Monday, February 23, 2009 

Melissa & Doug Educational and Wooden Toys

Melissa & Doug are toymakers on a mission. It's not Spider Man sales, because quality sells itself. It's not about volume, because Heroquest approach tends to sacrifice quality. It's definitely not about chasing trends or reflecting the latest movie craze. For Melissa & Doug it's about designing, testing and offering the highest quality toys that are educational and enjoyable. That's been the focus of their toy line for over twenty years.

You won't see Melissa & Doug toys pump out loud commercials between boisterous cartoon shows. Their toys are for the parent and grandparent who 1986 Fleer baseball cards buying more than a gift; they are choosing a multi-use toy that makes the most of each developmental stage. You don't find toys like that among the flimsy play products at discount retailers.

If you aren't a preschool teacher or psychologist, how do you know which toys really are educational? Follow those who are in the know, that's how. Melissa & Doug Toys have earned the Parents Choice Award, Baby Talk Editor's Choice Award and Children's Choice Award just to name a few.

The educational benefits of these toys have also been the subject of articles in prestigious publications including Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Creative Child, Parents Magazine and seen on television with Oprah Winfrey, Extreme Home Makeover and Live with Regis and Kelly.

How many toys recalls have you seen that involve flimsy plastic toys? These cheap playthings break and 1951 Topps baseball cards which can cause injury from sharp edges or swallowing small pieces. More parents are realizing that well made wooden toys are ideal for toddlers and young children.

But even that takes carefully selection to avoid the foreign import wooden toys with lead paint and questionable construction. If you are going to buy wooden toys, then buy high quality toys like those designed and made by Melissa & Doug.

Finding a good selection of wooden toys is important so that children of various ages have toys that meet their interests and skill levels. The First Play Wooden Toys are made for tiny hands to hold the small cars, barn with animals, magnetic kitchen bottles and push-pull toys.

For imaginative play, there are preschool size wooden dollhouses up to dollhouses, castles and horse stables in wood made for older children. Melissa & Doug toys also have miniature doll furniture to keep any baby doll in total comfort with a tiny, well-equipped nursery. Don't settle for just any wooden toy. The wooden toys from Melissa & Doug are not offered to you until they pass rigorous safety tests.

Once the adults finish playing, then the toys have to survive the ultimate play testers; Melissa and Doug's six children before the toys reach your children's hands. Check out the hottest Melissa & Doug toys here: squidoomelissadougtoyssquidoomelissadougtoys and find one that suits your child's needs.

 

Tricks 0% APR Credit Cards Play

Paying 0% APR is a very nice thing when 1969 Topps baseball cards have debts. Many people get offers for these credit cards regularly. Some even take advantage of them.

Just be careful that they don't take advantage of you. There are a few tricks you should watch out for.

1. Balance Transfer Fees

These can add up quickly, but they're the only way to get your balance on a regular credit card over to your new 0% offer. These are often around 3%, and many companies have removed the cap. This means that while once your maximum balance transfer fee would be perhaps $75, now it can be much higher. A $5000 balance transfer at 3% means you'd be paying about $150.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. You just have to figure out if an immediate 3% is more than you'd be paying in interest over time. If you're paying it down quickly enough, and your current interest rate is low enough, you may be better off leaving well enough alone.

Do your math before you move your balances around.

2. Time Limits and Regular APR

How long do you pay 0% for? If you're not going to have the money paid off by then, once again you need to compare with what you would be paying.

If you get 0% APR with a 3% balance transfer fee and a 17% APR after the introductory period, take a look at what you're paying now. If it's the same or higher than the 18% of the new card, you definitely have a good deal. But let's see what happens to $5000 over 2 years for a 10% interest rate versus the 0% going to 18%. Minimum payments, no new charges.

After 2 years at 10%, you would still owe $3,340.29, assuming you paid 2.5% of the outstanding balance each month.

It's a bit trickier with the 0% card. You have to start by adding the 3% balance transfer fee, or $150 for a $5000 balance. Once again, making minimum payments only, that's a balance of 3800.69 at the end of the first 12 months. At the end of the 2 year period, you would still owe $3,368.87... nearly $30 more than if you had stayed with the lower APR card you originally had.

Of course, you can greatly improve this situation by making higher Living Dead Dolls Pay $200 a month throughout, and the 0% APR card goes to $679.71 at the end of 2 years... almost paid off. The original card is also in good shape, at $812.54, but you've paid significantly more in interest.

So think about your payment habits beforehand.

3. Increasing Your Limit

This is one of those little things credit card companies do to try and get you to spend more money. They know that many people consider their credit card limit to be a part of their available money, and so an increased limit is a license to spend more.

Don't.

Most 0% APR cards do that for balance transfers only, not purchases. While you're paying down the transfer amount, the rest is steadily increasing. If this rate is higher than your old credit card had, you're paying out more.

So just ignore that increased limit and do your best to keep your spending habits under control. This is not an easy thing for most 1967 Topps baseball cards but it's probably the most important financial skill you can pick up.

Stephanie Foster blogs at credit-blog.findcreditonlinecredit-blog.findcreditonline on using credit wisely. She offers a selection of findcreditonline0apr.php0% APR credit cards at her site.

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