8 Ways to Virtually Visit Santa Before Christmas

8 Ways to Virtually Visit Santa Before Christmas

Due to restrictions put in place in many states this year, visiting Santa is not something a lot of families are able to do. Luckily, many services saw this problem as an opportunity this year and we’ve seen some wonderful virtual options for children to talk to Santa in the safety of their own homes!

Whether you’re looking for a personalized video chat with Santa Claus or a customized pre-recorded message for your kids, our list below covers some great options to give your children a magical holiday experience while still sticking to and following Covid-19 safety restrictions.

Most calls range from 5-10 minutes and some feature Santas that can be selected based on your own family’s background. Some options are free and others have costs based on the package options you choose. Be sure to book a time slot soon, as we’re getting closer and closer to the big day!

How to Snag a Virtual Santa Visit

Source: T-Mobile

Macy’s Santaland At Home

A virtual experience for up to 3 kids at a time, Macy’s Santaland is bringing the same Christmas magic they normally have in-store right into your own home.

Parents can sign up for a Santaland account and then their kids can go through the interactive journey, guided by elves, until they meet Santa at the end of the event for an interactive video where they can share their Christmas and get a photo with Santa.

Cost: This is the best part. This experience is entirely free!

Sam’s Club Santa Session

Through the Sam’s Club Santa Session, kids will chat with a Santa Claus (that can be chosen to best suit your family and background) via a Zoom call.

Parents will sign up and book a reservation with Santa and then will receive a Zoom link within 24 hours of your reserved time. Each session is 5 minutes and there is no limit to how many children can attend your reserved video time.

Cost: Create a photo account with Sam’s Club and this experience is free!

Cherry Hill Program’s Create Holiday Magic

Normally an in-mall Santa experience company, Cherry Hill is offering a variety of Santa experiences through their Create Holiday Magic Program. They offer a variety of packages including free photos for kids and/or pets with Santa Claus (upgraded backgrounds available for $19.99) or a video of Santa reading Twas the Night Before Christmas for $9.99.

Santa video packages start at $59.99 and will get your child a photo with Santa, exclusive story time video, and access to bonus online content. Other packages, costing more, offer a gift box or a live Zoom call with Santa himself.

Cost: Varies. $0 up to $99.99.

JingleRing Live

JingleRing Live is another personalized virtual Santa experience for up to 3 children, with an additional fee per child for up to 5 children per call. Kids will get to enjoy some on-screen entertainment while they wait for Santa to join their call. This is not through Zoom and no additional software is needed.

Calls will run around 10-20 minutes and you’ll also received a recorded video of your visit that you can share with friends and family.

Cost: $24.95

T-Mobile’s Santa Calling

Now through December 23, you can reserve a time to video chat with Santa through T-Mobile’s Santa Calling. You do not need to be a T-Mobile customer to experience this event.

Every morning at 9 a.m. PT, they will announce new time slots here. Check early to try to snag one for the day. If you miss out, you can try again the next day! If you do snag a video call with Santa, you’ll receive an email link to join the event and be sent a video download after the event that you can save and share.

Cost: Free to everyone!

Santa the Experience

In this virtual experience, kids will get to interact with Santa’s elves for a few minutes and then will get to have a live chat with Santa Claus himself for the final 5 minutes of the Santa Experience call.

The elves take you on a tour of the North Pole before introducing you to Santa. You can personalize the experience by sharing the names and ages of your children as well as a funny story from this year. An Elftastic package gets you a recording of the Zoom, printable Nice List certificates, and a photo of your children with Santa.

Cost: $34.95 to $79.95 depending on your time slot and additional package options

It’s the Real Santa

With It’s the Real Santa, your child will receive a personalized pre-recorded message from Santa Claus with lots of details about their own life so they know Santa is talking only to them.

Parents will sign up and fill out a form with the child’s name (and pronunciation), age, hobbies, and 1-2 sentences of your own choice so Santa can make your child feel special.

