Feb 1, 2019 | Holiday, Holiday Gift Guides
It’s February! This means that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This also means it’s time for you to start shopping for your honey! The good news is you can find something your sweetie will love and that show him or her that you care—without breaking the bank. Check out these budget-friendly, thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas that your significant other will love.
Is your lover a big-time foodie or has the ultimate sweet tooth? The search for chocolate ganache heart-shaped tarts, strawberry cannoli, and red velvet cherry cheesecake is on! Restaurants, bakeries, and cafes have a knack for whipping up creative edibles for Valentine’s Day. This is the perfect time for you and your love to indulge in a unique assortment of fun sweets, treats, and drinks! Hop around from bakery to cafe to food trucks and stroll through parks in between to enjoy all of your tasty finds. Pinpoint all the spots you want to hit on a map and gift it along with a pair of Toms shoes to ensure they will definitely be comfy walking from place to place! Pro tip: Save room for the next stops by splitting the heavier desserts.
Making mixtapes filled with love songs might be a thing of the past, but the warm memories you feel when listening to music that means something to you isn’t. This year, create a digital playlist with songs that pay homage to the experiences, moments and milestones that have helped shape your relationship. Include prom hits, old school jams, favorite tunes, your wedding song, and of course, the track dubbed ‘our‘ song. Set the mood for the night by playing your special collection of jams on a new Bluetooth speaker from GearBest. And, since Bluetooth speakers are portable, it means you can enjoy your musical trip down memory lane anywhere. A picnic in the park. A rented cabin by the lake. Dancing under the stars.
Taking dance lessons on Valentine’s Day is a fun way for couples to stay active, explore new things, and even learn to laugh together. For example, the rhythm and movements of Latin music allow sweethearts to let loose and move together, which can definitely help heat things up in the bedroom. Salsa dance gets the heart pumping and blood flowing. Tango is full of passion. And how can we forget the Lambada? Once home from your dance lesson, it’s time to test out your new moves…in the bedroom. Put on music and challenge your love to a seductive dance battle dressed in something a little more comfortable from Lingerie.com.
Flowers are obviously one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gift ideas for her. If you’re looking for the best deals on flowers, arrange for delivery of a beautiful bouquet of roses and a wide range of other flowers from 1-800-Flowers.
Looking for a new, creative, and unique way to give her flowers? Why not use rose or flower petals to create specific words or simply arrange in the shape of an arrow pointing towards their next destination? As she gets closer to her gift, you could also create a trail of rose petals leading to their surprise.
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy an overnight adventure for Valentine’s Day. Embrace the concept of a staycation, where you get to enjoy a getaway within driving distance! Get out of the house to spice things up and to interrupt your usual day-to-day routine. Make arrangements to meet for after work drinks at a hotel lobby or nearby restaurant or bar. When the time seems right, slip your love an envelope with a message, room details, and key for accommodations that you booked through Hotels.com. Tell them to open the envelope in a few minutes. Give them a wink, and tell them ‘see you soon’ as you make your way to your hotel room. When they arrive, it’s up to you how you’ll surprise them. Champagne and strawberries? A gift on the bed? Lingerie and party games? The ideas are endless!
If you really want to please a heavy music listener for Valentine’s Day, consider blowing their mind with the superior sound quality of their favorite tunes. Somewhere between online downloads and YouTube videos, the record player often gets forgotten. Vinyl has a reputation of delivering riveting bass lines and the emotional details of song much better than a digital copy. So, when you tell them it’s time to take a trip to the local record shop to select vinyls with songs that represent your relationship, also surprise them with a record player from AliExpress as a gift. Make a night of it, as you hunt for the first vinyls added to a collection that you create together.
Holiday celebrations are even more special when there is delicious food to enjoy! However, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to mean busy, crowded, and expensive restaurants. You can enjoy an intimate and romantic dinner right at home! In fact, is there anything better than a home-cooked meal made from the heart?
You can also kick it up a notch and transform your dining room into a French bistro. Write the name of your ‘restaurant’ on a chalkboard. Use fancy fonts to create a printed menu. Prepare a candle-lit seating arrangement with your finest tableware. Set the mood with playful jazz tunes.
