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Born on this day!! Playwright-actor Wallace Shawn (“The Princess Bride”) is 78. Singer Brian Hyland is 78. Keyboardist Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG’s is 77. Sportscaster Al Michaels is 77. Singer Neil Young is 76. Guitarist Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult is 74. Country singer Barbara Fairchild is 71. Actor Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) is 63. Bassist David Ellefson (Megadeth) is 57. Actor Rebecca Wisocky (“Devious Maids”) is 50. Actor Radha Mitchell (“Finding Neverland”) is 48. Actor Tamala Jones (“Castle,” ″The Brothers”) is 47. Actor Angela Watson (“Step By Step”) is 47. Singer Tevin Campbell is 45. Actor Ashley Williams (“Huff,” ″Good Morning, Miami”) is 43. Actor Cote de Pablo (“NCIS”) is 42. Actor Ryan Gosling is 41. Bassist Chris Huffman of Casting Crowns is 41. Actor Anne Hathaway is 39. Singer Omarion (B2K) is 37. Drummer Griffin Goldsmith of Dawes is 31.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1920 – Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis was elected the first commissioner of baseball.
1927 – Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party and Joseph Stalin became the ruler of the Soviet Union.1942
The World War II battle of Guadalcanal begins.
1954 – Ellis Island stopped serving as the chief immigration station for the United States. Twenty million immigrants went through Ellis Island in its 62 years of operation.
1970 – A cyclone and tidal wave hit East Pakistan, killing over 200,000 people.
1981 – The space shuttle Columbia was launched for the second time. It was the first time a space vehicle was used more than once.
1990 – Akihito becomes emperor of Japan.
1997 – Ramzi Yousef, the man behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was convicted in New York.

Today Is: Chicken Soup For The Soul Day, Domino Day, Fancy Rat & Mouse Day, National French Dip Day, Sigma Gamma Rho Day, World Pneumonia Day

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 –  SWAT  /  9:00 – Magnum PI  /  10:00 – Blue Bloods
NBC – 8:00  – Home Sweet Home  /  10:00 – Dateline NBC
ABC – 8:00 –  Shark Tank  /  10:00 – 2020
FOX – 8:00 – Friday Night Smackdown
CW – 8:00 –  Penn and Teller /  9:00 – Nancy Drew

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Fallon: Taraji P. Henson, Steve Zahn, Damon Albarn
Stephen Colbert: Jeff Goldblum, Rod Stewart
The View: “The View” celebrates Whoopi’s birthday
The Talk: Larenz Tate
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Jeff Goldblum, Vern Yip
Ellen DeGeneres: Olivia Munn, Ester Dean, guest host Stephen “tWitch” Boss
Wendy Williams: Laura Kasperzak, guest host Michael Rapaport
The Real: Don Benjamin
Drew Barrymore: Addison Rae, KeKe Palmer

WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!

QUESTION: That’s a GOOD thing, right?? Odell Beckham puts an end to his free-agent odyssey by signing with the LOS ANGELES RAMS!! Super Bowl time!!!!!!!!!!

 

QUESTION: Is there a SECRET to COOKING FOR ROYALTY?? The royal cook reveals all.. including the fact that The Queen’s food is X-RAYED, for security reasons!!!

 

QUESTION: Think your CAT doesn’t LOVE YOU?? New study shows felines care just as much as DOGS, and that they follow you around the house!! True????

 

QUESTION: Would you date a SHORTER MAN?? How MUCH shorter?? This woman is over 6 feet, her husband is 5’5″, and guys HIT ON HER in FRONT OF HIM!!!!!!!!
The pair, pictured, where friends for eight years before love struck. Darlene used to be married, but went through a divorce three years ago

QUESTION: Wanna buy the house that PRINCE CHARLES used to own?? Great… but there’s ONE CATCH!! You have to let him FISH there anytime he wants!!!!!!!!
The home spans over 8,500 square feet.