Cost: $44.95

Chit-Chat with Santa

A live and personal call with Santa Claus himself, Chit-Chat with Santa gives families with any number of children a chance to have a video chat with Santa.

Sign up now and book a time slot through December 24 for your child to have a 6-minute talk with Santa Claus. This service is web browser-based and it requires no additional software and will work on any device with a camera. 

Cost: $35

Will you be setting up any chats with Santa for your little ones this year? Have you started any new traditions with all the 2020 restrictions? Let us know in the comments!

The post 8 Ways to Virtually Visit Santa Before Christmas first appeared on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Last-Minute Gift Ideas You Can Still Purchase Online

Last-Minute Gift Ideas You Can Still Purchase Online

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Holiday shopping this year has been strange. A lot of shoppers opted to order online for delivery and we’re seeing a lot of (expected) shipping delays as a result. Whether you’re looking for a last-minute gift or just need something to be delivered quickly without dealing with the post office or shipping carriers, our list of last-minute gift ideas should help.

We’ve rounded up gifts that you can purchase now and will either be delivered later, like subscription boxes, or will be delivered immediately, like event tickets or streaming service gift cards.

Pro tip: Check to see if the company you are ordering from will send a card to the recipient letting them know that you’ve already purchased the gift, so they’re not waiting until it arrives. Subscription boxes and magazine subscriptions tend to take the longest to get to the recipient.

Streaming Event Tickets & Virtual Experiences

Theater & Concert Events

While it’s not safe to attend concerts and sporting events right now, some events are still happening and are being streamed online so people can participate from the safety of their own homes. Tickets can usually be purchased online ahead of time for the streaming event and you could easily email the tickets to the recipient without any contact whatsoever.

December 11-January 3
New York City Ballet’s ‘The Nutracker’
Tickets: $25

December 11-January 3
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Tickets: $25

December 19
Pearl Jam’s June 26, 2018 show from Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.
Tickets: $14.99

December 31
Justin Bieber’s New Year’s Eve Concert
Tickets: $25 and free for T-Mobile customers

For an extensive list of live events check LiveNation, TheaterMania, TimeOut.com.

Virtual Events

Virtual Murder Mystery Games
Red Herring Games offers murder mystery game downloads for around $31 for groups of 4-6 adults.

Gift Cards

Gift cards get a bad rap as being last minute or less-thoughtful than their extravagantly wrapped counterparts, but it’s a well-known fact that gift cards are among the most wanted gifts every year. If you know your recipient well and know their favorite pastimes, gift cards can be easy. If you just aren’t sure, some all-around favorites are:

Target
Amazon
Walmart
Starbucks
Best Buy
Home Depot

Monthly Subscription Boxes

There are hundreds of gift boxes and subscriptions available that fit even the most unique interests and hobbies. Below are a few of our easy-to-give favorites.

Beauty & Grooming Subscriptions

Birchbox: One of the most popular and well-known beauty boxes, Birchbox allows you to tailor your boxes to your preferences and sends you samples from top-rated brands. A monthly subscription is $15 per month.

Dollar Shave Club: The most widely known subscription box for men’s grooming, Dollar Shave Club has gift sets as well as gift cards available. The recipient may want to choose their subscription items, so the price will vary. Gift cards are available from $25-$500.

Love Goodly: Great for those looking for non-toxic and cruelty-free beauty products. Bi-monthly subscription for 4 months (2 boxes) is currently $72.

Wine, Beer and Cocktail Subscriptions

The Original Craft Beer Club: Your recipient will receive 12 beers per month (4 styles, 3 of each) for $44.75 per shipment. Choose the number of shipments you want to pay for when you purchase the gift.

Wine of the Month Club: Choose from several wine variations and packages. Gifts start at $139 which will get your recipient a total of 6 bottles of wine – 2 bottles every month for 3 months.

Wine Insiders Wine Club: Purchasing this club for a gift, gets your giftee an introductory selection of 15 wines for $89. Be sure to cancel within the next 12 weeks to avoid another $155 shipment being sent if you only want to send one shipment.

