Gift Card Guide

Write Smiley at P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, fax to (225) 388-0371 or e-mail Smiley@theadvocate.com. I can’t decide whether to classify this as a helpful hint, a sign of the times or a “read it and weep” item: Dudley Lehew, of Denham Read more

The U.S. government is so eager to jump-start the economy with its stimulus package that the Treasury Dept. is even mailing rebate checks to the recently deceased. George Paquin, a financial planner in Chelmsford, Mass., is certain that one former Read more

Hotels know a fabulous marketing opportunity when they see one, and the hotly anticipated “Sex and the City” movie already is spawning gal getaways at many a New York lodging. The only hitch: You have to be as loaded as Charlotte York to take Read more

Some gift horses you should look in the mouth. The growing number of retailers filing for bankruptcy as the U.S. economy teeters on the brink of a recession means consumers can’t redeem gift cards as easily as they once could. Sharper Image Corp Read more