Stallone Almost Died During Rocky IV

Sylvester Stallone feared that he was going to die and go to heaven after a “Rocky IV” fight scene with actor Dolph Lundgren’s Ivan Drago character went astray. They starred as opposing boxers in the fourth film, released in 1985, of the beloved “Rocky” series.  Stallone reflected on the filming on his YouTube channel’s recent video, The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone.  “The first thing we shot [was] my entrance, his entrance and the introductions and then I got really injured during the fight and I had to be flown into intensive care to California from Canada,” he said.  He continued, “Well, he pulverized me. And I didn’t feel it in the moment, but later that night my heart started to swell. My blood pressure went up to 260 and I was going to be talking to angels, next thing I know I’m on this emergency, low-altitude flight.”  “I’m in intensive care surrounded by nuns and then after that, I had to go back and finish the fight,” he said.  Stallone then explained that he stayed in the ICU for four days before returning to film the rest of the final fight scene, adding that Lundgren’s strong hit to his chest is “what’s in the original movie.”   “How could you take that out?” he said.   To celebrate the film’s anniversary, a director’s cut of “Rocky IV” will be released in theaters for one day only on Nov. 11.
********Heaven didn’t want him!!!
*****He was surrounded by nuns??? Sounds like a mashup of “Rocky” and “Sister Act!!”
******It was “Rocky IV,” and he was ON an IV!!!!

George Harrison Home Hits The Auction Block

George Harrison’s childhood home, where The Beatles had their first rehearsals, is going up for auction for £160,000 ($215,000).  Located in Liverpool suburb Speke, the historic house was used as the iconic band’s main practice spot in the late 1950s.  He and his family had initially moved into the home in 1949, when he was just 6 years old. They lived in the residence until 1962, when Harrison was 18, according to Omega Auctions, which is handling the sale.  During this period, the house became a regular rehearsal venue for The Quarrymen, which eventually evolved into The Beatles with Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr.  The home is made up of three bedrooms and has since undergone a series of renovations, with a hallway, lounge, combined kitchen and dining room and a family-sized rear garden, according to the listing. A number of original features from Harrison’s time at the address remain intact, including the bath, sink, hanging rails in wardrobes and other structures, like some original doors and decor.  You can bid online, by phone or in person on Nov. 30.
*******We’ll just go and rub it for good luck!!
*******Is the house on Blue Jay Way??? That would make it more valuable!!
*******My Sweet Lord, that’s a good price!!!

Prince George Ate A Live Ant

Prince George once bravely consumed a live ant during an encounter with professional adventurer Bear Grylls.  The 8-year-old royal first crossed paths with Grylls at the inaugural King’s Cup regatta on the Isle of Wight in 2019, Grylls recently told “Good Morning Britain.” While there, George’s grandmother Carole Middleton (who hosted the event) apparently called Grylls over to meet the young prince.  “[Prince George] was down here, and just as we were chatting, a stream of ants went across his feet,” Grylls recalled. “Him and me looked at them, he looked at me with those amazed wide eyes, and I said, ‘Come on, we’ve got to eat one.’ And he said, ‘Oh, really?’ And we ate.”  Grylls said he was impressed with George’s bravery and taste for adventure — and insects.  “It was a privilege to give the future king his first ant,” he said. “His eyes lit up, as they do with anyone when they’re out in the wild and they face a few fears and overcome them, so good for him. What a little hero.”
*******He said, “These are better than the cockroaches at the palace!!”
*******The scariest ant in George’s life is Aunt Meghan!!!

DJ Khaled Opening Chicken Wing Shop With Boat Delivery

DJ Khaled on Thursday launched his latest business venture, a sprawling chicken wing delivery startup with more than 150 kitchens in five countries on three continents — and it plans to offer boatside jet ski delivery as it ramps up.  He partnered with so-called ghost kitchen operator Reef Technology to launch the new chicken wing company, called Another Wing.  Ghost kitchens are a kind of delivery-only restaurant that exploded in popularity during the pandemic as government-restrictions closed indoor dining options in cities around the world and restaurants turned to delivery as a lifeline.  In an interview with Hypebeast, Khaled called it “the first restaurant concept to ever launch on three continents at the same time.”  The company’s first 150-plus kitchens will service the US, the UK, Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg reported. In North America, it will operate in New York, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver and elsewhere.
******Meanwhile, lots of chickens will be walkin’ around with no wings!! Just sayin’!!!!!!
****He’s opening up 150 kitchens.. meanwhile, Denny’s just took an hour to bring our “Eggs Over My Hammy!!”
*****Sounds like a big wing ding!!

