Sometimes the best way to find that perfect holiday gift is to search and shop online; it's quick, easy and convenient. And more and more people are doing it: It's anticipated that sales for November and December will grow to $54.5 billion this year, according to eMarketer.

As you venture into unknown online territory in your quest for that perfect gift, it's important to shop with a heightened sense of security. There are undoubtedly countless honest and hardworking sellers who peddle goods over the Internet, but there are also scammers looking to take advantage of unwitting victims.

Help protect yourself from scammers by following three simple rules:

1. Never use a money transfer service to pay for something online.

'Money transfer services are convenient and simple ways to send cash to people you personally know, but you're better off paying by credit card or using an escrow service when you're buying goods online from someone you don't know or you haven't met in-person,' says Shelley Bernhardt, director of consumer protection at Western Union.

Western Union is not an escrow service provider and does not guarantee the delivery or suitability of goods or services. Once you send a money transfer, it can be paid out to the receiver within a short time. After the money is paid, it's gone and the odds of getting it back if the gift you thought you purchased never finds your doorstep are slim.

If an individual seller or online retail website only accepts money transfers as payment, be wary and look elsewhere. And don't be fooled, even if the seller appears friendly and offers a reasonable explanation as to why he or she only accepts money transfers - fraudsters are well-trained in gaining your trust.

2. Never email any financial information.

It's a red flag if a seller asks you to email a credit card number or checking account number.  If you're paying for something online, use a secure money exchange service like Paypal or use the secure payment portal on the seller's website.

3. Read product descriptions carefully, including the fine print, and determine exchange and return policies before you purchase.

If the seller or website you bought from doesn't have an exchange policy and the product you buy ends up being something different than what you expected, you're likely out of luck if you try to return it.

You can shop online safely and securely during the holidays or anytime of the year. But make sure you're a savvy shopper and protect yourself from scammers by approaching your purchases with the required amount of scrutiny.

For more information on avoiding common scams, visit www.westernunion.com/stopfraud or www.ftc.gov/moneymatters and click on 'Scam Watch.'

Courtesy of BPT

If you've ever had to listen to children, pets or household members making a lot of noise when all you wanted was peace and quiet, you already know the importance of soundproofing floors. If you have an older home, you probably deal with this regularly. In years past, people weren't as concerned with soundproofing as they are now. Lucky for today's homeowners, there are now many different options and methods for soundproofing floors.

Changing the Flooring Itself

It's no secret that carpet is much quieter than tile or hardwood. However, since hardwood floors are the most infamous floors for causing annoying echoes and heavy footsteps, here we'll focus on hardwood floors.

Installing a new hardwood floor is the best time to think about soundproofing floors. Ask your retailer or contractor about the sound ratings of different species of wood and different manufactured wood flooring materials. Soundproofing floors is much easier if you take it into consideration from the very beginning.

Blocking the Noise

Soundproofing floors is not a complicated idea. You just need something between the hard flooring and the rest of the house to absorb noise. There are many different options for materials to place between the floor and the sub-floor to accomplish this.

Cork is very good at absorbing noise, and it's being looked at with new interest lately as a more environmentally friendly form of soundproofing your office and home floors. You'll only need a very thin layer, since cork is a very dense substance. This thin layer will be laid first, and then you will install the sub-floor and finally the hardwood.

If you've ever been in a school, office building or hospital, you're already familiar with acoustic tiles. These panels were designed to dull echoes, and this is why they're popular in large, open spaces. However, they also make an excellent for soundproofing floors! Simply install them as you would cork, making allowances for the differences in thickness.

You may have noticed, in real life or on television, the odd-looking panels which line the walls of professional recording studios. Generally known as sound-deadening panels, these panels do just that...deaden almost all noise. For this reason, they are very adaptable for soundproof flooring. They are generally thicker then acoustic tiles, but if you plan accordingly, you can create an almost entirely soundproofed floor with minimal effort.

When New Floors Aren't an Option

If you rent and can't redo your floors, or if it's just not an option for you financially, there are still steps you can take for soundproofing your floors. If you value quiet over the look of hardwood, consider putting down carpet. Many families have a "no shoes" policy in their homes. Area rugs offer the same sound-deadening benefits of carpet with the added bonus of being moveable.

There are many different options for soundproofing floors, with something for every taste and budget. Do your research, and decide which options is right for you. Once the work is done, you'll get to enjoy a beautiful floor without the constant annoyance of excess noise.
 

(NC)-To most homeowners, hydronic, under-floor heating is still considered a luxury. However the advantages of wall-mounted and under-floor hydronic heating go beyond esthetics and design.

Hydronic heating systems use water, a much more effective heat-transfer medium than forced air, to distribute warmth throughout your home, so the comfort of toasty toes this winter can come with cost savings.

In addition to lightening the load on your wallet, hydronic heating has benefits when it comes to the environment and your health. According to the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating, a not-for-profit trade association representing Canada's manufacturers and wholesaler-distributers of plumbing and hydronic heating products, here are five reasons hydronic heat may be right for your home:

• Using water as the heat-transfer medium reduces the need to move around air with its dirt, dust, pollutants and allergens it carries, improving indoor air quality when the windows are closed;

• Floor and wall radiant heating delivers consistent and even warming over a greater surface area. This is known as the radiant effect and it allows you to heat your home at a lower thermostat setting, requiring less energy for lower bills;

• The main heating conduit is pipe, which means less duct work. Hydronic heat can be installed almost anywhere, including lower levels, basements, and garages. It can be used in a whole home or simply a new addition;

• Hydronic heating allows you to use your whole living space without the worry of obstructing vents and intakes. And with fewer unsightly grills, hydronic heating contributes to the esthetic appeal of your house;

• Hydronic heating is easy to install and not expensive. More information is available online at www.ciph.com.

