This week Starbucks started accepting payments by cell phone. While this may not seem like a ground-breaking announcement, it may well portend the wave of the future for Americans.

This year Black Friday will have special meaning for high tech equipment. Some of the Black Friday prices have actually broken price barriers. A few years ago I would never even imagined that a full-fledged laptop would be selling for under $200, but that's what you'll find at Wal-Mart this year. It's an interesting phenomenon.

With the holidays upon us, shopping is a chore that most of us will face within the next few weeks. Shopping online can be very convenient, just be sure to follow these tips to have a safe, secure, and happy shopping spree.