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الوسم: spree

  • Master Your After Christmas Sales Spree With These Top Tips

    Master Your After Christmas Sales Spree With These Top Tips

    Once the mince pies are stored away and the wrapping paper is tidied up, take a moment to consider the overlooked gadgets, clothing, and snacks that haven’t been gifted this holiday season. The post-Christmas sales kick into gear after the big day, offering a perfect opportunity to score various items at great discounts.

    While they may not attract as much attention as Black Friday or Prime Day, the after-Christmas sales remain an excellent time to find deals—whether you’re eyeing a gift you didn’t receive, or looking to clearance leftover stock of the year’s popular products. Now’s the time to finally get the smartphone you’ve been wanting, discover a budget-friendly GPU to enhance your gaming experience in 2026, or upgrade to that big-screen TV you’ve been holding out for.

    However, as with any shopping frenzy, diving headfirst into the sea of discounts can have its pitfalls. To help you make smart purchases, here are some helpful shopping tips to stay on track.

    Set Your Goals Before You Start

    It’s a good idea to decide what you want before sales begin. While you don’t need to create a detailed mood board, having a clear list of desired items helps you stay focused.

    Going into sales with overly optimistic expectations can lead to impulsive purchases, especially when big “deal” signs and significant discounts are everywhere. Staying focused with a specific list ensures you’ve researched each retailer and product thoroughly, so you don’t stray off course.

    Establish a Budget—Overall and Per Item

    In addition to your master list, set a specific budget—both a total spending cap and limits for individual items. This prevents overspending during the sales, which is especially important given how financially taxing the holiday season can be.

    Research market prices and typical ranges for the products you’re interested in. Creating this budget might seem time-consuming, but it can help you avoid unnecessary purchases of deals that aren’t truly advantageous.

    Shop Only on Trusted Websites

    It’s crucial in 2025—and beyond—to verify the legitimacy of online stores before making a purchase. No deal is worth falling for a scam.

    Fake retail sites are increasingly common, often designed to look real but aimed at stealing your money. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true, and avoid untrustworthy websites with poor layouts or suspiciously AI-generated content. Stick to well-known retailers, reputable brand websites, or stores with positive reviews on platforms like TrustPilot.

    Explore Alternative Options

    Most products come in various sizes, configurations, or specs. Sometimes, a larger model or a different variant can be heavily discounted, offering a better deal overall.

    Unless you’re fixed on a specific size or feature, consider browsing other versions of the same product. Retailers typically allow easy adjustments of specific configurations without needing to navigate entirely new listings.

    Research Discounts Before Making a Purchase

    Even after finding a promising deal, take a moment to verify if it’s truly the lowest available. Sales are great, but they’re not always the absolute best price.

    Use price tracking tools or Googling to see if the product frequently reaches similar prices—some items dip to their lowest prices every few weekends, while others have major discounts during Black Friday. This extra research helps determine if the deal is worth jumping on now or if it’s better to wait for an even better price.

    Investigate Additional Benefits from Retailers

    While the main appeal of sales is lower prices, don’t overlook other perks that online stores may offer. Extra benefits like free shipping, extended warranties, order bonuses, or trade-in discounts can add significant value.

    Some retailers offer free trials of subscription services or additional discounts on future purchases if you buy now. These extras could save you more money in the long run, especially when comparing similar deals.

    By planning ahead and doing your homework, you can enjoy successful shopping sprees and walk away with great deals that truly meet your needs.

  • Trump Delivers Pardon Bonanza to Loyal Supporters

    Trump Delivers Pardon Bonanza to Loyal Supporters

    US President Donald Trump on stage in Davenport, Iowa, US, March 13, 2023. — Reuters

    WASHINGTON: Reality TV personalities, former politicians, a sheriff, an executive from a nursing home, and a drug lord—what could possibly connect these individuals?

    In fact, they are among the Americans who have been convicted of crimes and have received pardons from President Donald Trump since he took office in January.

    While it’s not unusual for US presidents to grant controversial pardons, Trump’s approach is “larger and more bold, lacking any sense of shame,” remarked Kermit Roosevelt, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

    “The power to pardon has always posed some challenges, as it is an entirely unchecked power held by the president,” Roosevelt explained to AFP.

    “Most presidents have issued at least a few pardons that raise eyebrows, making people think, ‘That seems self-serving’ or ‘This feels corrupt in some way.’

    However, Trump’s pardons appear to resemble quid pro quo arrangements tied to financial contributions,” he added.

    Among those pardoned was Paul Walczak, a nursing home executive found guilty of tax offenses, whose mother attended a $1 million-per-plate fundraising event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in April.

    Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were serving lengthy sentences for bank fraud and tax evasion, also received pardons.

    Notably, their daughter, Savannah, is a vocal supporter of Trump and delivered a speech during last year’s Republican National Convention.

    In addition, several former Republican lawmakers convicted of various charges received pardons, including a Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years for accepting $75,000 in bribes.

    On his first day as president, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 supporters who invaded the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to obstruct the congressional certification of Joe Biden’s election victory.

    The following day, he pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for operating the “Silk Road” online marketplace that enabled millions of dollars in drug sales.

    ‘Just Another Deal’

    Barbara McQuade, a former prosecutor who now teaches law at the University of Michigan, commented that while Trump isn’t the first president to face accusations of allowing improper motives to affect pardon decisions, he certainly stands out.

    Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton’s pardon of a key Democratic donor’s husband, and Joe Biden’s pardon of relatives, including his son Hunter, have all faced criticism.

    “[But] Trump is in a league of his own regarding both the extent and boldness of his actions,” McQuade expressed in a column for Bloomberg.

    “To him, pardons are merely transactions; as long as a defendant can offer something of value in return, no crime seems too grievous,” she stated.

    Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin has inquired in a letter to Ed Martin, Trump’s pardon attorney at the Justice Department, about the criteria used for pardon recommendations.

    “It seems you are utilizing the Office of the Pardon Attorney to grant pardons as favors to the President’s loyal supporters and most generous donors,” Raskin wrote.

    Martin, for his part, has openly acknowledged the political nature of the pardons suggested by his office.

    “No MAGA left behind,” Martin tweeted after the pardon of the bribe-taking Virginia sheriff, alluding to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

    Lee Kovarsky, a law professor at the University of Texas, remarked that Trump’s “pardon spree” introduces a “dangerous new territory of presidential power,” which he terms “patronage pardoning.”

    By alleviating penalties for misdeeds, Trump is making a “public commitment to protect and reward loyalty, no matter how criminal,” Kovarsky wrote in a piece for the New York Times.