Today is the day. The day that many of you online shoppers have been waiting for. The Olympics of online shopping. Cyber Monday. This morning, evening, and afternoon, shoppers from all over the world will trade standing in line for one-click buying. With so many places to buy, check, and see the best deals, how can you make sure that you make the most of your Cyber Monday? And, better yet, get the most bang for your buck. Today we are walking you through some tips that all Cyber Monday shoppers can trust.
Have It Mapped Out
Yes, it can be great just to browse online to see what is on sale, but that is not what Cyber Monday is for. Make sure that you have a game plan and list of what you need going into this day. Have sites that you purposefully want to visit, and gifts that you specifically search for. Because everything is on sale, you don’t have time to get distracted by that matching dog and human pajama set.
Sign Up
I hate pesky emails from retailers, stores, and corporations as much as anyone, but before Cyber Monday, make sure that you sign up to get those emails. Many of your favorite stores will provide additional discounts through online email codes. Don’t miss out on even more savings because you didn’t want your inbox to get cluttered. You can click unsubscribe tomorrow after you have taken advantage of all the sales.
Follow
Another great way to hear about all the deals and ways you can save on your favorite brands is to be following them on social media. They will most likely spend most of today, and most of the days leading up to Cyber Monday, posting about the sales they will be offering. I would suggest checking Twitter and Facebook first, and then checking Instagram and Pinterest.
Research, Research, Research
Don’t go into Cyber Monday unprepared about what your favorite retailers are offering.
Check to see what the return policies are, and how long you have to return something if it doesn’t work or fit. Make sure that these return policies extend after Christmas if you are getting this gift for someone you love.
Check to see if there is free shipping. One of the biggest perks by far of Cyber Monday is getting that free shipping. If your favorite store isn’t offering it, it might not be worth it to spend a ton of money there on Cyber Monday.
Check everything before you check out. Double check on the size, shape, and how many of one item you are ordering. You don’t want to hit the buy button and then realize you’ve just made a huge mistake.
Check with several sites. If you are looking for something that you can find in multiple stores, check the price of that item on various sites. Make sure that you have seen the lowest price before you commit.
Set A Budget
It can be easy, especially when you see all the deals, to go crazy. But, don’t let yourself get carried away this Cyber Monday. Set a firm budget and stick to it. Christmas shopping can be lots of fun, but you don’t want to be paying for your gifts long after the holidays have ended. I would suggest creating a budget, but then having a $20-$50 dollar grace period. This is for if you see something, you just have to buy for someone or yourself. You are not going to be in a ton of trouble if you go slightly over budget, and by budgeting for those extra dollars, you won’t have to go into debt.
Be Alert
Unfortunately using an online shopping site isn’t always foolproof. People can easily steal your identity and credit card number through your online purchases. Make sure that the sites where you are shopping are safe and reliable. In the days after buying online, make sure that you monitor your bank account and credit card bill for any suspicious activity. Hopefully, your bank can catch anything unusual, but it never hurts to have an extra set of eyes. Also, make sure that you are tracking when your package is arriving. If you have not received a confirmation email that your item was purchased or shipped, contact the retailer shop after a couple of days. You don’t want to miss out on the deal of a lifetime just because of technical difficulties.
I hope that these tips can help you as you shop your way through this Cyber Monday! Share your favorite deals with us below.
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