America’s ‘Shop Cop’, popular author (“Furniture Hot Spots” and “Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!”) and frequent TV contributor Jennifer Litwin recommends donating gently used furniture to save money on income taxes. The following ideas can be applied to tax returns:
WRITING OFF FURNITURE DONATIONS
If, in the past year, in the process of moving, clearing out the clutter or trading up, you donated any furniture to a charity organization, you are entitled to write off the value of the furniture. Always make sure you have a copy of the receipt and when declaring it.
FURNITURE BANK
Some regional furniture stores are rewarding donors by offering a discount of up to 10% on new purchases if you donate your old furniture to the “Furniture Bank”, a national depository that takes furniture from anyone in over 30 cities and gives it to those in need. The Furniture Bank will pick up the goods and remove them at no charge. You assign your own value to the goods based on age of piece, wear and tear and demand. This is a win-win, because you are saving money on taxes and on your new furniture purchases. The Furniture Bank works with organizations like The American Red Cross, United Way and U.S. Department of Social Services.
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Retailers: Nordstrom, Costco, Bloomingdale’s, Best Buy, Macy’s, Menard’s, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, Circuit City, American Express, Bed Bath & Beyond
TRENDS
- Restocking Fees
- Gift Card Time Limit: and Retail Store Gift Card vs. Bank Card
- Return Time Limit shortened (electronics/appliances)
- Online vs. In-Store Gift Cards/Returns
- Restocking fees: Subjective: What stores charge the customer to return goods…a booming trend in the retail industry. Between 5-25%. Charged on electronics, appliances and other popularly returned items during the holiday season. * No opened boxes, everything intact, not used. Target, Circuit City, Best Buy: 15% Crate & Barrel and Furniture Retailers: Depends Costco: Best ~ for electronics. Most of the electronics stores are extending returns for the holidays until mid-January.
- Gift card time limits ($18 b): Until a few months ago large retailers were trying to shorten the time limit of the gift card. Cards lose value over time…it was a balance sheet decision. Beginning in the Spring of ’06 several states began to incorporate a policy which has made it impossible for retailers to shorten the limit of gift cards less than 2 years. (Bloomingdale’s-2 years) Most retailers have no time limits. Transferring gift cards to cash…a thing of the past (Exception: Menards)
- Retail cards: No fee charged to process the card and no fee charged monthly for unused balances Continue reading »
Being able to actually fit gadgets into your kitchen drawers is the big trend this season. Things that fold up or fold flat are the ticket. Light weight objects that are fairly inexpensive and solve everyday problems in the kitchen are also key this season.
Here are my favorites:
1. Splat Cookie Sheet ($19.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
Great for using as a cookie sheet. Rolls up into a compact size and you can put into the dishwasher.
2. Nonstick Toaster Oven Liner ($7.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
Can be trimmed to fit any-sized toaster oven. Functions like the Splat Cookie Sheet. I love this one, especially, because the bottom of the toaster oven at my house always looks like a mess, with cheese sticking to it, and lots of crumbs, grease, etc. You can toss directly into the dishwasher after use. Long lasting.
3. Butter Boy Butter Spreader ($5.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
This makes buttering corn so easy and not messy! Perfect for kids who want to do it themselves. You can remove the plunger insert and fill it with butter. The lid keeps the butter fresh so you can just put it back in the refrigerator.
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LITWIN’S LIST OF MUST-HAVE KITCHEN ITEMS
High tech, value and “fun” are what’s right for the kitchen this holiday season. That’s according to home furnishings expert and author (Furniture Hot Spots and Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!) Jennifer Litwin, who says that if you’re looking for that perfect holiday gift, you should consider technologically-advanced appliances that are sleek, easy to use, cost-conscious, colorful and make a statement in the kitchen.
“Functionality is important this season, but the best appliances we are seeing are also colorful, lightweight, easy-to-use, and have state of the art technology,” she says. “Since the majority of women spend more time in the kitchen than anywhere else in the house, it should be a fun and colorful place to be.”
Litwin says the five most popular kitchen appliances this holiday season include: coffee makers, microwave ovens, toaster ovens, blenders and under counter TV/DVDs.
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JENNIFER LITWIN’S LIST OF MUST-HAVES FOR ACCOMMODATING HOLIDAY GUESTS
The cou
ntdown begins for holiday entertaining! With only three months to go, home furnishings expert and author, (Furniture Hot Spots and Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!) Jennifer Litwin, advises homeowners to avoid the last minute crises and jump into action and start getting houses into shape for the onslaught of holiday guests.
“Advanced planning for your holiday company is a must,” says the Sotheby’s-trained Litwin, who is a contributing columnist for Consumers Digest magazine and appears frequently on TV, sharing her advice on anything for the home.
“By starting early, you can save time and money. As soon as you know how many are coming, you can plan sleeping and eating arrangements, especially if your house is small and you are not used to hosting guests. What’s hot now is dual-purpose furniture that can be used for daily living as well as entertaining. I also recommend having easily portable items that can be stored in the closet, and taken out just before company comes.”
