Now customers can also use their M-Pesa accounts to pay bills, make purchases or pay for services like taxis.

VOA: special.2009.11.02

Facebook announced Facebook Gifts, which lets users make purchases for friends directly through the social network.

CNN: Twitter and Amex to let you pay with a hashtag

If you need to make purchases for your business, writing them off immediately is much more attractive than depreciating them over time.

FORBES: What To Buy And Expense Before Year End

Reports from weekend shopping patterns and our data suggest we might see something similar this year because people may be more inclined to make purchases for themselves, rather than gifts.

FORBES: Holiday Shopping May Look a Lot Like 2009