Category Archives: LTD Team

Items We Adore: LTD’s Product Picks For The Week

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magnetic clipboardsWe are officially one week into March, the month of green, Mardi Gras, and Irish pride! While you’re settling into the third month of the year, we’ve decided to list a few of our favorite tools for home organization. Check out these items we adore to help you organize your home before heading into spring-cleaning in the next couple of months.

Magnetic Clipboards

So here’s the thing: when you have kids, your life becomes a chaotic mess for eighteen plus years, and we get that. Despite stains on the hardwood floors and crayon all over the walls, we think these magnetic fridge clipboards can help you begin carving little pockets of organization in your home. Start with meal planning, to-do lists, grocery store lists, events, and weekday schedules. With this back of four, each family member can even have their own clipboard notepad for their own use. Just a little organization goes a lot way, and maybe this small success will permeate through the rest of your home.

Ladder Shelf Storage

Time to marry form and function in your living room or dining room design with this creative ladder shelf storage unit. You can display knick-knacks and books or store wine glasses and extra dinnerware in this stylish storage system. It’s a great place for organizing both attractive and unattractive home items, such as beautiful candles, or unsightly mail. Organize and conquer clutter!

Hanging Travel Organizer

Summer holidays and trips are right around the corner, and we absolutely love this hanging travel organizer. Perfect for keeping everything in one place and simultaneously saving space in small bathrooms, this organizer is a lifesaver! Imagine spending a few weeks in small hotels in Europe and looking around for counter space. Not even a thought with this great organizer that hangs on the towel hook, door knob, or right on the shower rod.

Neoprene Cable Sleeves

Cables are the bane of any home office organization, but with this clever zip-up neoprene cable sleeve, you never have to worry about loose cables again. You can use these sleeves to organize the cables in your home or work office, as well as those in your entertainment system, cables from your stereo system, or even your electronics chargers. And if you’ve got lots of chargers in your car, attach a piece of Velcro to the outside of the sleeve and secure it in place. So simple!

5 Ways Running Can Relieve Stress

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trackWe all experience stress in our day to day lives. It’s normal. If left unchecked, however, stress can cause a number of problems, including depression, fatigue, and headaches. Cardiovascular exercises like running have been shown to be some of the most effective, if not the most effective, ways of relieving stress. As little as 20 minutes of running in fitness clothing has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels in the body, leaving both body and mind feeling

Kinesiologists, neurologists, and scientists have been spent thousands of hours exploring how exercises like running help to relieve stress. Through their research, they’ve discovered a number of ways that running helps to reduce stress levels in both the body and mind. This article will list 5 ways running can relieve stress.

1. Running releases endorphins
Endorphins are nature’s happy drug. When released into the brain, they make you feel happy, joyful, and excited about life.When running, the brain triggers the body to release large amounts of endorphins to counteract feelings of muscle tiredness and exhaustion. These endorphins, if released in large enough amounts, can trigger a ‘runner’s high’, making you feel happy and elated while reducing feelings of stress.

2. Running reduces stress hormone levels in the body
Stress causes the release of cortisol and other stress hormones into the body.
In small amounts, these stress hormones provide a number of useful health benefits, including increased energy, improved cognitive function, and improved pain suppression. In large amounts, however, they hinder more than they help. They impair thyroid function, increase blood pressure, and cause feelings of anxiety and despair. Running helps to purge the body of excess amounts of stress hormones. It signals the brain to stop releasing these hormones, thereby reducing stress levels overall.

3. Running improves sleep quality
Scientific research has found that the more active your body is during the day, the better your quality of sleep will be at night. Better quality of sleep comes with a number of important health benefits, including lower blood pressure, reduced amounts of stress hormones in the body, and a more relaxed body and mind. These health benefits, in turn, help to reduce stress levels, leaving the body feeling more refreshed and energized in the mornings.

4. Running relaxes the mind
Running gives you some alone time with your thoughts. It gives you time to connect with your mind and forget the difficulties that plague your life. This meditative effect has been shown to calm the mind, massively reducing levels of stress hormones in the body.

