The Daily Valet. - 12/16/20, Wednesday

✔️ Let's Talk Holiday Spending

December 16, 2020

Wednesday, December 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Don’t let me (or Tom Cruise) catch you without a mask on ...

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Let’s Talk Holiday Spending

And how to keep your gift buying and end-of-year finances in check

In this highly unusual holiday season, many consumers have said they plan to spend their money differently—both by choice and by circumstance.

According to CNBC, nearly 40% of Americans will be spending less on gifts this holiday season than they did last year, the largest such share since 2013. With all income groups represented, the wealthiest Americans will be holding back the most when it comes to actual dollars spent (there goes that boat I asked for).

Not surprisingly, the majority of us are planning to purchase online instead of masking up and trying to brave brick-and-mortar shops. Analysts now predict that the boost in online shopping is here to stay even when the pandemic recedes.

So what exactly are holiday shoppers hunting down this year? Using data from a survey they conducted, Reviews.org put together this graph that shows the average amount of money people are spending on various gift categories. According to their research, Americans will be gifting over $1,865 in presents this year.

If you’re a little worried about holiday budgeting and keeping your finances straight going into the New Year, you’re in luck. CNBC’s Sharon Epperson tackles some simple and practical tips.

↦ FYI: U.S. households across the board built up savings during the pandemic, but low-income households are burning through their cash more quickly.

U.S. Vaccinations Ramp Up

Fauci says we could see signs of herd immunity by late March or early April

Hundreds more hospitals around the country began dispensing COVID-19 shots to their workers in a rapid expansion of the U.S. vaccination drive Tuesday, while a second vaccine moved to the cusp of government authorization, reports the Associated Press.

The FDA's panel of outside experts is expected to recommend the formula on Thursday, with the FDA's green light most likely coming on Friday. That will give millions of Americans access to a second coronavirus vaccine beginning as early as next week.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's senior official for infectious diseases, told NPR that the U.S. could begin to achieve early stages of herd immunity against the virus by late spring. And if that happens, Fauci anticipates, “we could really turn this thing around” toward the end of 2021.

To ensure we get as many people inoculated as possible, the Trump administration is negotiating a deal to free up supplies of raw materials to help Pfizer produce tens of millions of additional doses of its vaccine for Americans in the first half of next year, reports the New York Times.

↦ Meanwhile: The FDA has authorized the first rapid, over-the-counter home coronavirus test.

Special Promotion

Ready to get back in shape? “If you have a pulse, you can benefit from creatine.”

Good News for Conservation

A list of successful efforts making a difference

Without a doubt, 2020 will go down in the history books marred as a less than stellar year. It brought protests and wildfires and a divisive election all under the umbrella of a global pandemic. It forced us to hunker down and socially isolate.

But quietly dotted throughout the 366 days of this chaotic leap year were a number of important findings and successes that showed that there are reasons to be optimistic for our planet.

According to Smithsonian magazine, this year brought about a somewhat surprising amount of planet-friendly wins, from discoveries of new species and the return of those thought long gone, to new indigenous-led protected areas. Similarly the National Audubon Society reports that their conservation work throughout the year protected vulnerable birds and the places they need to thrive.

↦ FYI: Unfortunately, despite strides in progress, 31 species went extinct in 2020.

Creating “The Only Loafer That Matters”

Just don’t call it podcast merch

Lawrence Schlossman and James Harris, the style insiders who host the Throwing Fits podcast, have long been singing the praises of the post-sneaker world.

Now, they've partnered with Brooklyn-based footwear brand Blackstock & Weber for a suede slip-on dubbed The Only Loafer That Matters, which has a lot of menswear dudes talking and ponying up for the pre-sale.

“When you live and breathe loafers like James and I do, you can't help but constantly think about the ultimate style you wish you had in your rotation,” as Lawrence told me. “So when the opportunity came to put the proverbial pen to pad with one of our favorite new brands, we had no choice but to cook up the one grail that had been missing.”

