gifts are placed under 3. Safest type of card to use to pay for online purchases 5. Software required to access the Internet 9. North Pole workers 10. Encryption often used to transmit financial information online 13. Red-garbed man who brings holiday gifts 15. Holiday song 16. Common delivery method for online purchases 17. Kind of vendor to buy from 18. Method of paying with money when items are delivered 21. Identification used to access a computer or network 22. Person to protect online transmissions from 24. Snoozing 25. A present

Puzzle Solution

But don't forget to study for those exams!