The 3rd verse of the Tao, a concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy, seems to relate philosophy with shopping. It writes:

“Putting a value on status will create contentiousness. If you overvalue possessions, people begin to steal. By not displaying what is desirable, you will cause the people’s hearts to remain undisturbed. The sage governs by emptying minds and hearts, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.

Practice not doing….

When action is pure and selfless, everything settles into its own perfect place“

This 3rd verse of the Tao Te Ching advises one to rearrange priorities to ensure satisfaction. The Tao suggests that a drive to buy should be directed by something greater than ego-driven desires.

How can you apply Tao-based principles to your shopping techniques? Well, to start you off, think about the times when you are about to buy something. Take note of this desire and plan, and then decide to use the Tao to guide your buying process. The Tao would advise you to be grateful for the opportunity to buy something. Be thankful for the fact that you even have the choice to make the purchase, and then listen to yourself and think about the purpose of your purchase. Using your feelings, realize that you may not have to buy what you are about to buy. The Tao will help you reveal whether or not you really need to make the purchase or if there is another purpose to your desire. Can you maybe buy the item to give it to someone else, or donate it? Can you use the money that you were about to spend and give it to charity instead? Maybe you will be guided not to buy the item. And, of course, you always could be guided to purchase the item so that you can savor it within your life.

As one can see, it is a different view of how you go about shopping, but it may be one you could practice every so often to make your shopping experiences more meaningful.

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If you’re thinking of signing up with a home delivery service, ask yourself:

1. Am I willing to pay extra for organic produce? That’s what these services specialize in. You do pay for the better taste and perceived health benefits.
2. Will I remember to make the arrangements each week? In other words, review your order and change it if necessary, leave the bin out, arrange for payment.

Then there are a few questions for the delivery service:

1. What’s the minimum order? Or do they just charge for delivery if you order below a certain amount?
2. Can you change your order? You may want to set up a standing order or just get a standard weekly assortment. You may be able to tell the service your preferences (such as absolutely no parsnips ever!) and let them choose for you based on that. There should be a way for you to see your next order online and make changes, up to a deadline.
3. What time will they deliver? This can be pretty broad, like “between 1 PM and 7 PM”. Can you count on using your order for dinner on delivery day?

Thinking about these things will help you decide if home delivery is for you.

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Sam: First, parents should ask their tweens where they want to shop. Once you get to the store, give them a bit of breathing room, and let them wonder off to look at stuff.  If you always are breathing down their neck, they may not buy what they want to buy.  They may feel like they can buy only what you suggest.

Michele: I agree that tweens need some space.  However, as a parent, I have two disagreements with your statement.  One, I may think that a piece of clothing you chose is not appropriate.  Two, you may choose an item that costs more than I am willing to spend.

Sam: I completely agree.  Kids should check with their parents before they go to the cash register.  If your parents don’t like it, you would be embarrassed to learn this in front of the cashier.

Michele: Seems like a fair plan.  Room for the tween to choose.  Veto power for the parent.

Sam: Second, parents, when your kids go to the dressing room to try on an item, don’t go into the actual dressing room with them.  Wait outside because if your kid thinks it’s ok and fits, she will come out to show it to you.

Michele: We really don’t want to be cramped in a dressing room with you anyway.  So, as long as you show us the item, we are fine with waiting outside.

Sam: Before you go to the cash register, discuss the price.  If your budget is fifty dollars and your child wants to buy a jacket that is fifty dollars, talk with them.  Explain that he could get three shirts on sale for that price or just one jacket.

Michele: Yes, it is important to learn about budgets.  Sometimes it is worth getting only one item because it is something special, and other times it is better to get more items.

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1- Learn To Cook
Eat your meals inside your home and save. Learn to make tasty meals from scratch, and you will save even more. Dig out those cookbooks and rediscover your favorite foods. If you have a favorite dish, there is a good chance that there is a easy and affordable recipe out there.

2- Make A Week’s Worth of Menus
How can you save if you don’t plan? Sit down with the entire family and make a list of the meals and foods everyone likes. Then coordinate the meals around the week, and be sure to add breakfast and lunch to the menus. Some of the meals may be homemade, and others convenience meals (i.e. frozen foods or boxed meals), but it’s important to plan all meals in advance. Start the menu at least one day before shopping.

3- Hunt For Coupons
The web is filled with coupon websites that let you just search, click, and print! After you’ve got your meals planned, make a list of everything you need, then search for coupons.