The bench-made, storm-welted Goodyear constructed loafers are made in a fourth-generation Northampton, U.K. factory and topped with a trio of Tuscan suedes, then finished off with a polished brass horsebit made in Japan. As James aptly points out: “the damn thing should have a passport.” I'd love to see more of this—creators making their “perfect” versions of the items they care about the most. And it's a much cooler way to be a friend of the pod.

↦ Dig Deeper: Vulture presents the year in podcasting: coronavirus, consolidation and collective bargaining.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The year’s best memes

Tom Cruise

Life coach advice

Special Promotion

Your Workout Secret Weapons

What creatine and collagen can do for your muscle gains, joint health and recovery

If you’re planning on getting into the shape this winter, than you might be thinking about supplements. After all, even those who eat clean and workout regularly could benefit from supplementing their diet with extra nutrients. But which ones are worth the hype? We asked Momentous Performance Engineer and co-founder of Allegiate gym Tim Caron. His short answer: “Anyone interested in feeling better, looking better, or performing better should be taking creatine and collagen.”

Performance Creatineby Momentous ($50)

Creatine is a natural peptide found in the human body in muscle tissue and in the brain. “I use it for both performance and health reasons,” says Caron. “It keeps our phosphate levels high, which in turn contributes to our ability to maintain a consistent stream of energy production.” And a 2017 study for the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that creatine supplements not only enhance an athletes' performance but also aid with post-exercise recovery. Researchers found that it's safe to take regularly and the consistently reported side effect of weight gain is solely from muscle, not fat, helping increase lean body mass.

Collagen Peptidesby Momentous ($55)

Collagen is often referred to as “the body’s scaffolding,” because it’s a protein that forms the connective tissue throughout our body. Caron says it’s a valuable tool for both recovery and for people with joint-connective tissue issues. “In my world they are one in the same—joint pain and recovery are interconnected.” Supplementing with collagen peptides helps regenerate the joint and the connective tissues around the body. According to a 2019 review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, taking collagen supplements for several months can improve signs of aging while relieving stiff joints and sports-related joint pain. He also says it has a strong impact on hair, skin and nails which are great indicators of overall health. Because when you look good you feel good and vice versa, right?

↦ Learn More about Momentous

Special Promotion

Give Some Timeless Sneakers

Nailing the perfect gift can be a difficult challenge during the holidays, but a good pair of shoes is all but guaranteed to land—every time. SeaVees is one of our go-to footwear brands because of their durable, stylish and responsibly made footwear. Founder, Steven Tiller, brought this 1960s brand back to life after a chance encounter with a vintage SeaVees in a Tokyo thrift store. Now the brand is making footwear that's intentionally simple, purposefully timeless and consciously crafted. And if you've already wrapped up your gifting this year, then you deserve to treat yourself. Especially if you've been given some cash or have a gift card burning a hole in your pocket. To sweeten the deal, SeaVees has extended an exclusive discount code for Valet. readers. Just enter VALET30 at checkout for 30% off.

Darby suede sneaker in ivy, $98 / $68.60

SeaVees California Special Lace-Up Suede Sneaker in Desert

California Special lace-up suede sneaker in desert, $110 / $77

Legend sneaker in tartan plaid, $98 / $68.60

SeaVees Legend Cordies Sneaker in Pacific Blue

Legend cordies sneaker in pacific blue, $88 / $61.60

SeaVees Hawthorne Slip On in Words Matter Print

Hawthorne slip-on in Words Matter print, $95 / $66.50

SeaVees Huntington Middie Suede Slip-On in Greyboard

Huntington middie suede slip-on in greyboard, $100 / $70

↦ Browse More Gifts from SeaVees

Special Promotion

The Best Tech Gifts for Everyone on Your List

It can be hard to shop for the people on your list who are gadget and tech-inclined. They know the latest and greatest stuff on the market, so you don’t want to give them something they’d think is outdated. But there are also so many amazing products on offer that will all but guarantee a pleased early adopter on your gift list. And right now, Dell is currently offering deals on a wide range of the latest technology and brands. But stock and prices are changing quickly, so click through today and grab that deal now.