5 Tips for Successful Holiday Tech Shopping!

Did you know that Staples is a great place to shop for all your favorite tech gifts for the holiday season? Staples even carries the popular Kindle in-store with a cool interactive display where you can try out the product and see if you like it!  It seems these days that tech toys are the hottest gifts on everyone's list!! How can you keep up with changing technology and keep the holidays affordable?? Here are my tips for successful holiday tech shopping!!
1.  Get age appropriate gadgets!! A young child of course doesn't need a cell phone, or an ipod.  There are alternatives, like a cell phone that only calls preset phone numbers, and there are child versions of music players. Same for digital cameras and other fun gadgets. Why get something nice they will ruin? Find one of those indestructible ones so it will last longer.

2.  Don't try to keep up with the trends. Seems like a new phone or music player comes out every 5 seconds. Okay maybe not QUITE that fast, but you get the idea.  By trying to keep up with the "latest and greatest", you are just going to waste money.  Yes, that new phone is super cool.  But do you NEED it? And next month or 3 months from now, that same phone will be improved and have a new name. Wait until the item is cheaper.  Phones break easily anyways.

3.  Learn to say no!! Your teen may whine and say buy mom everyone else has one!! If you can't afford it, or you already did your shopping for the year, don't give in to please your child.  THEY WILL GET OVER IT! And by not giving them everything they want, you teach them to be grateful for what they DO have.

4.  Shop around! Don't just buy the item because it is there! Save money by comparison shopping and watching for sales. Why pay full price when you can get it for less? This will free up money for other things!  Of course, if the item is hard to find, this doesn't apply! If this is the case BUY IT WHEN YOU FIND IT!!

5.  Don't stress over getting the holiday gadgets!! Shopping should be enjoyable, and if you are making yourself crazy trying to get all the hot holiday gadgets on your family's wish lists, you are going to make yourself insane!! Stick to your budget, and buy things you know your family could use.  And while you are at it, make sure you pick up a little something you want too! The shopper in the family deserves their wish to come true too!!!

So there you have it!! 5 ways to help make your holiday shopping for tech gadgets this year successful!!  Once you get all the shopping done, get yourself a cup of cocoa or a coffee, sit back and relax! It's time for you to enjoy yourself!!

About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Winners of the Staples OXO collection giveaway!!!

Here are 2 more lucky winners! These 2 have won our Staples OXO Collection Giveaway!!

Via random.org the lucky winners are: 

#88: Kimberly who said...  tweet http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/11369315292


# 127: PowerSweepstaking who said... http://twitter.com/sweepstaking/status/11634018157




Congrats! you have been emailed and we are waiting for your response! If we don't hear back in 48 hours we will redraw!

Again, some of the people who were originally selected as a winner didn't follow rules and therefore we redrew for new winners! Please check out our other Current Giveaways!

Staples OXO Collection Giveaway!!

I love pens.  Since I was in like middle school, I have always had a thing about having awesome pens.  So I was thrilled to try some of the new pens and other office supplies from Staples!  Their OXO Collection offers everything you could need for your office: pens, staplers, even dust pans with brooms!  I got to try their retractable pens,1 hole punch, and the push pen dispenser! Each has a comfort grip for easy handling and is stylish in black! Works with any decor!!

I love the push pen dispenser for keeping the push pens neat and organized and they make it easy to get one when needed!

• Telescoping wand has handy magnet built into underside of lid
• Magnet grabs and presents pins safely, avoiding finger pricks
• Holds up to 50 push pins

 The retractable pens are fab!!  They write nice and smooth and have the comfort grip material.  The top of the pen turns to retract the pen. They are great also to throw in your purse!! Perfect for everything. I am almost out of ink I am sure!!

• Medium point
• Blue/Black ink
• Prevents ink-spot accidents: When writing tip is exposed, pen cannot be clipped to clothing

1 hole punch is super because it has a locking feature so that you can't use it unless it is unlocked.  I thought that was great!! Then the kids will have a harder time trying to use it when I don't want them to!!  

Improved leverage for increased punching power

• Punches up to 6 sheets of standard 20-lb. paper
• Pressure-absorbing, non-slip grip for maximum comfort
• Tray captures paper holes and easily pivots to release
• Staples Brand 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Who we are:

Staples is the world's largest office products company. We're committed to making it easy for our customers around the globe to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With $23 billion in sales, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Be sure to check out the Hot Deals Center for the latest and greatest deals!

Staples has some prizes for two of you!! Enter below!

***MANDATORY ENTRY*** 

***YOU MUST DO THIS FOR ALL OTHERS TO COUNT***
GO TO Staples.com and tell me one thing you want from their site. Leave me a comment below, and you must include your email. If I don't have it I cannot contact you if you win.

Extra entries

Follow @Staplestweets on Twitter(for 1 extra entry, leave your twitter name in the comment)

Follow @FrugalFamilyFun on Twitter(for 1 extra entry, leave your twitter name in the comment)

Tweet daily! Include the link to this giveaway, @FrugalFamilyFun and @Staplestweets
Can be done up to 5 times daily, each worth 1 extra entry. leave me the link to your tweet.  All tweets must be 1 hour apart

Fan Staples on Facebook. (for 1 extra entry)

Blog about this for 5 entries!! Leave me the link to what you wrote!!

Put our button on your blog, leave me the link for 3 extra entries


Subscribe via email, google friend connect, or via reader.  Each is worth 2 bonus entries!, can do all 3!


Contest begins now and ends April 28,2010 at 11:59PM PST. 
The winner will be selected via Random.org They will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or forfeit the prize and we will redraw. Good luck to al!

I was not monetarily compensated for  this post. Staples did provide me with a selection of products for product review, and will also be providing the winners with some as well.
Photos from Staples