4- Sign Up For Loyalty Cards
If you haven’t already, sign up for your grocery chain’s loyalty card. These programs are free and are often filled with extra benefits like free groceries or promotional offers.

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Madrid, Spain

Although there are a lot department stores in Madrid, small specialty stores are its specialty. And there are dozens of shops that can be found in a number of shopping districts. Let me take you to them.

Salamanca

Salamanca is home to Calle Goya, Madrid’s main shopping street. If you’re looking for high-end, luxury items, Calle Goya is the place to visit. You’ll be able to buy products from Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Chanel, Versace, Gucci and many more signature brands. Madrid’s “most emblematic commercial center” also can be found in the Salamanca district, Centro Commercial ABC Serrano. This building houses up to three stories high of mostly high-fashion shops, jewelry stores and hairdressing salons. And you’ll also find a restaurant and bar at the rooftop terrace of the Centro Commercial ABC Serrano.

Puerto del Sol

Puerto del Sol houses some of the busiest shopping streets and most famous commercial centers in Madrid. Calle Preciados and its surrounding streets are pedestrian-only shopping streets and home to high-street fashion outlets and department stores, as well as traditional stores. If you’re looking to buy high-end clothes for men, then head on over to Gran Via not far away.

Chueca and Fuencarral

If you’re looking for something a little different, head on over to the Chueca and Fuencarral shopping districts. If you’d like to see and buy more unique and avant-garde fashion and products, visit the Chueca district, one of Madrid’s more cosmopolitan areas. Be sure to drop by the Fuencarral Market for some glamorous, outrageous and eccentric products. If you want anything out of the ordinary, be sure to visit this unique shopping district.

Next destination: Cape Town, South Africa

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Mark Fenton, author of the book Pedometer Walking (2006) and a former member of the US race walking team believes there are three important aspects to look for in a pair of proper walking shoes. Firstly, you need a shoe that has a flexible forefoot that bends at the ball of the foot but not at the arch. Secondly, for the purposes of ease of motion and for the natural roll of the foot you require a beveled or round heel. Thirdly, you need a shoe upper that is very forgiving. The upper is simply the part of the shoe that covers the foot.

Walking shoes and sneakers (or running shoes) are not one and the same. The difference is in the midsoles, which is where the cushioning part of the shoe lies. Runners pounds their feet harder on the ground than walkers do, which is why they need a different level of cushioning. Walking shoes have a more flexible bottom (which is called the outsole). On the other hand, running shoes have outsoles that are more on the rigid and stiff side. Walking shoes that are made well have a thinner midsole, which enables them to roll from heel to toe in the manner that nature intended. If a walking shoe had a thick heel wedge, it would cause the walker pain, and this would lead to sore shins and for some people, shin splints.

You should shop for walking shoes in a sporting goods store. A sporting goods store is a better option than a department store. The price for a good pair of walking shoes can range from $30 all the way up to $100. Try on an array of shoes to find the one with the right fit. Wear a pair of socks that you normally would wear when you walk. Walk around on the carpet to see if the shoes are stable but also soften the impact of walking. Never buy walking shoes without walking around in them first!

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When I go grocery shopping, I make a list.  Usually, I plan meals for the week with my wife, and one of us goes to the store for all the items.  Sure enough, on Wednesday we decided to get take out or that we weren’t in the mood for what we planned.  Those ingredients just sat in the cabinet.  In fact, if they weren’t perishable items, there was no reason to discard them.

After a quick audit, I estimated about $170 wasted on food items we likely would not eat.  The solution: shop for a few days at a time.  By doing this for the past month, we have had very little waste.

I actually discovered some perks to this style of shopping.  First, less time in the store because I am buying fewer items.  Instead of spending two hours on items for the week, I am in there for 30 minutes each twice a week.  Take in the commute time and this is a slight advantage.

Another advantage is select shopping.  I know that meat is cheaper in one store and when there is steak on the menu, I can get the best quality steak for my buck.  There are some stores with great produce, and I can go there when veggies are on the menu.  Now, we have the freshest produce instead of settling with whatever we end up with.

Finally, the biggest advantage for me is not having all the waste filling the fridge.  When we plan a few meals in advance instead of many, we are more likely to be in the mood for our choices.  It is great for a miser like me to have a good feeling when looking at my cabinets.