Courtesy of Newscanada

(NC)-Young children are fascinated by money. What can I get with this nickel? What's a loonie? Teaching your children the value of money is part of your job as a parent, but knowing where to start can be intimidating.

"Financial literacy is an essential life skill that children need to learn to be successful adults," says Raymond Chun, a senior vice president at TD Canada Trust. "It is never too early for your kids to start learning the value of a dollar."

Chun offers his advice on how to teach young children the value of a loonie:

• What is it? Start by introducing your children to all the coins, including their names, colors and values. Once they master the basics, you can help your child understand the monetary system and practice their math by counting out how many pennies or dimes are in a loonie.

• What can you buy for it? Set up a play grocery store with their toys or take your child to the store to show them what they can buy with one, five and 10 loonies to give them a visual understanding of its value. Depending on their age, you could also use this as an opportunity to explain how a bag of rice can feed a small family for a week, yet it costs the same as a bag of candy.

• How do you get more Loonies? It's important children learn from a young age that money comes from hard work and saving. Consider linking their allowance to age-appropriate chores, like making their bed or putting away their toys, and help them choose a treat that they can start saving for.

Courtesy of Newscanada

Has online social networking replaced your holiday letter to friends and loved ones? Be careful what you share.

You probably don't want everyone to know that you're going away for the holidays, or for how long. But by posting such information online, you may be doing just that – and putting your property at risk.

Here are some tips to make sure you share with care:

• Limit the personal information you share online to only what's necessary. Be careful using your last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, email address, last names of friends or relatives, age, birth date, or other personal information.

• Check out the privacy and security settings of your social network and use them to control who sees what. Most have default settings which likely provide more access than you'd like. You can adjust settings to the highest possible level to protect your information and control who can see personal details (rather than "everyone" or "friends of friends").

• Be cautious about details in photographs that you post or share. Photographs can reveal a lot of personal information when there are clearly identifiable details such as street signs, licence plates on cars, or the name of a school on clothing.

Protect while you connect. More information is available online at GetCyberSafe.ca.

Courtesy of Newscanada

Do you wish you had a bigger bathroom? If so, you're not alone.

In fact, in a recent survey conducted by Moen, almost half the respondents wished they could make their bathroom larger. But, a complete bathroom overhaul isn't in the cards for most homeowners. And when your bath is too small, it can quickly go from being a retreat from the outside world to a stress-inducing, cluttered place.

Whether you're hoping to update the guest bath or the master suite, you can create a larger-looking bath without actually expanding your space. With a thorough cleaning and some space-expanding illusions, you'll be relaxed and rejuvenated in your new bigger bath in no time.

Blend in, but make a statement

Using an intense color palette is not always the best technique when it comes to a tiny bathroom. Bold, dark colors can weigh a room down, making it look even smaller. Instead, use pale and cool colors, like soft whites, pastels and neutral tones to add size and depth. Continue the color scheme to the woodwork, trim, vanity and door to create a disappearing look that will lengthen the walls. By eliminating the hard edges created by drastic changes in color, your eye will flow smoothly across the room.

It's important to look at the small details, like faucets and accessories, to create a statement. Choosing a sophisticated design, such as the Moen Weymouth faucet in Chrome, LifeShine Brushed Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze or the new LifeShine Polished Nickel finish, can provide a beautiful focal point in your bath. Available in single-handle, widespread and wall-mount styles, faucets in the Weymouth collection feature traditional detailing, like porcelain inlays and a generously sized spout. The unique collection additionally offers matching faucets for the shower or tub, and a complete selection of accessories to provide the perfect eye-catching detail.

Take a look in the mirror

A mirror in the bathroom can do more than just show your reflection - it can stretch the space by reproducing it. Additionally, mirrors reflect both natural and artificial light, making a smaller room look bigger and brighter by bouncing illumination throughout.

Don't think that mirrors need to only be above the sink. A great trick for improving your room's reflective qualities is to hang a large, horizontal mirror along the longest wall of the bath. However, if a large mirror is out of your budget, or not practical for your space, the same effect can be created by grouping an arrangement of smaller mirrors. Unique mirrors can often be found at flea markets in different shapes and sizes. Simply paint each frame in complementary colors and group them along the longest wall. This allows for the room to stretch, while also providing a design element that's uniquely yours.

Another easy, dramatic way to use mirrors is to turn the fronts of vanity cabinets into your canvas. Use glue to attach large, square mirrors, or tiny mirror tiles - either square or round - to the outside of cabinets and drawers. For a never-ending room, position two mirrors on opposite walls to create the perfect illusion. Whatever technique you choose, mirrors are great decor pieces that won't muddle a small bath.

Say no to big and bulky

Traditional, large vanities with cabinet drawers can make an already petite-looking bath appear even smaller. In order to avoid this common misstep, there are two paths to follow: either install a vanity with open storage areas; or try suspending shelving for a contemporary feel. This will create a more spacious look - without losing precious storage - by giving the shelving a light and airy appearance. Open shelving is perfect for towels and linens, plus items like tissues and cotton balls, which can be stored in decorative jars or containers. Avoid a cluttered look by placing large wicker baskets on the bottom shelf of the vanity for large everyday items, such as brushes, toiletries and makeup.

You can create a beautiful bath - regardless of the square footage - that will become a place of relaxation and worthy of attention. Use these tips to turn a compressed and uncomfortable space to one that feels spacious and soothing - without a major remodel. For more information about Moen products, visit www.moen.com.

Courtesy of BPT