American Cocktail Club: A 3-month gift subscription runs $139.47 and your lucky recipient will receive a total of 3 boxes (1 per month) with the essentials to make 4 servings of a fun cocktail each month.

Kid’s Toys and Activity Subscriptions

Kiwi Co.: The most versatile subscription kit, Kiwi Co. can be purchased for ages 0-14+ and you can purchase gift subscriptions or gift cards. Subscriptions are $19.95 – $39.90 and vary by age.

Amazon STEM Club: A unique subscription box focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math. For ages 7+, $25/month.

Little Passports: Teach kids about other world cultures with this subscription box. For ages 3-9+, $22.95/month. Get 30% off now with our coupon code.

Artisan Food & Drink Subscriptions

Harry & David: Choose from fruit clubs, dessert clubs, artisanal food clubs, and more. Clubs start at $49.99 (with code FRUIT) for 3 month subscriptions.

NatureBox: A great gift for snack lovers looking for healthier and __-friendly options. Purchase an e-gift card for any denomination. Snacks start around $5.99 and most snack gift boxes are around $35-$50.

Bacon Freak: I don’t think this one needs much explanation. Your recipient will receive a t-shirt and a 3-month subscription to the Bacon Club for $149.75.

Jeni’s Ice Cream Pint Club: Calling all friends of ice cream lovers! Jeni’s is a huge favorite among ice cream aficionados and you can get a 3-month subscription (that’s 4 pints, plus 4 extras in their first delivery) for $199.

Streaming Services

If you’ve got a Netflix or Hulu addict on your list this year, consider gifting them a few free months of their favorite streaming service. Some of our favorite streaming gifts include Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Amazon Prime.

To buy Netflix and Hulu gifts, you’ll purchase a gift card (or e-gift card) through a major retailer, like Walmart or Target, and then send the gift card to your friend, who can redeem it towards their monthly streaming bill. When decided on the gift card denominations, remember that a month of Netflix is $9-$14 and a month of Hulu is $6-$12.

You can also purchase a Disney+ gift subscription via the Disney+ website for a year’s subscription at $69.99. For Amazon Prime, you can purchase the Gift of Prime, which is $39 for 3-months or $119 for 12-months, and also gets them free 2-day shipping on thousands of Amazon purchases.

Some other services to consider:

Audible
Spotify
Apple Music
Class Pass

Magazine Subscriptions

This one might seem a little old-fashioned, but getting a magazine in the mail nowadays can be a treat. We’re always on our phones or tablets, but sometimes flipping through the glossy pages of a print magazine is a nice change of pace. At least, that’s how I usually feel while paging through Real Simple each month when I get a moment to myself.

Another perk: there’s a magazine for every passion, hobby and lifestyle, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one to delight just about anyone on your list. If the person you’re shopping for is more of a tablet lover, it’s worth noting that most magazine subscriptions come with a digital subscription too. If you need a good deal on a magazine subscription, try DiscountMags.

And look here for all of Brad’s Deals current magazine promotions.

Do you have any unique last-minute gift ideas to share? Leave yours in the comments!

The post Last-Minute Gift Ideas You Can Still Purchase Online first appeared on The Brad's Deals Blog.

The Best 0% APR Credit Cards for December 2020

The Best 0% APR Credit Cards for December 2020

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During difficult times, you may find yourself needing some time to pay off essential purchases. One way to reward your spending is seeking out lucrative signup bonuses that reward you with cash back. These are great, but sometimes, the best deals are less flashy. A long period of 0% APR and/or the promise of fee-free balance transfers might be able to provide your family with more financial freedom during times of trouble. These offers are some of the best on the market, and here’s why.