5. Running strengthens the mind against difficulty and adversity
Running is not easy. It’s mentally and physically demanding, and it requires a lot of mental fortitude to do well. Running trains your mind to better deal with adversity and difficult conditions. It makes your mind stronger and less resistant to life’s daily pressures, which reduces the amount of stress hormones being released into the body.

Summing Up
Running has been scientifically proven to be one of the best ways to combat stress. If you find yourself feeling stressed in your day to day life, start running a few times a week. It might just turn things around.

Aimee works in the city in a highly stressful job. She loves running and cannot emphasize enough the fantastic mental and physical benefits of exercise.

Spring Cleaning: Declutter Your Finances

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clean-up-financesAs spring prepares to be sprung, it’s time to rid our lives of the gnarly winter blues that have accumulated over the last year. Clear out the dust bunnies from under the bed, rotate your closet so the warm weather clothes are near the front, and give the pup a haircut.

All of those things will help you get back into the swing of things and refresh everything. But on top of all that, it’s always good to give your finances a once-over as well. After all, money issues are a source of stress for many people. Here are a few ways to declutter your finances and reduce some of the headaches that can come along with them.

Declutter Your Papers

Let’s face it; it was a terrible winter. No one blames you for choosing to shovel your sidewalk instead of organizing your mail and prioritizing hot cocoa over balancing your checkbook. Now that it’s all behind you, you can focus on organizing your sensitive documents. If all your pay stubs and bills are filling up your junk drawer, go through them and put them all in a centralized place.

It very well may take a few sittings, but once you’ve categorized everything, managing your monthly budget shouldn’t seem like such a chore. Knowing where all your resources are will make paying your monthly bills seamless.

Purge the Extras

When you clean out your refrigerator, you probably pull out anything that looks questionable, wipe the inside of it out, and start with a crisp, clean slate. Indeed, one of the most effective parts of any spring cleaning regimen is purging your home of everything you don’t need or don’t use. Sure, picking up a nasty, moldy orange isn’t exactly a pleasant idea, but doing so is much needed if you want to clean. The same can essentially be said about how you approach your finances.

So start purging. Do you actually use your gym membership? If not, drop it or switch to a cheaper one closer to home that you’ll be more likely to use. Do you watch TV all the time, or did your favorite shows end? If you can swing it, drop it until next season.

Mop up the Rest

Of course, as with any spring cleaning binge, you’ll need to mop up the mess. Look for ways you’ll be able to to cut corners when it comes to your expenses:

  • Entertainment - Do you really need that super mega huge cable package, or can you make do with basic cable? Or better yet, do without and subscribe to Hulu or Netflix instead. You can find most shows online these days anyway, and you’ll probably end up being more productive with less TV to watch.
  • Utility bills - See if your utility companies have a budget billing program, and enroll in it. You’ll end up paying for what you use, but your bill will be the same each month.
  • Eating out and groceries - Get to know your inner couponer especially when it comes to groceries. You’ll probably be surprised how much money you can save by simply using coupons. There’s nothing ‘extreme’ about it; just subscribe to your local newspaper and start clipping.

Now, more than ever, is a good time to reevaluate your mobile plan too. T-Mobile is really shaking things up in the wireless world by changing some of its most archaic policies. See if any of these changes can benefit you and your financial situation and consider switching if it works for you and your family. There’s no reason to pay more for something that you can get for less.

Polish Your Credit

Once you’ve pulled all the nastiness out of your budget, you can really make it shine. You should be able to spot some questionable issues that could be resolved. Are you nearing your credit limit on your credit card? Move some money around so you can make a payment to pull the balance away from the limit.

If that’s not an option, consider opening another card to spread the balance out a bit. Contrary to popular belief, it’s better to have two cards nowhere near their limit than it is to have one card that’s maxed out all the time. The idea is to keep your utilization ratio (the credit you’re using vs. how much is available to you) as low as you can. Find a card that offers a special rate on balance transfers to save on interest charges while you’re at it.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to stop with the dirt on the kitchen floor. Take a look at every aspect of your life, and simplify wherever you can. What’s the most pressing thing on your spring cleaning to-do list?