Christopher Walken Paints Over Original Art

Christopher Walken, star of the new streaming series “The Outlaws,” did what many art fans consider sacrilegious act of vandalism: He painted over an original Banksy!  A spokesperson for the BBC iPlayer series confirmed his act of destruction in a statement.  “We can confirm that the artwork at the end of The Outlaws was an original Banksy, and that Christopher Walken painted over that artwork during the filming of this scene, ultimately destroying it,” they told BBC.  “The Outlaws,” also starring comedian and show director Stephen Merchant, was filmed in Banksy’s hometown of Bristol, where the graffiti artist began spray-painting satirical images of a teddy bear protester, a masked gorilla and philandering men.  For the show, set designers brought in one of Banksy’s other iconic works — one of his trademark, anthropomorphized rats — with permission from the artist himself to have it destroyed.  During the season finale, the storyline sees that Walken’s character Frank is made to absentmindedly paint over the artwork as he and several criminals of minor offenses in the show are charged with painting over graffiti as part of their enforced community service.  It was a one-take scene as Walken was forced to literally paint over the one-of-a-kind piece.  Banksy’s work has drawn enormous sums in the past — up to $25 million at Sotheby’s London earlier this year, his largest price tag to date. Last year, his “Radar Rat” one of several works in his collection of featuring the rodent, also sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong for over $700,000.
*******If a rat is worth $700,000, how much is our “Dogs Playing Poker” worth???
TRUE: Art is the hottest commodity on the planet!! Got any??

The Rock Attacks Ryan Reynolds With Billboard

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson verbally body-slammed Ryan Reynolds by erecting a hilarious Netflix billboard that playfully digs at the actor’s supposed streaming habits.  He uploaded an Instagram photo of the searing signage, which reads: “Ryan Reynolds uses his mom’s Netflix account.”  “One last heist for the road. Beat that, @vancityreynolds,” Johnson wrote in the caption. “For the record, Ryan’s mama is an AMAZING WOMAN. Not sure why Ryan turned out the way he did.”  Reynolds replied in the comments, quipping: “In fairness, my mom uses my OnlyFans account.”  The Rock had posted the billboard burn to promote the duo’s upcoming action comedy movie “Red Notice,” which will be released on Netflix this Friday, Nov. 12. Also starring Gal Gadot, the flick follows an FBI profiler who reluctantly befriends an infamous art thief “to catch an elusive crook who’s always one step ahead,” per the Netflix description.  “Red Notice” reportedly is the streaming platform’s most expensive film ever, boasting a budget of $200 million.  See the pic HERE.
********We gotta find the printing press… where Netflix is making all this money!!!
******If the budget is $200 million.. The Rock probably got half of that!!

 

Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!

Skeleton In ‘Grey’s’ Closet-(National Enquirer)

Jesse’s Bitter Divorce

Jesse Williams’ Dr. Jackson Avery left “Grey’s Anatomy” after 12 seasons amid the actor’s brutal divorce with longtime partner Aryn Drake-Lee.  The split was so rancorous, Jesse, 40, and his real estate broker ex, 39, were court-ordered to attend a program about reducing conflicts in co-parenting relationships!  The pair, who has two kids, finalized their divorce in October 2020 after a three-year battle.

Kate Rips Goldie’s Heart Out!-(Globe)

Rom-com cutie Kate Hudson is setting up an explosion at her upcoming wedding to singer Danny Fujikama, with plans to invite her estranged dad, Bill-over the bitter objections of her mom and his ex-wife-Goldie Hawn, sources say.  The 42-year-old actress has “softened a lot” toward 72-year-old musician Bill and believes her wedding to Danny, 35, is the perfect place to reconnect with him and her three half-siblings.  But sources say still bitter Goldie, 75, blew like a “nuclear explosion” and was “freaking out” when she heard about her daughter’s plans to invite Bill.

Zayn & Gigi:  Breakup From Hell-(Us Weekly)

Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik’s split just keeps getting uglier as details of the former One Direction singer’s nasty fight with the model’s mom, Yolanda Hadid, have been made public.  According to legal documents, on Sept. 29 Malik allegedly shoved Yolanda, 57, into a dresser during a heated argument at his Pennsylvania house, and screamed to “stay away from [his] f**king daughter.”  (Gigi wasn’t home at the time.)  At first Malik, 28, denied the accusations, but on Oct. 27, he pleaded no contest to four counts of harassment and was ordered to 360 days of probation and to stay away from Yolanda and a security guard who was present during the alleged scuffle.  A source says, “Gigi, 26, is consulting lawyers about next steps when it comes to their daughter Khai, 13 months.  “There will be a big custody battle,” the insider says.  “Gigi will want full or primary custody-and Zayn is not one to step down.”