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To begin, the type of processor (known as CPU) that you choose is very important. The two choices you have are between an AMD processor and an Intel processor. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The difference between the two is connected to speed and the number of cores they are composed of.

Processors are not easy to understand for the person who is not familiar with the workings of a computer. However, a processor is an integral component. Every company that sells new desktops has its own performance rating system when it comes to processors. Whatever you do, make sure you do your homework on this one before you buy!

RAM is another important element to think about when buying a new desktop. RAM stands for random access memory. Most desktops use a type of memory called DDR2. A new type of memory that is gaining in popularity is DDR3. However, this memory is still too expensive for those looking to cut costs.

As far as memory is concerned, purchase a desktop system that contains at the very least 2GB. A system that has 4GB is even better if it is affordable for you. How much memory a computer contains will affect how well the computer performs.  To put it another way, the faster your memory is the better performance will you get out of your PC.

The hard drive is yet another necessary requirement worth paying attention to. Hard drives have to do with the speed and the size of a computer. The larger a hard drive is and the faster it works the more superior its capacity and its performance output will be. When you are in the market for a new desktop buy one that has a 500GB hard drive (or more).

As far as speed is concerned, most desktops run at 7200 rpms. However, some of the newest models on the market contain a high performance drive that run as high as 10,000 rpms. Most desktops on the market use a Serial ATA interface because the installation is very simple.

When in doubt about any aspect of computer shopping ask someone who is better acquainted with them  or a salesperson at a computer store.

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1. Know your size

Your dress size varies by brand, and so does your shoe size. Even more difficult, your shoe size is different in various countries across the world. A size seven in the United States is a size five in the United Kingdom and a size 24 in Japan. Heels.com has a good size conversion chart plus tips on how to measure your own feet. Use the size conversion chart when ordering brands that were designed in other countries. Accurately knowing your size is the best way to prevent returns.

2. Research the shops

As I said before, there are plenty of shoe shopping websites online, but they are not all the same. Zappos specializes in customer service by offering free shipping and provides you with a year-long return policy. DSW offers hundreds of designer shoes, even high-end designers like Kenzo, Prada, and Marc by Marc Jacobs. And Famous Footwear lets frequent shoppers earn rewards and discounts to purchase more footwear.

3. Search with ease

Have a type of shoe in mind? Go to Like.com and type in the keyword or term in the search box, pick a product type (e.g. women’s shoes) and happy searching! You also can search by price, brand, color, material, or website. Shopping for footwear (or even accessories and apparel) has never been more fun!

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Bangkok, Thailand

Everybody shops in Bangkok because everything is cheap here. And the vendors in Bangkok sell everything imaginable. It’s amazing how they can do that. So, where do you go in Bangkok to shop for the best deals?

Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the largest markets in the world and open only on the weekends. A shopper’s paradise, stalls in Chatuchak Market sells anything and everything from clothes to books to plants, antiques, housewares and many more things that would be too numerous to list. You easily can get items for half the price (or better) of anywhere else. But be sure to haggle. In fact, learn some Thai words and phrases so you can haggle even better.

Panthip Plaza is the place to go to for all your computer needs. You’ll be able to find cheap computer accessories in this seven-story building. Computer software is also available here, but be careful. It’s hard to tell which stores are selling original software and copy software. Don’t buy the first thing you see, haggle and compare prices. That way, you’ll get a good deal.

There are many other places you can shop at in Bangkok. So, don’t blow your entire shopping budget in one place. Don’t forget to compare prices and always haggle.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

There are four shopping neighborhoods to keep in mind when shopping in Buenos Aires: Recoleta, San Telmo, El Centro and Palermo.

Recoleta is the most expensive and upscale shopping neighborhood in Buenos Aires. All items sold here are of European standard of quality, and some clothes and shoes are even made in Europe. A handicraft market is also open every weekend at the Recoleta Plaza. If antiques and flea markets are your thing, then San Telmo is the place to go. Flea markets are open on the weekends, including the best Antique fair in the city.

You’ll find Buenos Aires’ biggest shopping street at El Centro. The Avenue Florida, a pedestrian-only street, is filled with stores selling clothes, books, shoes, electronics and a lot of other items. And visit Galerias Pacifico, an upscale multi-level shopping center that is the most beautiful in the city. And if you want quirky, creative and unique items, then Palermo is the place to be.

Are you ready to max out your credit cards and overstuff your luggage?

Tell us about your favorite shopping destination in 2009!

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