Popular Pins: LTD’s Favorite Pins From February

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It’s time for the end-of-month round up of February’s popular pins! We expected a lot of lovey-dovey pins, but there was more variation than anticipated! A surprising number of people were far too excited for the prospect of spring to get hung up in hearts and roses all month. There are also plenty of fun Irish-inspired pins for St. Patricks’ Day, which is always a fun time. Check out some of our favorite pins from February!

LOVE-Signed Wedding Frames

LOVE frame

We expect these kinds of pins throughout February, as lovers and spouses come up with ways to celebrate their love throughout the month. Well, these Wedding Frames by Marla Rae are a creative way to do just that. The most popular frame has each letter of the word “LOVE” shaped with hands and silhouetted against the distressed brick background. It’s the perfect frame for an 8×10 wedding or engagement photo, which is why everyone loved it last month! It is also available in red with hands shaping a heart instead.

Hot Dog Slicer Kitchen Gadget

hot dog sliverIt looks like our Pinterest followers are more than ready for barbecue season! Despite February being the month of love, this hot dog slicer was one of the most popular pins for the entire month! Perfect for quickly cutting up kids’ hotdogs this summer, you can even put these fun Dachshund-shaped gadgets out for a funny display. Simply place the hot dog in the base of the gadget, and slice down with the dog! Add ketchup to the condiment bowl and you’re done! Kids are happy.

Anger Management Novelty Mug

novelty mug anger management

Anger knows no season, which might be why this hilarious Anger Management Mug had a following all month long! These great novelty mugs come in four shapes and styles, all to add a little more humor to your morning brew. Got a grouchy coworker? We propose gifting this “I flunked anger management” mug to lighten the mood in the office and keep things fun. Maybe wait to fill it with hot coffee though.

St. Patrick’s Day Magnet Art

Shamrock Design Magnet

Everyone in the U.S. is gearing up for St. Patrick’s Day, since it’s one of the only holidays without too much drama. Everyone can celebrate it, whether you’re Irish or not, and it’s a holiday surrounded by parties, drinking, and green treats! This seasonal magnet art is always popular for March, and the shamrocks are perfect for decorating your dishwasher! This large one-piece magnet fits the front of most dishwashers, but can also be used to decorate the fridge or freezer, or cut into smaller squares and shamrocks to decorate all three!

Kids’ Owl Packs and Lunch Bags (Insulated)

kids' owl bags

How adorable is this owl design? These cute owl backpacks and insulated lunch bags are the perfect accessories to your kid’s day. Pinners love sending healthy lunches to school with their kids, especially at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, it’s hard to send much more than a sandwich unless you’ve got an insulated pack to keep it cool! We love these insulated bags and matching backpack in the adorable owl print. In fact, we like this print so much we’d understand if you got these bags for yourself!

Items We Adore: LTD’s Product Picks For The Week

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why limit happy to one hourAnother week is over and it is finally time for the weekend! We think Fridays should be reserved for fun and relaxation, which is why we’re highlighting the perfect happy hour essentials for Friday happy hour at home. You don’t have to get dressed up; you don’t have to worry about crowded bars, and you don’t even have to put on real pants! Change out of those uncomfortable shoes immediately and kick up your feet for a fun happy hour at home. Now’s the time to send the invitation around to your favorite happy hour crew and have them join you at home for a relaxing night with your favorite friends.

Frosted Fun Stem-Less Wine Glasses

Stems make your glass look classy and elegant, all while trying to disguise the fact that you’re going to down that Chardonnay long before it gets warm. Ditch the stem and opt for these fun stem-less wine glasses instead. They’ve got great phrases like, “Why limit happy to one hour?” and “Drinks well with others.” The frosted sheen is perfect for hiding drying water droplets so you don’t have to worry about polishing them before placing them out on the table. They’re also great for serving fruit juice on the rocks and soda for the drivers.