The Best 0% APR Credit Cards for December 2020:

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Combo Card

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card is our pick for the best overall balance transfer card. There’s a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which can cover all or part of the 3% balance transfer fee. There’s a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. There’s also a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that. Compare this card to others and you’ll see it’s the clear winner.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% cash back

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase, and those purchases will be under a 0% APR period for the first 15 months of card membership. New to the card is the ability to earn 5% back on all travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. In addition, earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. There’s also a $200 sign up bonus when you spend $500 in three months, and no annual fee. One great aspect of this card that I love is if you have an Ultimate Rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve or Ink cards, you can convert your cash back into points at a 1 cent to 1 point ratio, doubling your spending return based on our valuation.

Citi Rewards+ Card

The Citi Rewards+ card is interesting, in that it automatically rounds up to to the nearest 10 points for every purchase, meaning a $1 purchase would earn 10 points! Additionally, the card has a 15,000 Citi ThankYou Point bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. There’s a 0% APR period of 15 months with this card for balance transfers and purchases, though balance transfers have a $5/3% fee (whichever is greater).

Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card has a 15 month 0% APR period for purchases and balance transfers, as well as 3% cash back on on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores, and 1% for everything else. There’s also a $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months. Compare this card to others at CardRatings.

Citi Double Cash Card: 18 months of 0% APR

The Citi Double Cash Card not only offers 18 months of 0% APR for purchases, but it’s one of the most rewarding cash back credit cards on the market. It offers cardholders 1% cash back on all purchases, plus an extra 1% cash back when you pay your bill. And, with no penalty APRs or late fees, this is a very consumer-friendly credit card.

Chase Freedom Flex℠: Up to 5% Cash Back

Like its brother above, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card card also has 15 months of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers, but has a rotating list of 5% cash back categories that change each quarter and 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve Card, you can increase your bonus by transferring your cash back into Ultimate Rewards points at a 1 cent per point ratio, which you can use for transferring to travel partners like Hyatt and United. There’s no annual fee.

What is your favorite 0% APR card currently on the market? Let us know in the comments!

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

The post The Best 0% APR Credit Cards for December 2020 first appeared on The Brad's Deals Blog.

The Best Credit Cards for Beginners in December 2020

The Best Credit Cards for Beginners in December 2020

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If you’ve never had a credit card before, getting started with one can be pretty daunting for the beginner. Without any experience in the world of credit, how are you supposed to know where to start, or which card to apply for first?

We rounded up our favorite credit cards for beginners into an easy-to-read list, and broke down why each card deserves a spot in your wallet. For this list, we focused most on ease of use, good value of points, and annual fee as reasons a beginner should have this credit card.

The Best Starter Credit Cards of December 2020:

Credit Card	Best For…	Main Benefit
Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®	Students	1.25% Cash Back
Chase Freedom Unlimited	Cash Back	$200 Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred	Travel Points	60,000 Point Sign Up Bonus

Journey Student Rewards® from Capital One® – Best for students

If you’re just starting to build your credit, there’s a good chance you’re a student. So long as you’re at least 18 years old, you can and should start building your credit by using a credit card responsibly – you’ll thank me in 10 years when you have a good amount of credit history to look back on. The Journey Student Rewards® from Capital One® card offers one percent cash back on all purchases, plus a 0.25 percent bonus when you pay your bill on time. We like this incentive, as it encourages good credit habits that a student can learn before moving on to more rewarding credit cards. There are also no annual or foreign transaction fees for this card, which makes it a great choice for students studying abroad. Check this card out.

Highlights from the Journey Student Rewards® from Capital One® Card

• One percent cash back on every purchase.
• 0.25 percent cash back bonus for paying your bill on time.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Card – Best for cash back

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase, and those purchases will be under a zero percent APR period for the first 15 months of card membership. There’s also a $200 sign up bonus when you spend $500 in three months, and no annual fee, which is why it made our list of Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fee as well! New to the card is the ability to earn 5% back on all travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. In addition, earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. These cash back benefits are great, but you can increase your savings even more by securing an Ultimate Rewards credit card and transferring your cash back benefits at a one cent to one point ratio.

