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Impressive Gifts You Can Buy for $20 or Less 12/14/2023 07:00pm • When cash is tight or you have many people to shop for, finding an affordable gift that makes a lasting impression can be a major challenge. Staying within budget is important, though. According to McKinsey's 2023 holiday shopping survey, 79% of consumers say this year they are swapping their purcha Retail sales rise 0.3% in November as Americans hit gas, not brakes on shopping, travel, restaurants 12/14/2023 05:37pm • NEW YORK (AP) — Americans picked up their spending from October to November unexpectedly as the unofficial holiday season kicked off, underscoring the power of shoppers despite elevated prices. Retail sales rose 0.3%, in November from October, when sales fell 0.2%, according to the Commerce Depart European Central Bank keeps its key interest rate at a record high. Now, when will it cut? 12/14/2023 10:35am • FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate at a record high Thursday and said it will leave it there as long as needed to battle back inflation, signaling that cuts are not around the corner despite expectations it will act next year to support the shrinking eco 12 Holiday Traditions on College Campuses 12/13/2023 07:00pm • Holiday TraditionsEvery college campus has its own approach to the holiday season. With many students being away from their families, different schools evoke the magic of the season and its many holidays through time-honored traditions. Regardless of whether a student grew up celebrating a certain h Sirens, Santa and lots of smiles as kids get to shop with a cop in Prince George's County 12/13/2023 03:17pm • There was a parade of police cars, many of them with sirens blaring, coming down Route 450 in Landover Hills, Maryland, and making a turn toward Walmart. Leading the way on a police motorcycle was the big guy, Santa, himself. Ten years ago, it was about 10 kids big, but this year, Prince Geor Jets' defense was thrilled to see Zach Wilson 'cookin' like that' in the quarterback's return 12/12/2023 10:44pm • EAST HANOVER, N.J. (AP) — Zach Wilson played with confidence and command last Sunday for the New York Jets. And his teammates on defense loved every minute of it. Wilson bounced back from a two-game benching to have arguably the best performance of his nearly three-year career, going 27 of 35 for The Cheapest Ways to Ship Packages 12/12/2023 07:00pm • Emails, texts and online messaging may have largely replaced physical letters, but there is only so much you can send over the internet. Shipping carriers will continue to do brisk business as long as there are online auction items to deliver and long-distance gifts to be mailed. The three main ship Even a little Christmas gift-induced credit card debt will be a Grinch 12/12/2023 02:43pm • We all want to buy presents for our loved ones, but take care when racking up credit card debt. The consequence of spending a little more money before Christmas might catch up with your credit score after New Year's. "It is probably more the norm than the exception that people take on additional Ho, ho, ho! Gift ideas for stargazers in 2023 12/08/2023 03:30pm • OK, so you have someone on your holiday gift list that loves the stars. What to do, what to do… Don’t despair, here’s my annual WTOP "Gift Ideas For Stargazers." Internet shopping and quick shipping can get that star-minded someone their gift fairly quickly with very little hassle -- even i FTC warns social media giveaways may be fake 12/07/2023 09:30pm • It's the holiday season and if you're shopping on social media, be careful with giveaways claiming you'll win a prize. The Federal Trade Commission says it's likely a scam and many people are becoming victims. One in four people who reported losing money to fraud since 2021 said it started when a Things to do in the DC area: 15 holiday-themed bars and restaurants … and more! 12/07/2023 05:46am • There’s so much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating. Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area. For those in search of festive D.C.-area spaces to enjoy holiday drinks in Reserve goalie Tenas grabs the spotlight at PSG with Donnarumma under pressure 12/07/2023 05:09am • PARIS (AP) — Criticized for recent glaring errors at Paris Saint-Germain, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma did not help his case with his awful tackle last weekend. The reckless move gave younger rival Arnau Tenas the chance to show off his class. And the Spanish goalie seized the moment. Wh Ways to Make an Extra $500 for the Holidays 12/06/2023 07:00pm • If you're like most people who are celebrating the winter holiday season, you're parting with more cash than you normally do from now until New Year's. According to a 2023 National Retail Federation report, Americans plan on spending an average of $875 during the holidays. If you've only saved a par It'll be Aldi vs. Lidl near U.Md.'s College Park campus 12/06/2023 12:19pm • The new grocery store is opening at 8904 62nd Avenue just off Greenbelt Avenue on Thursday. (Courtesy Aldi) Discount grocer Aldi will be opening its newest Maryland store in Berwyn Heights near the University of Maryland College Park campus this Thursday. The new Aldi, at 8904 62nd Avenue jus 0% credit card offers can provide holiday relief — if used wisely 12/06/2023 07:00am • It’s hard to say what kills the holiday buzz more: Putting away the festive decorations or a mountain of credit card debt that swells with every interest charge. But not all credit cards charge interest, at least for a time. If you lack cash on hand to buy all the holiday things, a 0% annual perce