Need a little help tapping into your inner chef? Uniquely colorful and healthy meals are just a subscription away when you sign up with HelloFresh, which sends fresh, pre-packaged ingredients and simple recipes directly to your front door. The meal kits fit nicely in the fridge, making them a convenient solution for many bistro dinners to come.
If you’re a laid-back couple that doesn’t need all the fancy frills, stick to the classic Valentine’s Day indulgences: chocolate and wine. Chocolate creates the kind of endorphin rush that puts lovers in just the right mood to have a very happy Valentine’s Day. Wine also has a stimulating effect that’s perfect for February 14th. The two aphrodisiacs together are a sexy pairing that will elevate the most popular “date night” of the year.
Try different Ethel M Chocolates varieties, from dark chocolate to creme liqueurs to sea-salted caramel. Sit atop a hill overlooking the city as the sun sets or pitch a tent in your back yard and toast to the two of you.
If you’re single, there’s nothing wrong with seeking a little companionship for Valentine’s Day. It can be exhausting trying to sift through potential dates for a casual night out. That’s why eHarmony comes in handy. They match you with local singles who want to explore the latest and greatest that your city has to offer. Once you’ve arranged a date, have a list of places you’ve always wanted to visit handy. Make a day (or night) of it.
Check out that new restaurant that just opened. Attend a modern art gallery show. Sample craft beers at a quirky microbrewery. Enjoy sweet conversation over croissants at a popular Parisian bakery. You just might make a new best friend, or even better, find someone to enjoy all of your future Valentine’s Days with.
If you love saving money on products and services just as much as you enjoy celebrating special occasions, then download our Giving Assistant Button (if you haven’t already) to find the best Valentine’s Day gifts for him and her!
Jan 23, 2019 | Shopping Tips
At Giving Assistant, we work to transform everyday shopping into charitable giving. Along with our shoppers, we’re driven to help fund the missions of incredible nonprofits across the country. Since 2014, we have continued to grow our community. Today, in our 2018 Impact Report, we’re excited to share a big milestone we reached together!
We thank you for being a part of our journey in raising $5 million to support the work of our nonprofit partners. The Giving Assistant team is inspired to continue to grow and reach new heights in 2019, and we thank you for joining us in proving that a little cash back can do big things.
If you’re an online shopper, you can help make a difference. Sign up now or log into your account and select one of your favorite nonprofits to support. From 1% to 100%, you can decide the amount of your cash back earnings you’d like to donate to your selected charitable organization.
If you are a nonprofit and haven’t signed up with Giving Assistant yet, learn more about how to raise recurring donations for your cause through your community’s everyday online shopping!
Jan 23, 2019 | Nonprofits
Scenario: Last year, Middletown Animal Rescue joined Classy, enabling them to power individual, peer-to-peer (P2P) fundraising campaigns for the first time.
That holiday giving season, around a dozen of their local community volunteers launched personal, online fundraising campaigns to benefit the animal rescue. Over the next few weeks, they shared their campaigns with their friends and family, ultimately raising an average of $250 per volunteer by year’s end.
But it was Sarah, a high school student, who broke the record.
By sharing her campaign and asking her social network to shop online through Giving Assistant, in addition to making direct donations towards her P2P campaign, this animal-lover raised over $300. That’s an extra $50 over the average amount raised per participant that would go to purchase food, shelter, and loving families for more of Middletown’s displaced pet population.
Sarah’s secret to her big fundraising win? Microdonations: individual donations that average less than $10 each. (If you were thinking her secret was Giving Assistant, you’re still a little bit right!)
The 3 Superpowers of Microdonations
Microdonations are small, good things that “add up” (as is our mantra here) in big, meaningful ways. Not only do they provide nonprofits a viable (often significant) long-term financial boost, but they also empower communities, making it possible for more people to give and inspiring them to give together.
Superpower #1: Accessibility
While not everyone can make big, direct donations, almost anyone can “give small,” which enables, encourages, and empowers more people to give. Leading to…
Superpower #2: Engagement
One of the top reasons people say they don’t donate to nonprofits is because they feel like they can’t give enough for the donation to actually matter. This perspective changes, however, when donors believe that others are making small donations along with them.
