I was able to procure a great discount on my Ancestry. com account! The had a Black Friday special for gifts at 1/2 the cost of a renewal.

I had to cancel my current membership, which expired in about 2 days anyway, then purchased the gift for myself. Merry Christmas to me!!

Pudgder, good one! I put an Ancestry membership on the wish list I gave my daughter this year. So we shall see!

I didn't take advantage of any of the sales. I would love to buy a full frame digital camera, but I don't know enough to buy the right body with the right lens for my needs. It's a big investment for a novice photographer.

OMG! Yes! Everything from pork chops/.55lb, fine tooth table saw blades from Home Depot /$10ea, half off a 25' tape(ACE), to a sliced piece of agate I'm framing. (I'll add photos later)

Fun2BHere, are you familiar with the photography forums at DPReview.com? They cover so many aspects of photography as well as specific cameras. I've been active there on and off for years, and always whenever I was shopping for cameras or lenses. You can learn so much just by reading the posts and looking at the images, and when you have questions you'll find most of the regulars are beyond generous with their knowledge and advice.

Yes, it's a big investment indeed! You might consider used equipment. Many photographers are passionate about upgrading, which leaves a nice market for pre-owned, excellent quality cameras and lenses. Just make sure you buy from a reputable source. Again, the folks at DPReview can be helpful. Good luck!

With all my Christmas shopping done, I was only browsing when I found a new king size mattress (firm) for only $350! It's being delivered next week. :)

Alisande, I took a look at the link to the phone because I am considering getting a new one. I saw this information in a review you might find helpful when looking for a case. One said it was very slippery and would need a case. Here is the other review.

Different than other G7+ models

Verified Buyer

Despite the name, the shape of this phone is not identical to other G7+ models. The camera on the back is oval, rather than the circular shape of the other models; it's also just slightly wider. As a result, G7+ cases don't really fit this model very well. Apparently this model started out as the T-Mobile branded REVVLRY Plus, and Motorola later decided to sell it more widely under the G7+ name. T-Mobile do sell a couple of cases for the REVVLRY Plus, which should fit this phone a bit better. Thumbs down to Motorola for creating so much confusion with this model, but it otherwise seems to be a perfectly functional phone.

Ian

Yes we have bought a few things. A new 55" Samsung smart TV for the bedroom. I can actually see the guide and read it! Love it!

I bought a very nice Lenovo 10" tablet for my friend who's mother just passed away. Her family is all in the Ukraine and she can now use it for video calls instead of her phone.

I ordered a few sweatshirt type tops and pants since I lost so much weight I needed new clothes. Good discounts. I found a good deal on front closure bras and had a 25% off coupon too so I ended up getting them for $16 each.

I wanted to get my friend some short mud boots for Christmas because she is always out in the yard doing stuff with her dogs. I found Skechers with dogs printed all over them for a huge discount and ordered them.

https://www.skechers.com/dw/image/v2/BDCN_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-skechers-master/default/dwf3d2938e/images/large/113384_TPMT.jpg?sw=1120

I got 20% off a set of cotton sheets, completely USA grown and crafted. They're based on a 1920's heirloom sheet, with thicker cotton yarns and a lower thread count than modern sheets. They're supposed to be extremely comfortable and should last for decades. I hope they live up to their billing!

Raven, thanks. I read those reviews on Amazon, but I think it's possible the one I bought directly from Motorola might be different from the one Amazon is selling. I'll see what it looks like when I get it. Definitely will need a case! The G7+ was only recently released in the U.S. For a couple of years it was available only in Europe. When it was finally released last month, it seems there are two versions of the same model involved. I don't know any more than that, but I'm sure I'll love it. The camera reviews are great.

Although this will be my third smart phone, I've pretty much ignored the others, using them only for phone calls or texts when I had to. I don't have a cell signal at home, and the idea of checking email, etc., when I'm out never appealed to me. But it seems to be universally assumed that everyone has a smart phone with them at all times, and it's getting harder to do some things without the ability to tap and swipe, etc. So I'm going to sign up for my first data plan, and a new chapter begins. :-)

Those boots are so cute! My daughter-in-law bought me a similar pair a couple of years ago, but in paisley.

Those reviews are from the B&H site.

Thanks for the link to DPReview.com, Alisande. I'll go do some reading there. One reason that I haven't bought second-hand is because I understand that digital cameras have a life related to number of photos taken and I would have no way to know how much life was left in a used camera body.

Raven, yes, I should have realized that. Thanks! By the way, where did you buy the Lenovo tablet?

Fun2B, people selling used digital cameras often state the shutter count. I did the same when I sold my son's Nikon for him last week. Of course, it helps to learn the life expectancy of a given camera. I don't know if the manufacturers supply that information, but they might. Some of the shutter counts I see in listings are fairly astronomical. You're right--that would make a difference.

Raven, I thought I'd report back after my phone arrived. It has the oval in the back, which leads me to think it's the re-branded T-Mobile REVVLRY+ mentioned the the guy's review on B&H. I was a little disappointed at first, but then I watched a review of the REVVLRY on YouTube from a year ago. The reviewer had many positive things to say about it, and the specs he showed were what I was expecting. Also, the price was $350. I can't tell if the camera's exactly how the Moto G7+ was described, but it certainly sounds good, and I know it will be a big improvement over my present phone. So now I'm looking forward to the learning curve. :-)