Prescription Bottle Kooler

We love these great novelty coolers for keeping your beer cold and the mood light. Perfect for hiding a cheap-o bottle of beer, or for enhancing the humor of any beer you’ve got! We love the Prescription Bottle cooler, because self-medicating is what happy hour is all about, but you can grab the whole set of four and let your guests decide.

Playing Card Set Tin

Start up a friendly game of cards with The King himself this weekend using these great playing cards. Go ahead and make up a drinking game, or just play a few rounds of everyone’s favorite poker game. You deserve the opportunity to unwind with a little interesting competition.

Can Dispenser Shelves

If things are getting really out of hand on Friday, you’re sure to run out of classy wine and bottled beer. You might want to grab a box of wine just in case, and you’re definitely going to need back-up cans of beer. Well, what better way to keep those cans of beer cold than nestled together in the fridge on these can dispenser shelves? And, if you’ve got a few designated drivers in the bunch, this is a good place to store the soft drinks for the sober ones.

Party Snacks Cookbook

No happy hour is complete without the right spread of delicious snacks, and we recommend checking out this Party Snacks Cookbook for some great ideas at a bargain! With great snack-attack selections like stuffed mushrooms and veggie quesadillas to BLT bites and sweet peanut butter cup popcorn, you’ll never want to leave the house for happy hour again! (And, if you’re a guest for an at-home happy hour, all of these Party Snacks recipes travel well!)

Hors D’oeuvres Baking Set

Last but not least, you can make anything into fun bite-sized happy hour snacks with this great hors d’oeuvres baking set. Make your own little brownies, mini muffins, baked Brie bites, or stuffed spinach-artichoke sliders for your happy hour get-together. Everyone will love the tiny hors d’oeuvres and this baking set makes preparation a breeze! Now get outta here and enjoy your Friday!

The Story Behind Your Favorite Gems

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Gem-StonesColored gemstones are more than just pretty to look at. Some people have even assigned meanings and characteristics. If you believe in that sort of thing, you may want to check out your jewelry box and see what each piece says about you. Look at your most favorite gemstones. Does it surprise you that they match your personality so well? Or is it the exact opposite? Take a look at the meanings behind the most popular stones on the market and see how they relate to you.

Diamond

It’s most common appearance is of the colorless kind, yet can also be found sporting hues of pink, green, blue, brown, and even black. Once believed to be “splinters of stars fallen to earth from the heavens” by the ancient Greeks, the diamond symbolizes love, beauty, and purity. It is thought to bring clarity of thought and has been used in intellectual pursuits as well as meditation.

Emeralds

These gems are beautiful green stones that are just as at home in a silver or platinum setting as they are in gold. It has been said it was the sacred stone favored by the goddess Venus and is associated with female fertility. Some say emeralds actually promote psychic insight and can help with memory and focus.

Sapphire

You might not realize that they are more than just blue stones. They also come in pink, green, and colorless varieties. Popular among those of the royal bloodline, they are associated with calmness, truthfulness, and devotion. They were called “celestial gems” by the ancients due to the varying colors matching the sky at any given time during the day from sunrise to sunset.

Pearl

Pearls have often been associated with the moon thanks to their moonlike appearance. They come in a variety of colors and each has its own characteristic. White pearls, not surprisingly, give an air of purity and innocence while gold pearls are associated with prosperity and wealth, much like the precious metal gold.

Peridot

These gems are a stunning neon or olive green stone that has been favored by many over the years. There are those that think some of Cleopatra’s emeralds were actually peridot. Napoleon even gave his mistress, Josephine, one as a token of his love and devotion. They are thought to help with sleep, strength, and positive attitude.

Bloodstone

This stone has been called the “Hero’s Gemstone” as it is thought to provide the wearers with courage and help them to overcome difficulties. Athletes in Greece and Rome wore them as they thought they would help increase their endurance.