Countless Giving Assistant user interviews have shown us that these nonprofit supporters are more inspired to give when they know others are giving along with them, because they’re more confident those small donations they’re able to afford will, in fact, add up to something meaningful.
Superpower #3: Awareness
And what do you get when micro-givers believe that giving collectively is the key ingredient in making microdonations meaningful?
Sharing. Conversations. Communication. Increased awareness of your cause. Nonprofits’ giving communities—and their action communities—grow, as more people feel empowered by their giving, regardless of the size of those gifts.
And when it comes to microdonations, the more the merrier.
Putting it Together: P2P Fundraising, Classy, and Giving Assistant
Giving Assistant is just one tool you have in your arsenal that makes it easier for your P2P campaigners to capture those microdonations and boost their fundraising, engagement, and awareness efforts for you.
Even more importantly, while your nonprofit’s bottom line undoubtedly benefits from the fundraising boost these microdonations provide, it’s also empowering for your campaigners. The more they raise, the more proud and confident they feel. And the more confident they feel, the more they’re inspired to help lead your mission within their communities.
Syncing Classy and Giving Assistant
For Classy-connected nonprofits, you’ll be glad to know that Giving Assistant syncs seamlessly with Classy, so even your personal, independent fundraisers can take advantage of it, just like your organization does.
Once set up, your campaigners can invite their friends and family to contribute to their fundraiser by joining Giving Assistant, shopping, and making their cash back microdonations, in addition to continuing to make their direct donations—an incredibly easy ask for your campaigners.
On average, P2P fundraisers see as much as a 20% boost in donations when they invite their communities to use Giving Assistant, in addition to contributing their normal, direct donations.
Sync your Classy and Giving Assistant accounts, and start helping your P2P campaigners capture those fundraiser-boosting, cash back microdonations.
Jan 8, 2019 | Fashion, Health
Adios 2018! Another year is in the rearview mirror and now you’re cruising through January with plenty of opportunities to make the most out of a fresh 365 days. Lucky for you, Giving Assistant is here to help you save money on brands that’ll help get you closer to enjoying a happier, healthier New Year.
Through the month of January, shop The Home Depot and Academy Sports + Outdoor to earn cash back on items that’ll help shape the ‘new you’ in 2019.
A few suggestions to get you started are listed below.
The Home Depot
In the New Year, get rid of or donate the unnecessary and unused things in your life.
Clearing out your closets (especially minimizing your wardrobe) is one of the most popular ways to declutter. It’s time to let go of crop tops that no longer fit, decades-old fashion trends, and sentimental T-shirts dotted with ink stains and holes.
After decluttering, keep your prized possessions within easy reach by using organization solutions, like the ClosetMaid White Wire Steel Closet System. Create customized storage spaces for bedroom closets, laundry rooms and basements with this DIY project kit. Arrange the adjustable parts just the way you like it to accommodate a 5-foot to 8-foot space.
Getting organized not only saves time, but also increases productivity.
Your goal is to create an uncomplicated system of storage that gives more breathing room to the items you use, need and love the most. Free-standing cabinets are pretty good for maximizing closet space and especially helpful when addressing your wardrobe needs. They also provide a stylish way to elevate your functional room décor.
The European-style, classic espresso Hampton Bay Wardrobe Cabinet comes with one fixed shelf and one hanging rail that are easy to assemble. Use the cabinet to organize your most absolute favorite threads or make seasonal must-haves easier to find.
Academy Sports + Outdoor
Cleared-out closets make room for a new sense of style to take over, including fashion statements that promote healthy habits.
Cozy, ultra-comfortable and fashion-forward, the Nike Women’s Funnel-Neck Fleece Hoodie is an every-day, activewear choice that’s ideal for morning runs, as well as weekend trips to the grocery store. Brushed-back fleece provides warmth with a paneled funnel-neck hood that further enhances coverage. Available in pink or white with gold metallic accents, Academy also carries a colorful range of funnel-neck hoodies that feature the smaller, embroidered Nike logo.
