The Shop Cop - Jennifer Litwin

MY FAVORITE WEEKENDS SPOTS TO GET AWAY WITHOUT THE KIDS AND JUST RELAX

1) AMERICAN CLUB IN KOHLER, WISCONSIN www.destinationkohler.com. I love the Kohler Resort for a beautiful, peaceful getaway, especially if you love playing golf and peaceful tranquility, which the resort offers.  I just visited a few weeks ago, having spent a nice, quiet weekend without the kids, and playing golf at Golf at the Bull, a fantastic (and less expensive than the pricey Kohler course) public course right next to the PGA golf course at Kohler.  There are lots of cute little romantic spas and restaurants not to be missed in the little Kohler Village.  If you love Baker Furniture, the Kohler family, who owns Baker, has done a great job of furnishing the resort with elegant Baker Furniture and Kohler Bath fixtures that surround the entire luxury resort.

2) EL MONTE SAGRADO IN TAOS, NEW MEXICO www.elmontesagrado.com/.  I was lucky enough to win a weekend trip to this 5-star, award-winning newer, very romantic resort nestled in the heart of the quaint town of Taos.  I had always wanted to visit New Mexico, and Taos, in particular.  The surrounding terrain is beautiful and so are the views, but I especially love the little private villas, with big fireplaces, luxurious bedding, private little pools, spa, and organic food at the intimate dining room.  If you are a lover of Southwest food, hiking and river rafting, this resort is a must.

3) EAGLE RIDGE RESORT AND SPA IN GALENA, ILLINOIS www.eagleridge.com.  Yes, even in Illinois you can find breathtaking views and a beautiful resort in the middle of the country.  If you love hiking, skiing and relaxing in a cozy spa with fireplaces burning everywhere, Eagle Ridge is the place for you.  I love the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurants on property, perfect with or without the kids, the beautiful hills and mini-mountains, and luxurious rooms inside the lodge–great for a romantic weekend.  If you are bringing your family, you may wish to rent one of the newer and  larger homes that can accommodate up to twenty people.  The town of Galena is well worth the visit.  I love to play golf, and enjoy the award-winning US Open golf courses on the property—there are 4.

4) FOUR SEASONS HOTEL IN WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA www.fourseasons.com.  To get away from it all, winter or summer, I love this little newer, less stuffy Four Seasons Resort in Whistler.  The view of the flower-, grass-, and tree-covered mountains make me realize why this jewel was chosen as the spot for the 2010 Olympics.  For a romantic weekend, enjoy the pool, hot tub and elegant bar/restaurant.  This is a wonderful place to be trapped during a winter storm!  On the weekends in the summer, visit the best farmers market in the world, with fresh, organic meals and dishes prepared right at the booths—local produce is some of the best I have had.

5) SHANGRI-LA HOTEL IN VANCOUVER, CANADA

www.shangri-la.com.  This Asian hotel chain is one of the best in the world, paying attention to every detail and designing beautifully appointed rooms.  Look no further for your evening’s romantic date than the high tea room on the first floor, or relax in the most luxurious bathrooms that boasts large tubs and televisions.  Right in the heart of beautiful Vancouver, and just steps away from the water and mountains.

History repeats itself.  Studies have shown that over time, people tend to make the same bad choices the second time around, and most of us are guilty of shopping at the same awful stores that we vowed we would never step foot in again.

I have also been in this rut.  I vowed when the stock market crashed last year that I would explore new retailers, and new ways of shopping; I’ve been surprisingly happy with the results I came up with.

GET OUT OF YOUR SHOPPING RUT

After recently shopping at Costco (and renewing my membership for a whopping $50) I realized why I signed up in the first place.  My son likes their chocolate cake.  That’s it.  That’s the only reason.  And I paid $50 for that privilege to buy that one cake, one time.

In a recent radio show I hosted with the Miserly Mom, Jonni McCoy, listeners learned why Costco isn’t the price leader for many household products we assume must be cheaper because of their massive bundled quantities.  You don’t need to be a repeat shopper.  There may be other better ways to shop.  You don’t need to pay anymore to belong to a “club”.  Save your money.

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Recently, I did a segment for Twin Cities Live about melting your gold and selling it because you could get more money for gold than a few years ago. Recessions work that way. Gold holds its value during a recession. But someone whose parent had recently died asked me if now was also a good time to sell an old wedding band, made up of several diamonds.  Her jeweler suggested making an eternity ring, or using the small diamonds to make something for her daughters.

BAD NEWS: PRICES FOR DIAMONDS IN 2010 HAVE GONE UP

If you own diamonds and want to sell them right now the good news is you will be able to sell them for a little more than you could have in 2009, by about 5%.  The reason is because manufacturers of diamonds are slowing production of their supply, which is causing prices to go up.  It is unclear how long this upward trend will continue, but since January prices have been going up a little each month.

SHOULD YOU BUY DIAMONDS NOW?

There is no question that in the past three years diamond prices plummeted 30%.  That is the question of the day.  The diamond industry now has a set price marker, called the IDEX.  This pricing index should be a good judge of what a diamond should sell for.

FIND OUT THE VALUE OF THE DIAMONDS

1. Go to your local jeweler for an appraisal
2. Compare venues across the board to see where you may be able to get the highest price (auction, jeweler, web)
3. Consider buying inexpensive little diamond(s) and turning them into something else for your children.  The prices have not gone up steadily for a few years, and you may want to hold out.