Angie’s Hairy Sitch!-(Star)

Double the fun?  Angelina Jolie left fans perplexed with her bi-level ‘do at the Oct. 24 Eternals premiere in Rome.  The actress, who plays Thena in the flick, stunned in a form-fitting silver gown by Versace.  But as she walked the red carpet alongside daughters Zahara, 16, and Shiloh, 15, the mom-of-six’s choppy waist-length extensions quickly went viral.  “How do you let angelina jolie walk a red carpet with her hair extensions looking like this,” asked one Twitter user.  “Somebody getting fired.”

Romance:  Orlando Bloom-(Life & Style)

When his fiancée, Katy Perry, 37, the actor took to Instagram to sweetly wish her a happy birthday.  “I’ll celebrate you today and every day,” he wrote.

One Last Thing:  Jeff Goldblum-(People)

The actor, 69, hosts the Disney+ series The World According To Jeff Goldblum.

Last time I stayed up too late-

My wife [Emilie Livingston] just surprised me for my birthday with a bunch of friends for an evening affair.  I had to make up for it the next day getting up early with my [sons, Charlie, 6, and River, 4], but you only turn 30 once.

Last time something gave me chills-

River is obsessed with Spider-Man.  He puts on the mask, and I say, “Oh, gosh, River would love to see you, Spider-Man.  River?”  And he lifts up his mask and says, “Da-da, it’s me.”  He never gets tired of it.  Yesterday he said, “Da-da, promise for the rest of your life you’ll always know it’s me.”  I promised him.

Last time I cried-

Watching The Boss Baby 2 with Charlie yesterday.  A daughter gets reunited with a father, and I was audibly boo-hooing.  My kids see me crying a lot and say, “Don’t cry, dad-da.”  There’s a lot of joyful tears around here.

Last Laughs-(In Touch)

“Metallica and Billy Joel are teaming up for a weekend of music in Las Vegas.  Finally, the crossover that neither of their fans ever asked for.  I cannot wait to hear ‘Enter Piano Man.’”-Stephen Colbert.

“Coldplay announced that their 2022 world tour will be partially powered by a dance floor that creates electricity when people jump up and down.  Well, I’d also bring a generator to be safe.  I love Coldplay, but who jumps up and down?!”-Seth Meyers.

“Tom Brady became the first NFL quarterback to throw 600 touchdowns.  The ball-estimated to be worth $500,000-was accidentally given to a fan, but the Bucs got it back by offering him season tickets, autographed memorabilia and a bitcoin from Brady himself.  So for a ball worth half a mil, you gave him tickets, merch and concept of money?”-Stephen Colbert.

 

STUPID NEWS

Steer Uses The Water Slide

A cattle farmer in Brazil said a steer that escaped slaughter and ended up on the water slide at a neighboring club will now be kept as a pet.  Carlos Miguel Serante said the 2-year-old steer escaped from his cattle farm in Nova Granada and made its way to the neighboring Indaia Club de Campo, where the animal ended up climbing to the top of a water slide at the pool.  The steer slid halfway down the slide before coming to a stop.  Video from the scene shows a man roping the steer and leading it the rest of the way down the slide and into the water.  Serante said the bovine’s adventure has made it into a local celebrity. He said the steer had been scheduled to be slaughtered, but will now be kept as a pet.  “I looked to see if he had any injuries, but he’s fine. He’ll stay here because of the people. The people want to know where he is. He’s been the attraction. Everyone wants to know. We want to take him to the club,” the farmer told news outlet G1.  See the video HERE.
********He WILL be fitted with a pair of Speedos!!!
******The steer already had his nuggets cut off!! What else does he have to live for??
******Where does a 1,000-pound animal swim?? Anywhere he wants to!!

Truck Spills Load Of Milk

Traffic on a stretch of Texas highway soured when a crashed truck spilled its load of milk into the roadway.  The El Paso Police Department said the Sarah Farms truck was hauling a load of milk gallons when it crashed and rolled over in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 on Monday night.  The cause of the crash was unclear, but the incident left the roadway covered in spilled milk.  The crash led to traffic delays, as multiple lanes of the interstate were closed for clean-up operations.  No injuries were reported from the crash.  See the video HERE.
********They also rushed trucks full of cookies to the site!!!
******If it’s not one thing, it’s the udder!!