You love activewear but you don’t always love how it looks and fits? We get it. Luckily, ladies, you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort and movability with Adidas’ activewear.
Ladies can also slay the sporty-casual look this year with Adidas’ iconic ‘3-Stripes’ design running down the sleeves of the Essentials Cotton Fleece 3S Over Head Hoodie.
A pair of men’s Nike Fleece Jogger Pants made with snug-fitting leg cuffs helps runners stay warmer and lighter on their feet.
And, thanks to sweat-wicking Nike Dry technology, the camo-patterned Dry Training Hoodie keeps men more comfortable during intense workouts.
And, don’t let the weather slow your progress! Conquer chilly days with the men’s Under Armour Big Logo Fleece Hoodie, an online exclusive that’s warm yet lightweight and flexible.
Put Some Pep in Your Step
Make good on a plan to stay physically fit in the New Year by moving in the right direction with increased activity. Hitting the pavement, court or treadmill in style is an excellent way to stay motivated in whatever you choose to do to get fit. Whether you’re taking it slow at the gym or training for a marathon, wearing the right attire that fits your needs can make all the difference.
Another way to maximize your health and happiness in 2019 is to keep saving all year round on the brands that’ll help crush your goals in the New Year. Download our Giving Assistant Button and you’ll also unlock constant savings and promo codes on much more than just your favorite must-haves.
Dec 21, 2018 | Nonprofits
According to the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, 1 in 4 teenagers say they’ve endured the painful effects of bullying. The good news: Most acts of bullying can be stopped within 10 seconds when peers take action in a supportive, non-threatening way.
Credit: Brad Rutter Agency, Voice Against Bullying campaign for Generations Against Bullying
That’s the power of an Upstander, a peer who pledges to become a part of the solutions aimed at sinking a nationwide concern that affects millions of children each year. And, at the center of it all, is Generations Against Bullying (GAB), a nonprofit organization on a mission to create healthier, safer, learning environments for everyone.
Victims of bullying rarely see adult intervention come to their rescue, in part because bullies don’t typically victimize their peers in front of teachers, counselors, or administrators. Instead, most bullying takes place in the presence of other students. And while some kids speak out; most just don’t know what to do, or are understandably afraid of retaliation. Furthermore, peer reluctance to intervene creates an environment that allows bullies to thrive by inadvertently communicating, through inaction, that a bully’s behavior is acceptable.
GAB’s Approach to Combating Bullying is Different
Unlike most anti-bullying efforts that focus on the dynamics between bullies and victims, Generations Against Bullying concentrates on building up the confidence and influence of bystanders—those who typically see a peer getting bullied, but oftentimes stay silent or uninvolved. GAB takes a more hands-on approach, offering an all-inclusive, anti-bullying solution that transforms bystanders into Upstander—the designation given to students specifically trained to provide immediate victim-support.
The Upstander Peer Ambassador Program (UPAP)
GAB empowers students to step in and act whenever they see a classmate being victimized. Participants of the Upstander Peer Ambassador Program are equipped with the tools and skills they need to identify bullying, and diffuse uncomfortable situations in a calm, non-threatening manner. Peer Ambassadors also attend workshops where they learn how to provide positive support in various situations, including camps, sports, and the cyber world.
Student Upstander Peer Ambassadors are essentially the backbone of GAB programs, and the organization says that without them, it wouldn’t be possible to create and maintain the kind of environments that discourage bullying.
GAB also works alongside Peer Ambassadors, educators and sponsors to create life-changing experiences for students, schools and entire communities, such as:
- Celebrity speaking engagements lead by role models including professional athletes, pageant winners, musicians, actors and authors. These speakers are invited to attend GAB events in order to help foster interest in the program and motivate more students to become Upstanders.
- School assemblies that send an uplifting message to students, spread awareness, and also provide a platform for productive discussions about bullying to unfold.
- Sponsored community movie night events that highlight the disturbing effects of bullying through a film screening and Anderson Cooper follow-up report.
- Puppet shows (featuring unique characters called ‘GABits’) that use realistic scenarios and positive messages to help create an anti-bully culture on the elementary school level.
