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One of the most popular toys today is a remote control or RC toy. These toys allow a child to use a joystick or something similar to control the motions of the toy. The most common RC toy is a remote control vehicle. You can find these in just about every shape and size imaginable, from a tank to a motorcycle.

However, the one drawback to such a toy is often the price. These toys can range in value from under twenty dollars to several hundred dollars. There are a few ways you can save money on these toys and here are some tips to help you.

Visit the Mega Size Toy Stores

Many of the larger toy stores will buy products in bulk and pass their savings onto the customer. You will usually find a larger selection of RC toys as well. Most will have weekly or monthly sales and you can check the ads in your local paper to plan your shopping accordingly.

Shop During the Holidays

One of the best times to shop for remote control toys is during the holiday season. This is when all of the good sales happen and when quite a few newly released toys hit the market. There are always huge sales right after the holiday as well. This can be a great time to pick up a birthday present or two.

Visit a Hobby Store

Remote control toys arent just for kids. Many adults consider them a hobby and spend thousands of dollars each year on keeping up with the latest developments. The hobby stores that serve this segment of the population are a terrific place to look for these toys. You can find new toys, used toys, and parts for repairs. Best of all, you can usually get some great advice on using your remote control toys.

Browse the Net

Online shopping isnt just for clothes! You will find entire websites dedicated to remote control toys. If you find a toy that you like, take a moment and look for a coupon code. These online discount codes can offer a wide range of ways to save some money, such as with codes for free shipping or a percentage of your total purchase.

Stores such as NitroRCX, offer both types of codes. This lets you choose which one can save you the most money. Nitro Planes gives you free shipping on all of their replacement parts. As quickly as shipping charges seem to rise, these can result in a significant amount of cash in your pocket.

In Closing

Remote control toys are a fun pastime for many people, but often the cost of the toy can be a drawback. With the above tips, you can find several ways to save that money. Shop online and use an online discount code. Check out the nearest remote control toy stores. For children, shop the large chain toy stores at or after the holidays. You can save on remote control toys!

Creative Landscaping with Railroad TiesArticle by Jack StoneCopyright 2003 by ProGardenBizProGardenBiz, an online magazinehttp://www.progardenbiz.comDid you know that people are still using railroad ties for all sorts of decorative and functional purposes throughout their landscapes? You didn’t? Well, where have you been? Railroad ties are used by landscape contractors as a main design component of landscaping both homes and businesses. The use of railroad ties make work easier for grounds maintenance.Before we talk about all the great things you can do with railroad ties let’s talk about how easy and inexpensive they are to use when compared to various brick and block structures. The nicest thing about railroad ties is the ease with which they can be used. It requires much less skill to construct a retaining wall of ties than one of block. For one thing you don’t have to be overly concerned about perfectly straight lines. While railroad ties may cost as much as brick or block per square foot to purchase they cost only 1/4th the time in labor to install. Consider how much money that could save, especially if you have to subcontract out the brick or block work to a mason.Creative uses of railroad ties are limited only by your imagination. They can be stacked horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. They can be staggered front to back or top to bottom. They can border lawns as a mowing strip or set off ground cover from gravel beds. They can be used as risers for stairs or as terraces on a slope.-How about a walkway or driveway? How about a fence? Stand them upright and spaced 3″ to 6″ apart. Or, stand them upright on a diagonal so that from one angle they appear to be a solid wall but from another afford a view. Cut them into 2 foot lengths and create a basket weave walkway. Why stop there? How about a jumbled collection of short sections stacked amongst some boulders or to frame a flower bed? Have a steep hill that’s slowly washing away? Terrace it with a series of short retaining walls. Tired of the boring expanse of iceplant on a slope? Break it up with groupings of railroad ties.Separate irrigation areas (i.e. lawns, flower beds, and trees). Stand one upright and stick a mail box on it or a concrete seagull! Better yet you can make some real nice walkway lights. Use railroad ties to define- water effects like ponds or fountains. Ties can be integrated into waterscapes as well as landscapes.Maintenance gardeners appreciate the use of railroad ties to divide lawn areas from the garden areas because of the durable nature of the tie. The use of ties around parking areas will protect your sprinklers from damage. Mowing and edging along ties is easy with a line trimmer and saves time on lawn maintenance.If you have your own growing grounds for nusery plants then loose ties can be easily used for dividing areas and controlling invasive weeds.All it takes to install railroad ties is a hammer, some chisels and gouges, and a heavy drill with a long sharp boring bit.-There! That should give you a few ideas. See? Railroad ties can be used for all sorts of things.Railroad ties come in many different shapes, sizes and grades. These factors can be very important in determining the price of the ties. Not all railroad ties are the same. Some come rough cut and others are smooth and even-cornered. Some are pressure treated and creosoted while others are only creosoted. When ordering or selecting railroad ties measure their height, depth, and length to make sure that they meet your planned specifications. Nothing can be more frustrating then to have ties that are two inches shorter than you planned.The creative use of railroad ties will enhance your landscapes, decrease your labor costs in grounds maintenance, and are easy to work with and install.Think of using railroad ties on your next landscaping project.__________________________________________About the Author:Jack Stone is a Contributing Editor for ProGardenBiz Magazine,an online magazine for professional gardeners and landscapecontractors. Visit ProGardenBiz to find out how you can get a free subscription, start-up guidance, business ideas andinspiration at http://www.progardenbiz.com.__________________________________________You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included.Must be published complete with no changes. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.