I am not a fan of Black Friday in-store sales. Not because I don’t love a good deal—it’s because I don’t love crowds or physically trying to grab the last My Little Singing Gorilla Elf or whatever toy is all the rage on any given year. I’m more of a Cyber Monday fan because I can snag deals from the comfort of wherever I happen to be, don’t have to deal with overzealous bargain shoppers cutting in front of me, never have to wait in line to check out, don’t have to worry about getting pickpocketed, and don't worry that I could have gotten a better deal at a different retailer.
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Cyber Monday can be all kinds of fun for people who like to score great deals without breaking a sweat. There are some tips you need to know about, though, in order to get the most bang for your buck and to stay safe. Check out the following tips to save big this Cyber Monday and to make sure you stay safe from any shady sites.
Set a budget and stick to it.
I know, I know, this isn't a fun tip, but you'll thank me in the new year when you aren't struggling to figure out how to pay off credit card balances. It’s easy to get excited about deals and charge up more than you can actually afford to spend. If you start off knowing how much you can afford to spend and keep a running tally, then it’s easier not to go into the red. OK, that's enough lecturing.
Take advantage of free shipping offers.
I’m not gonna sugarcoat it: Paying for shipping sucks. Many retailers add free shipping as a perk this time of year. But before you start adding items to your cart, make sure you know if you have to spend a certain amount to get shipping included. I would stay away from any sites that don’t offer free shipping on most items, because it adds up quickly.
Have your favorite shops on speed dial.
I’m kidding about the speed dial. But do bookmark all your favorite online stores so when it’s time to shop, you don’t get flustered and forget where you’re going. You can put all of your Cyber Monday must-visit sites in their own folder so you can get to them quickly.
Compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
It can be tedious to go from site to site to see which one is offering what you want for less. Instead of doing it yourself, use a price comparison tool. Capital One Shopping has a browser extension that you can use to find the best price on items.
Stick to using credit cards.
Credit cards offer better fraud protection than debit cards. To keep yourself from having to pay interest, make sure you pay off your credit card balance immediately by using the money you already set aside in your budget.
Use coupon codes the easy way.
Searching for coupon codes can be tedious, but there are tools like the Capital One Shopping extension and Honey that will do all the work for you. All you do is shop, and when you go to check out, these tools will enter coupon codes for you to see if you got the best deal possible.
Be a night owl or an early bird.
If you know you want something that is likely to sell out fast, either stay up late until the Cyber Monday item you want goes on sale or get up a few minutes before it goes on sale so that you are one of the first people to purchase it. Sleep on Cyber Monday is for people who want to pay full price.
Use official store apps on your mobile device.
My husband hates using store apps and would rather visit websites on his phone’s browser. The thing is, official verified store apps are safer when shopping on your phone. Make sure you are downloading the apps from the App Store or Google Play Store and not some random place, though.
Lastly, keep an eye on your accounts.
You should always, always be checking your statements and purchase history on bank accounts, debit cards, and credit cards. During busy shopping times for you like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, you should be checking very carefully to make sure there aren’t purchases on there that you didn’t make.