So, now that you’ve seen a little insight into the meanings and characteristics of some of the more popular gemstones, do they coincide with any of your own principles or personality? If not, it really doesn’t matter. If you truly love the stones you’ve chosen, just assign your own meaning to them and continue to wear them with pride. Just check out this online jewelry store and find a piece that speaks to you.

Growing a Garden: Six Steps to Eating Your Own Fruits and Vegetables

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With all the interest in healthier eating, many people want to grow fruits and vegetables in their own backyards. Having your own supply at your fingertips can help you save money and increase your cooking options; you can also make tending your garden into a family activity. Although it may sound daunting, starting your own garden isn’t that difficult.

Here are some good vegetable and fruit selections for the first-time backyard gardener.

Salad Greens

LettuceGrowing your own salad greens like lettuce, spinach, arugula, mustard green, or kale doesn’t require a garden plot; you can grow a nice selection of greens in containers, pots, or window boxes, too. Using a quality potting mix is important. Greens grow well from seeds, and many garden shops offer seeds with a mix of greens for variety. Most will require some fertilizer when the plants are 4-6 inches tall. Since these are rapid-growing plants, you can often start harvesting leaves a few weeks after planting. Salad green plants can produce from spring until fall, giving your tasty salads for most of the year.

Tomatoes

New gardeners love tomatoes, but they’re popular with gardeners in many places where the citizens are health-conscious like Rancho Mission Viejo. There are many versions of slicing tomatoes and cherry tomatoes to choose from. Tomato plants can grow in containers like salad greens or in your yard but do need full sunlight and plenty of water. Seeds or transplants both can be used to start your tomatoes; as they grow, fertilizer, mulching, and staking can help your tomatoes reach their potential.

To control the plant growth and lower the risk of fungus, you’ll need to prune lower leaves and branches. The ripe tomatoes should be harvested twice a week during warm weather.

Radishes

Radish A less common choice for your first garden would be the radish. These root vegetables are easy to grow and grow very fast in a few weeks. These can grow in containers or in a garden plot; however, they do thrive in cool seasons so you should plant them in the spring and fall. A lot of sunlight is key for these plants. Without it, they’ll grow bigger leaves and fewer vegetables. Radishes will deteriorate if they’re harvested in a timely fashion; you can also take the radish greens for salads, as well.

Green Beans

Green beans are also popular for the first-time gardener. Some beans grow as vines and will need a support system while others may grow as a bush. Green beans also grow during the warm months and need full sunlight and significant amounts of water. When the plants bloom, there will be bees and other insects to help with the pollination. During this time, you should avoid using too much pesticide that might interfere with this process. Green beans can be harvested between 50 and 80 days after planting.

Strawberries

StrawberriesAnother fruit that can work for the home gardener is the strawberry.  These are spreading plants that send out runners that can take up a lot of space. However, you can grow them in confined spaces like hanging containers, boxes, or pots. No matter where you plant them, you have to make sure they can get full sunlight. If you use a portable container, you can move the plant around to maximize sun exposure or protect from harsh weather. Strawberry plants can produce fruit for several years.

Herbs

Safe choices for your first garden are herbs like basil, rosemary, coriander, or dill. Many herbs are easy to grow and can be used in a number of dishes and even with your new vegetables. Herbs can be grown in pots, containers, or in your garden plot. Most herbs need to be in areas with good drainage because they don’t grow well in wet soil. You can plant several types of herbs in the same garden; however, some like mint will overgrow your garden.

Of course, your location will influence what items you can grow. But if you take care of your growing garden – no matter your location – you can be eating as well as any community. To improve your health and give your kitchen a kick, start your own garden.

Kitchen Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Need

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corn kernelerThere are thousands of kitchen gadgets on the market, and plenty of people hoard these single-use items like it is their job. Any visit to a home with fun gadgets will make you wonder why you don’t have them all! Well, we’re here to help. We’ve got a list of 5 fun kitchen gadgets you didn’t know you need (and where to find them!).

