IT’S MY MONEY | I think today, the day after Christmas, should be slapped with a catchy name like “Return Day” or “I don’t want this so I’m taking it back Day.” Anyhow, today is notorious for long lines at the return counter. I wrote a story for today’s paper about this oh-so critical day on the retail landscape.

Just recently, I decided to return a Hello Kitty toaster I received last year. I actually got two of those last Christmas. Yes, I got TWO toasters last Christmas, TWO of the same toaster. I love Hello Kitty, but I also have temporal mandibular joint disorder (which means I should only be eating soft food). Ergo, toasters are just not that useful for me.

Anyhow, I returned one toaster last year and kept the other one in it’s original packaging in one of my kitchen cabinets. I finally realized that no, I will probably not ever use it or give it to someone else. So, I searched on Target’s Web site until I found a store that carried the toaster and took it there. I was upfront in telling the cashier that I didn’t have a receipt and it was a gift, so could she return it or not? She said it was possible, but I would get $15 of store credit instead of the $19.99 list price. Okay, fine. Then she said I could only exchange the toaster for an item from the same department. After a five minute discussion about what department I could find something in (was it from the toy department? Girls’ apparel? No, it’s a toaster! Kitchenwares!), I decided on a new blender and a fancy whisk.

I almost never get embarrased when returning things (and I return a lot of things), but I was embarrased that day. Nonetheless, I am happy to report I have used my blender almost every day since I brought it home.

AT THE SCENE | Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton is teeming with people and it seems as though shopping fatigue is setting in. I saw one woman dragging a large bag from toy store. I walked by a security guard yawning. The crowds walking through the center look they are on an assembly line. After just one lap through here, I started feeling hot and out of breath. You definitely need some stamina to do any shopping today. And let’s not forget the parking lot— it’s packed. I lucked out and found a spot quickly I think because of some divine intervention and because I stalked a young couple long enough for them to put their baby in the backseat and stroller in the trunk.

Below, the only merry site in Stoneridge: the animal Christmas display.

AT THE SCENE | Downtown Walnut Creek shopping is just as I expected: crowded with shoppers and cars. People are rushing by street corners. Cars are honking. And of course, the registers are singing.

I just nabbed a gift for a good friend: a sweater from Banana Republic. I still have several gifts to buy because as ironic as it seems, this shop girl has NOT finished her shopping.
I figure that I’ll pick up some items today and if I don’t, well I’m pretty sure my loved ones will still know I love them.

Above: Stephanie Malone of Walnut Creek wraps a gift inside Starbucks.

AT THE SCENE | Today is the Saturday before Christmas, the day that is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Some think it’s the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, but there’s no nothing like free time and last minute pressure to get people to spend. I’ll spend some time this afternoon checking out various shopping locales in the area.

It’s around 1:15 p.m. and I am at the Starbucks on the corner of N. Main and Duncan streets in Walnut Creek. Because I sletp in this morning, I am just now starting my day with a yogurt parfait and a tall drip coffee.

It’s sunny with only a slightly chilly breeze here. It only took me a few minutes to find a parallel parking spot and it still had about half an hour of time left on it. Score! Yesterday I spent a good half an hour to find a find a spot and it was far from the central shopping area.

Next I’ll stroll the plaza. I’m already feeling the shopping buzz in the air as shopper after shopper walks by with festive looking bags and packages.

AT THE SCENE | Carol Lauzon of Brentwood finished her Christmas shopping by Friday afternoon, so she decided to take time to enjoy the sunny afternoon in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza.

Check out my story on buying gifts in these final days before Christmas.

Below, who doesn’t love cute dogs?

TIP JAR | I found a cool site, Coupon Cabin, today that has online coupons you can use for major retailers.

IT’S MY MONEY | My quest for a down mattress pad known as a “featherbed” continued last Saturday when I learned that Kohl’s was selling them for $40 as a Saturday morning “doorbuster.” I have been craving a featherbed since last month when I stayed in a hotel and the bed I slept on had one. I have mentioned previously that I tried to score one the day after Thanksgiving, but failed.

Well, I showed up at Kohl’s on Saturday at about 10 a.m. and found out that the store never even stocked the featherbeds it had advertised. The store clerk’s explanation: “We don’t have them.” That was all.

So, I told my sister the story later that morning and she responded with, “Well, didn’t you get the one we sent you?” We = my siblings. Turns out, my Christmas gift from them is a featherbed, “a nice one,” my sister assured me. They had it shipped to me directly (in fact, there is probably a UPS guy at my door right now). So not only did Kohl’s lie to me in their ad, they ruined what little Christmas mystery I had to look forward to. Okay, so it’s not that big of a deal. I’m still getting a featherbed. But, anyway, don’t trust doorbusters.

IT’S MY MONEY | I’ve been hearing lately that the holiday shopping season is not just a good time to buy for others, but yourself, too. In fact, the deals are so good and spending hours shopping for others is so labor-intensive, how can you not?
Alvetta Hankins of Antioch confessed to me that she bought herself two pairs of shoes today during an outing the Walnut Creek Macy’s.
“I didn’t go in there for shoes, but I just looked and …” she explained with a slight hint of shame in her voice. Her justification: they were only $35 each.
Hey, in my book, a deal is a deal, and it is the season of giving, so take advantage and give yourself a little something.

TIP JAR | I came across an article from USA Today that talks about the “gray market” and how consumers can be scammed. The “gray market” (a new term for me) refers to products that are bought in other countries and resold in the U.S. for a profit. Often, because of exchange rates, products like electronics and jewelry are a lot cheaper in other countries. The process of selling is legal, the article says, but sometimes consumers who buy the goods don’t receive all the accessories or the user manuals are in other languages. Another problem is that warranties for products from overseas don’t apply in the U.S.

I’m always skeptical of buying online and this article made me even more squeamish about it.

TIP JAR | If you are scrounging for gift ideas, check out Gifts.com, a site that gives suggestions based on personality categories like “Gadget guru,” “Professional,” “History buff” and “Fashion shopper.” I clicked on “Travel enthusiast” (a category I think suits me). The site brought up items like monogramed tote bags, jewelry travel cases and passport wallets (that one is something I’ve been wanting for years- no joke!).
If you’re like me and you have those hard-to-shop-for family members, this site could be a good tool.