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As featured on Fox Chicago
JENNIFER LITWIN’S SENSIBLE TIPS FOR FURNISHING SMALL SPACES
While buying a first home or condo can be a major accomplishment, furnishing it can be especially challenging for buyers of small homes who want to make their living space functional and comfortable, yet practical for entertaining and accommodating overnight guests.
Home furnishings expert and author, Jennifer Litwin, says there are many “tricks” to making a small home more functional and appearing more spacious.
“I recommend using oversize mirrors in small rooms to make them look roomier and give them dimension,” she says.“I also suggest using furniture that is tall, with lots of storage, rather than wide. For example, a buffet with cabinets above it can be used for storing dishes and china.”
Litwin has been dubbed the “Sensible Shopper for the Home,” and is known for her trademark “chair rating system” used to rank furniture stores nationally, according to price, service, ambiance and quality. She says what’s hot now is dual-purpose furniture used for daily living as well as entertaining.
“Homeowners today want to buy practical furniture,” she admits. “That’s why all the major furniture chains like Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel are showcasing furniture that is multifunctional. A perfect example of this is the captain’s bed.”
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BUYERS, BEWARE!
Furniture shoppers can get duped by untrained sales clerks and retailers who use hidden practices to sell furniture. That, according to Sotheby’s-trained, home furnishings consumer expert and author, Jennifer Litwin, who spent a year “undercover” visiting more than 500 furniture stores. She found that most furniture salespeople know very little about the products they sell, which creates confusion for shoppers.
The results of her undercover work can be found in her new book, Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!, recently published by Random House. Litwin concentrated her research on some of the best-known furniture retailers in the country, including: Thomasville, Ethan Allen, Bloomingdale’s, Marshall Field’s, Crate & Barrel and Furnitureland South.
The confusion is a result of retailers who really don’t know or understand their products. Litwin asked retailers questions such as: What makes a sofa expensive? Why is an expensive dresser more valuable than a cheaper model? Why should I pay more? Some sales clerk responses included these misconceptions:
- “Name brands are better than little-known brands”
- “Expensive sofas are always larger”
- “Expensive sofas have lots of arm padding and are heavy”
- “The deeper the drawer, the more expensive the dresser”
- “If it’s expensive, it will last longer”
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Publisher: Real Simple
Title: The Heirlooms of the Future
Author: Liz Arnold
What will be collectible 20, 30 even 50 years from now? Real Simple asks experts to name the 10 home accessories that will stand the test of time.
Louis Ghost Chair
by Philippe Starck
Great indoors or – believe it or not – outdoors, this chair is a refreshing twist on the 250-year-old Louis XVI version, a court of Versailles staple that had a huge impact on furniture design.
TO BUY: $362, Kartell.it for stores.
The Backstory
French designer Starck, the man behind boutique hotels like the Delano, in Miami Beach, joined forces with Italian furniture manufacturer Kartell in 2002 to create this beauty, which is made by injecting molten plastic into a mold (so it has no seams). It resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
What the design pros say:
- “Starck is channeling the history of furniture and combining it with technology to make it entirely modern,” says Richard Wright.
- “He’s a design genius,” says Jeffrey Beers. “This chair will certainly appreciate tenfold in 25 to 30 years.”
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Publisher: Bridal Guide
Title: Sofa So Good: An Expert Furniture Buyer Tells How to Select the Best Seat in the House
Author: Aimee Morgan
With so many styles, colors and materials to choose from, buying a new sofa can be overwhelming. Jennifer Litwin, author of Best Furniture Buying Tips Ever!, will have you sitting pretty.
- Before going to a store, peruse online retailers to get a sense of the kinds of styles and materials that are available. Armed with research, you’ll feel more confident when shopping.
- The frame of the sofa should be strong, preferably made of kiln-dried hardwood, such as oak, maple, birch or alder. These woods last because they are pliable, taking wear and tear extremely well. Other sturdy options include two types of plywood, hardwood and softwood, and steel. The sofa’s corners should be reinforced with wooden blocks, which provide additional support.
- Inquire about spring count; the more springs, the cushier the couch. It will cost more, but you will be paying for quality and durability. Also, look for hand-tied springs as opposed to machine-attached springs, as the former are stronger and tend to stay in place better. Continue reading »
Publisher: Chicago Sun-Times
Title: Safe Shopping
Author: The Fixer
Dear Readers: For those of you opening your wallets in stores or online for the holidays, here are some tips from Steve Bernas of the Better Business Bureau and consumer advocate/author Jennifer Litwin that might keep you from winding up in need of The Fixer’s help:
- Pay with plastic. If you end up having a problem with the product or service, you can dispute the charge with your credit-card company.
- Check out return policies. Many retailers are tightening up and allowing only in-store credit, but no refund. If you’re buying presents soon, some stores’ return periods will expire before the holidays even get here. And, most important, remember that returns are a privilege and not a right, and not all stores offer them.
- Don’t open the box unless you’re sure you won’t have to return it — especially with electronics. Continue reading »