5-Piece Corn Accessory Set 

Barbecue season is right around the corner, and with copious amounts of grilled meat as the entrée, you’re sure to have a lot of corn on the cob on the side. We love this corn accessory set for everything from huge barbecues to simple family dinners. You can easily de-kernel the cob to eat with a fork, serve to the kids, or mix into a fun corn salsa or salad. These butter spreaders are perfect for keeping your hands clean while getting just the right amount of butter on your corn! Butter the cob, remove the kernels, and enjoy. Everyone should have this great kitchen accessory.

 

Ice Cream Sliders Makers

Another great addition to your summer menu, ice cream is an American pastime. These slider makers take it to the next level. Rather than buying an ice cream sandwich from the ice cream truck, you can make your own with your favorite homemade cookies and ice cream! You simply place one cookie in the bottom of the slider-maker, add ice cream, top with the other cookie, and press all the ingredients together. Pop them out and you’ve got the perfect summer snack!

Electric Hands-Free Can Opener

This can-opener is especially good for those of you who hate struggling with those manual openers. Simply place the opener on the top of the can and press start. Watch it spin around to open the can, and pull the lid away using small magnets. So easy! Whether you’ve got arthritis, carpal tunnel, limited dexterity, or none of the above, this electric opener is the perfect simple solution.

Onion and Potato Cutter

When you’re cooking for a crowd, cutting ten pounds of potatoes is sure to give you a hand cramp, and if you’ll been cutting onions, you’ll be crying all over yourself. To avoid this tragedy, check out this great onion and potato cutter! You simply push the food down through the stainless steel blade and it’s sliced! It is so simple, and with a container on the bottom to catch the sliced pieces, you won’t even need to dirty a cutting board.

Pineapple Slicer

One of the reasons we don’t eat as much fruit as we should often has to do with the difficulty of preparing it. Well, when it comes to pineapple, this great slicer removes all impediments, making it easy to enjoy this great tropical fruit all year! This great gadget peels, cores, and slices a fresh pineapple in less than one minute! Now you can make pineapple salsa, fruit salad, or even pineapple Hawaiian Sloppy Joes!

Items We Adore: LTD Product Picks For The Week

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silhouette garden planterWe see clearer skies and warmer days ahead, so today’s picks are all about your garden! It’s time to start thinking about the best ways to get things blossoming this year, and LTD Commodities can help! Here are our weekly picks for items to spruce up your garden this spring!

Silhouette With Wagon Planter

Set the right tone in your garden with this perfectly adorable silhouette with wagon planter! You can choose from either a boy riding a tractor or a girl with a bonnet pulling the wagon. You simply attach the silhouette to the planter and it looks like he or she is pulling your planter! We love the cute nostalgic charm this planter brings to the garden, and think everyone should have one on his or her spring decorating list!

Solar Metal Garden Birds

Want to get a little tropical in the yard without resorting to plastic flamingos? How about these cute solar metal garden birds instead? You have the choice of a cool blue peacock or a warm coral flamingo, both with glowing orbs that run on solar power! The panels save up the sunlight during the day, and then the solar power is used to light the orbs at night. This is the perfect addition to gardens that do a lot of evening entertaining!

Boy & Girl on Bench Garden Statue

We just had Valentine’s Day, but how cute is this bench garden statue? Reminiscent of the old Precious Moments knick-knacks, this statue is a cute addition to any garden décor. This detailed statue is durable cold cast ceramic, so it will surely outlast every plant in your garden! Set it up near your flowerbeds for the perfect effect.

Hanging Animal Bird Feeders

Do you like the sound of birds chirping in your garden? Are you always trying to feed your feathered friends? Whether you’re a bonafide bird-watcher or not, these great hanging bird feeders are perfect for every bird lover. Coming in a number of different animal shapes, including a frog, fish, and ladybug, these great feeders add the perfect touch of fun to any garden design.