Oldest Conductor

A 103-year-old Florida man conducted the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note at a Washington concert to break his own Guinness World Record as the oldest conductor.  Frank Emond of Cantonment initially set the record for the world’s oldest conductor in May 2019, when he conducted the Pensacola Civic Band at its Memorial Day Concert at the age of 101.  Emond broke his own record Saturday night when he took to the stage in Washington, D.C., to conduct the U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note in playing Glenn Miller’s In the Mood. The song was part of the American Veteran Center’s “America Valor: A Salute to our Heroes” at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.  Emond joined the Navy as a musician and was aboard the USS Pennsylvania during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.  See the video HERE.
********It’s a great accomplishment, but he should slow down!! Don’t wanna peak too early!!
******The Queen was interested.. “Ahh… an older man!!!”
******When a sailor waves his baton, people sit up and take notice!!!

Dancing Burglar Arrested

Police have custody of a man who two-stepped his way to celebration after allegedly stealing jewelry from an 86-year-old man in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The man identified as Sean Gazo, along with another man, Carl M. Jackson, had been hired by the senior citizen to help move heavy furniture.   After the men were done with the moving job, the victim discovered that about $10,000 of jewelry was missing. The two men took the stolen jewelry to a pawnshop in Martin County, FOX 17 Nashville reported, and surveillance camera caught Gazo dancing as he was leaving the shop.   The 31-year-old was captured while his alleged accomplice is still at large.
*********He’s now in a cell with Bubba, doing the Horizontal Mambo!!

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

VIDEO: WELCOME TO CAT ISLAND!

VIDEO: OLD CANADIAN TV SHOW FROM THE 80’S DOES A BIT ON “ROCKY”!

 

A LIST FOR FRIDAY

7 Ways to Outsmart Supply Shortages for Holiday Shopping

THE PENNY HOARDER

 

  1. Check Your Local Thrift Stores

Is that special item not expected to arrive on time? Checking local thrift stores is a smart way to find less expensive and unique gifts.

Thrift stores bypass the supply chain headaches plaguing other retailers. They don’t need to order products from overseas or anxiously await deliveries from clogged U.S. ports.

Instead, thrift stores take donations from the local community to keep shelves stocked.

Thrifting became a necessity for many people during the pandemic, but resale stores have been around for decades and their infamous deals can come in clutch during the holidays.  Thrifting also cuts down on waste by eliminating shipping envelopes and other packaging that clogs landfills. Shop thrift stores, consignment boutiques or even pawn shops for eco-friendly gifts.

Plato’s Closet, a chain of teen and twenty-something resale stores with over 480 North American locations, doesn’t even use plastic bags at checkout anymore in an effort to encourage sustainability.

It might be tough to find specific, trendy items at the Goodwill or Salvation Army, but discovering unexpected treasures is part of the fun for many shoppers.

“The possibilities are endless,” said Haviland Cardinal, a 30-year-old thrifting regular in Evansville, Indiana. “I love thrift shopping because you can get really unique and vintage items for cheap, and it’s also environmentally friendly.”

To score great gifts, check out a few different stores around town.

Inventory moves fast, so don’t hesitate if an item catches your eye or you might miss out. Browse shelves during off-hours in the middle of the week, when fewer shoppers are on the hunt for those one-of-a-kind finds.

A final tip: Many thrift shops have days when inventory tagged with certain colors are discounted. Check out the schedule before you shop to maximum savings.

 

  1. Online Secondhand Stores Are Worth a Look

The online resale industry is booming.

This year’s secondhand online retail market is anticipated to top $65 billion — an all time high for the industry — according to a survey from Mercari, a secondhand e-commerce site.

Mobile apps and websites like The RealReal, Postmark and ThreadUp offer consumers a way to find used items — mostly high-end clothing — at affordable prices.

Like brick-and-mortar thrift stores, these online resellers promote clothes and shoes sitting in people’s closets. They largely avoid the chaos of backlogged ports and other supply chain woes.

​​Gen Z and millennial shoppers have really flocked to these companies, especially during the pandemic. In June 2021, Etsy announced a $1.6 billion acquisition of Depop, a resale platform dominated by Gen Z shoppers (90% of users are under 26 years old).

If you’re on the hunt for luxury or name-brand fashion finds, you’ll have an easier time scoring them on these sites than traditional thrift stores. Plus you get the convenience of browsing items from the comfort of your home.