- An “Introduction to Buddy Bear” event (GAB’s official pet ambassador) that helps address the connection between bullying and animal abuse. A program involving Buddy Bear teaches compassion and love, as well as how to respect, care for, and forge healthy relationships with animals.
In addition to the Upstander Peer Ambassador Program, GAB holds the distinction of maintaining one of the “Top 20 Bullying Blogs on The Web,” and effectively uses their website to deliver inspirational video messages, information on community services and events, and a directory of resources to help bullying victims.
GAB relies on sponsors and fundraising programs to continue touching the lives of students across the U.S. with their speaking engagements, open houses, community events and the above-mentioned programs.
Giving Assistant shoppers can also help advance GAB’s goals. Simply select Generations Against Bullying as your nonprofit of choice to donate all or a portion of your cash back savings to a good cause.
To keep up with the endless deals, discounts and promo codes that can help increase your charitable contribution to GAB, don’t forget to download the Giving Assistant Button.
![4 Bedding and Bath Deals To Help You Sleep At Night (Literally) [Home Depot]](https://ye5tydp7g73esyga3o4afodg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Blog-Posts-1-4.jpg)
Dec 13, 2018 | Shopping Tips
Linens play an important role in making your cozy dwelling ‘home sweet home.’ If you’re looking to update a guest bathroom, personalize a bedroom, or just enhance your night’s sleep, Home Depot has you covered (literally). Not only do you get to save up to 40% off select bedding and bath essentials, but you’ll also snag an extra 15% off with promo code BEDBATH15. Ready to shop? Here’s a few items to get you started.
No more sleepless nights, tossing and turning, backaches, or moody mornings! Embrace an added layer of comfort with a little something from the Lucid Gel Infused Memory Foam Toppers Collection. Whether revamping an old mattress or softening a hard bed, you’ll thank yourself for choosing a topper that levels up the quality and comfort of your night’s sleep. Premium memory foam hugs and cushions the curves of your body, while cooling gel and breathable, ventilated material helps regulate temperature. Lucid mattress toppers are available for California King, Full, King, Queen, Twin, and Twin XL beds.
Against a crisp white background, the Christian Siriano Garden Bloom Comforter Set catches the eye with soft shades of lavender, green and dandelion yellow that beautifully complement vibrant pops of deep indigo blue and fuschia. The floral engineered pattern adds an artistic flair with watercolor-like quality. This comforter set includes shams, and is available in King, Queen and Twin XL sizes.
One of the most long-awaited, rites of passage for toddlers is the transition to a ‘big kids’ bed. Make this experience even more fun and exciting with an assortment of Laura Hart-designed pillows, sheets, window treatments, shower curtains, and quilt/comforter slumber sets in the following themes:
Dance into slumberland with a 100% cotton, pretty-in-pink, handcrafted, embroidered quilt dotted with dancing applique ballerinas. The Laura Hart Kids Ballet Lessons Full/Queen Quilt set comes with two shams, and features scalloped edges alongside an applique ribbon-shaped border.
Shoot and score spectacular sweet dreams with a Sports Express pattern for football, soccer and basketball fans. The set includes a full quilt, two standard shams, and bonus helmet pillow.
Celebrate every night with the Party Animals twin comforter and standard sham set, which brings colorful lions, flamingos, koalas, zebras and sloths to life for your little one.
Have a hoot of a night with the printed pink and purple patchwork of Happy Owls and flowers that decorate this twin quilt and standard sham set.
Elevate your bathroom and save more with the modern design of the Lavish Home Chevron Egyptian Cotton Towel Set, which stylishly zig zags between popular classic and contemporary trends. With the look and softness of luxury hotel linens, this ultra-absorbent, 100% premium cotton six-piece set comes with a double dose of bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Shop a rainbow of colors that include Burgundy, Brick, Black, Green, Navy, Silver, Taupe and Chocolate.
This time around, you’re saving on bedding and bath towels, but what about next month? Make sure to keep up with the latest sales and promo codes from Home Depot when you download our Giving Assistant Button, which connects you to endless ways to save money and earn cashback for good.