Pocket Hose Ultra

Now that we’ve got the garden décor items covered, it’s time to talk about function! We love this pocket hose, which is available in both 50-foot and 75-foot versions. This clever hose features and expanding accordion design, so it fits perfectly in small spaces, but expands when in use. Made from rubber, nylon, and plastic, it is stronger than traditional hoses, and never kinks or knots while you’re trying to use it! When the dry summer weather arrives, you’ll be so glad you ordered one of these!

Buying the Best Computer for Your Family’s Needs: A Brief Guide

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Shop-for-a-computerWith all of the options available today, buying a computer can seem like an overwhelming purchase that you’re never 100 percent sure of. This is especially true if you’re buying one that has to meet the wants and needs of everyone in the family household. Whether it’s your children playing video games or you reading the news and checking your email, there’s a computer out there to satisfy your preferences.

With that said, here’s how to buy the best computer for your family.

Decide Between a Mac and a PC

Although most computers are similar on the inside, the debate between which one is superior continues—and likely will for years to come. If you’re thinking about your family and your budget, though, it’s good to know that Macs generally cost more (they use quality materials and include a state-of-the-art design).

With that said, Mac only carries five computer lines including the Macbook Air, the Mac mini, the Macbook Pro, the Mac Pro, and the iMac. PCs, however, come in a variety of shapes and sizes for a cheaper price. With more options to consider without the hefty price tag, PC could very well be the way to go.

OK, so deciding which to choose isn’t exactly easy, so check out this article that dives more in depth when comparing the two popular computer brands. Doing so will help you save time and anguish.

Decide Between a Desktop and a Laptop

Generally speaking, a desktop computer will feature higher performance specs than a laptop within the same price range. If you have kids that are into high-end gaming, or high-performance photo or video editing software, then you’ll likely want to opt for a desktop computer.

Although your need for speed may attract you to buy a desktop computer, especially if it’s a computer that the family will be using in the household, you might want to consider a laptop for portability purposes and if your everyday requirements are minimal (like checking email or surfing the web). Not only that, but you can find laptop deals at just about any store you choose to shop at for your computer needs.

Here’s another informative article that’ll give you further insight about whether to buy a desktop or a laptop.

Decide Which Software You Want Included

Another feature to consider when purchasing a computer is what kind of programs it comes with, without you having to buy additional software. Here are some standard apps that newer Macs and PCs offer their consumers.

Mac:

  • Safari. The standard Internet browser that comes with Macs.
  • Mail. Works with iCloud, Yahoo!, Gmail, AOL, and Microsoft Exchange.
  • Mac App Store. What to purchase an additional app? This is where you’ll do it.
  • iPhoto. Offers everything you need to do everything you want with your pictures.
  • iMovie. Edit and share your videos.
  • GarageBand. If someone in your household has an ear for music, GarageBand can help them create it.
  • Pages. This is essentially Mac’s version of Word.
  • Numbers. This is essentially Mac’s version of Excel.

Click here for a more comprehensive list of built-in apps found on new Macs.

PC:

  • Internet Explorer. Yes, Windows is still unfortunately using this browser by default.
  • Mail. Works with Hotmail, Outlook, and Gmail.
  • The Windows Store. If you want or need additional apps, this is where you’ll go.
  • Photos. Using this app, you can view photos stored in your SkyDrive, Flickr, or Facebook account online.
  • Xbox Video. Xbox-branded video app lets you play your own videos.
  • Microsoft Suite. The industry standard when it comes to creating documents and crunching numbers.

Click here for a more comprehensive list of built-in app found on new PCs.

Decide on the Specifications You Want

Deciding which specs you want your computer to have depends on what you want to use it for. There’s a range of factors to consider that’ll influence how fast your want your computer to run and how much memory it has. The more you feed it, the larger the price tag. Here’s a great resource for crafting your perfect computer spec list.

Decide on Warranties and Accessories

Once you’ve picked out a computer that’ll fit your family’s needs, you’ll likely either browse through the numerous accessories you can buy for it or approach the cash register and get asked whether you want a warranty. This is all subjective, but here are some things to keep in mind when deciding whether to fork out the money for a warranty.

With all this in mind, what kind of computer do you plan on purchasing?