While many of us plan our shopping for Black Friday, the spree continues with Cyber Monday so it is essential to shop smart during the holiday season. Cyber Monday is the online shopping holiday that takes place the Monday after Thanksgiving. It has surpassed Black Friday and has become the biggest single shopping day of the holiday season. According to 2021 data, Cyber Monday sales amounted to $10.7 billion whereas Black Friday sales were $8.9 billion.
Because of the rise of such shopping phenomenons, you will be able to find deals across all platforms and on all products including cosmetics, technology, and even furniture. The main difference between Cyber Monday Shopping and Black Friday shopping is that the former is mainly designed for online shopping whereas the latter exclusively belongs to the retail shopping arena.
Listed below are some smart shopping tips for Black Friday 2022 and Cyber Monday 2022:
Start shopping early
Sales have already begun in many stores which means you don’t have to wait for Black Friday to start shopping. There are offers in every category and many products have return policies as well. If you don’t like any product you purchased on arrival, you can easily return or exchange it for another product.
Opt for online shopping
There is no denying that there are great Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday deals available in person. However, the offers may be more when you shop online. Furthermore, you can also shop on multiple sites in one sitting instead of covering just a couple of stores in a day when you shop in person.
Have a backup plan
When you are looking for a specific item, make sure you check that item on more than one site. Keep it ready in your cart and wait for the price to drop. However, if your favorite item goes out of stock, you can still buy them on other websites.
Use cash-back apps
Cutting back on expenses can be difficult during the holiday season. There are apps out there that will help you earn your cash back in small amounts and these apps even help you find discounts. With these apps, you can save as much money as possible.
Avoid clothes, makeup and footwear on Black Friday
Save these things for Cyber Monday as they have better deals during that time. Avoid buying jewelry during both days and hold it off till Valentine’s Day.
Shop tech on Black Friday
If you’re buying a TV, then Black Friday always has the biggest discounts. Low-priced TVs are made especially for the purpose of Black Friday sales. Keep on the lookout for the best model and steer away from cheap models.
Plan a shopping strategy
Plan ahead of time the things you want to buy. Compare the prices across all e-commerce platforms and add them to your cart. Avoid unnecessary purchases. Shopping can be tempting. It’s best to shop mindfully and not let temptation get the better of you.
Shop from reliable sites
Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day in the United States. It has its own set of pros and cons. Attackers are always on the hunt to exploit customers by creating fraudulent sites and by sending fake emails. Beware of these sites and only shop from websites you have already purchased from. If an offer looks too good to be true, it definitely is. Don’t be fooled by it.
Do your own research on the internet before you shop online and offline. Think twice before you click on the links that you receive during the holiday season. Keep a tab on your credit card and bank statements regularly. By being smart while you shop, you can get better deals at inexpensive prices on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