Highlights from the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card

• Pay no annual fee
• $200 sign up Bonus when you spend $500 in three months.
• 1.5 percent cash back on every purchase

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – Best for travel points

We’ve made the case for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card in the past, but in case you missed it, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an annual fee of $95. Its points are easy to earn, with a 60,000 point sign up bonus for spending $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, you’ll earn double points for dining and travel spend, and one point for everything else. These points can be used in a lot of great ways, like how I used Ultimate Rewards points on my trip to the Maldives!

Highlights from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $95 annual fee
• 60,000 point sign up bonus when you spend $4,000 in three months.
• Double points on travel and dining spend

What was your first credit card? Let us know in the comments!

The post The Best Credit Cards for Beginners in December 2020 first appeared on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses for December 2020

Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses for December 2020

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Here is a current list of our top four favorite credit card signup bonus offers. Consider all of these to be highly recommended. If you’re new, I realize that it can be scary to apply for any credit card, but if you are diligent about paying your bills on time and in full, the rewards are endless.

These will be updated regularly as offers come and go. Please comment at the bottom with news, questions, or issues.

The Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses for December 2020

What You Need To Know

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Combo Card

The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card is our pick for best overall balance transfer and 0% APR card. There’s a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, which can cover all or part of the 3% balance transfer fee. There’s a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months. There’s also a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months; 15.49%-25.49% variable APR after that. Compare this card to others and you’ll see it’s a clear winner.

Highest Airline Sign Up Bonus

British Airways Visa Signature Card: 100,000 Avios

Earn 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening on your British Airways Visa Signature® Card. Plus earn an additional 50,000 bonus Avios after you spend $20,000 on your purchases within your first year of account opening. That means 100,000 Avios! You’ll earn 3 points per dollar on British Airways purchases, and 1 point per dollar after that. This bonus is also great if spend $30,000 within a calendar year (before the end of 2020), because you’ll also receive a Travel Together ticket. This ticket is good for a round trip for you and a companion with the following stipulations:

• Two years of validity
• Travel must be round trip, and begin/end in the U.S.
• Trip can depart from one city, and return to another
• British Airways flights only.
• You and companion must be in same class, on same flight.

I use these points to book economy short-haul American flights, as well as some other oneworld flights around the world!

Value: 1.5 cents per point, or $1,500 for the full sign up bonus. $95 Annual Fee.

Best Business Card

Ink Business Preferred Card: 100,000 Ultimate Rewards Points

Earn 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points with the Ink Business Preferred Card from Chase when you spend $15,000 in the first three months of card membership. This card comes with some great spending bonuses, like 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in travel, shipping services, social media advertising, and internet, cable and phone services. Once you have your points, you can transfer to over a dozen transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio, like Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and British Airlines. Our travel editor Mark recently used some of his Ultimate Rewards points to take a $60,000 Luxury Honeymoon to 5 Countries for $2,500.

Value: 2.2 cents per point, or $1,760 for the sign up bonus. $95 annual fee.

Best Travel Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards Points

Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. You’ll earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in three months. This card comes with some good spending bonuses, like 2 points per dollar spent on all travel and dining. These transfer to the standard Ultimate Rewards partners like Hyatt and United. While this card won’t give you as many travel perks as its big brother, the Reserve card, you will still enjoy trip protection insurance, as well as waived foreign transaction fees.

Value: 2.2 cents per point, or $1,200 for the sign up bonus. $95 annual fee.

Summary of the Best Credit Cards for Signup Bonuses in December 2020:

• Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
• British Airways Visa Signature Card
• Ink Business Preferred Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred

Learn more about how you can get the most out of your credit card bonuses:

• 5 Las Vegas Hotels You Can Book With Points
• How I Took a $20,000 Luxury Vacation for (Nearly) Free!

Cover Photo: Flickr / Sean MacEntee

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

 

The post Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses for December 2020 first appeared on The Brad's Deals Blog.