However, these online sellers still rely on shipping to get goods to your door. Check shipping details before buying, especially as Christmas draws closer.

An alternative to trendy online secondhand stores is Goodwill’s online store.

Goodwill, with over 3,000 physical U.S. stores, offers an online auction site featuring roughly 93,000 items up for grabs at any given time, including antiques, electronic equipment, art, collectibles, home décor and more.

Registration is free, and Goodwill accepts all major credit cards. You get the option to pick up your items in-store or select from available shipping options.

 

  1. Browse Flea Markets, Craft Fairs and Art Shows

Buying local and shopping small are smart ways to find awesome gifts and support independent merchants at the same time.

Products shipped from Asia are facing the biggest supply chain delays, but items at mom-and-pop shops and flea markets are already on the shelves.

Craft, gift and vendor shows crop up in every community this time of year. Check your local events calendar or Facebook for pop-up markets and Christmas bazaars.

You can purchase items on-site and avoid shipping concerns altogether. And in the process support a local creator or business owner who — let’s face it — needs and appreciates your business much more than Amazon or Walmart.

 

  1. Explore Independent Online Stores, Too

If you don’t want to leave the house, sites like Etsy and Shopify can also help you shop small.

Andrea Turner is an independent jewelry component supplier in Texas who runs a popular Etsy shop called The Bead Treasure Chest.

She told The Penny Hoarder she started prepping and buying supplies in July to position her small business to succeed this season.

Turner said that independent vendors like herself have an advantage over major online retailers still struggling to get raw materials and products from overseas.

“Our online storefronts will be fully stocked and ready for shoppers while the big box stores are still waiting to get their products off those cargo ships,” Turner said.

Just be mindful of delivery times, especially for custom orders from small vendors. Plan ahead and get your orders in sooner rather than later.

“Many times there is only one person behind the scenes, and that person is taking your order, pulling it, wrapping it up and adding that personalized touch,” Turner said.

 

  1. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace

Local people sell TVs, iPhones, toys, home goods and other popular items at reduced prices on places like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, making these sites an attractive option for last-minute shopping.

Apps, such as LetGo and OfferUp, also connect buyers and sellers in a digital space where you can exchange messages and see the item before you buy it.

Short on time? Sellers who live nearby are often willing to deliver purchases to you for a few extra bucks.

And if you need some cash for Christmas, selling your own stuff on Facebook Marketplace and other sites is a good way to earn extra money.

Be careful, of course. Scammers and con artists love the internet, so make sure to vet sellers. Ask to exchange items and money in a public place, like a police station parking lot or outside a grocery store.

When buying an electronic or small home appliance, ask to try the item out in front of the seller to make sure it works first.

If you go to someone’s house to pick something up, bring a friend or give someone the address of where you’re going.

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist don’t have built-in payment mechanisms, so you’ll need to arrange payment directly with the seller ahead of time.

Most sellers only accept cash — and for good reason — so stop by the ATM on your way or ask if they have a Cash App or Venmo account.

 

  1. You Can’t Go Wrong With E-Gift Cards

E-gift cards can be sent virtually without relying on the post office. Amazon and Walmart let you buy digital gift cards and send them directly to your favorite person’s inbox.

Several major credit card companies give you extra value this time of year on gift cards purchased with cash back points.

Discover, for example, offers 20% extra value on gift cards from places like Applebees, Bath & Body Works and Under Armor. So if you buy a $50 participating gift card, your recipient will actually receive $60.

 

  1. Wrap Up an In-Person Experience

Finally, ditch a physical gift altogether this year.

Giving the gift of an experience is not only thoughtful — you don’t have to worry about empty store shelves or shipping costs.

Buying a gift certificate to your mom’s favorite hair salon, covering the cost of a spa package for your beloved or scoring a concert ticket to your friend’s favorite band are just a few ways to avoid supply chain madness.

Groupon is a great place to score deals on local attractions and fun activities, from a round of mini-golf to horseback riding lessons.

Digital events — like virtual wine tastings and online cooking classes — grew in popularity during the pandemic, and still make special gifts for anyone who’s uncomfortable with large crowds or public outings.

Spending your money on experiences, instead of belongings, is also a smart solution for people who already seem to have everything they need.

 

 

The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo.  The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan.  The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations.  Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
© 2021 – Radio Genius Show Prep

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