Key Takeaways
- Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving, offering some of the biggest online shopping deals of the year.
- Create a list, check reviews, compare prices, and watch for hidden costs to maximize savings.
- Use cashback sites, promotional codes, and shopping apps to stack discounts and save more.
- Shop only what you need and avoid debt by staying within your budget during the shopping season.
In the United States, Cyber Monday is observed on the first Monday after Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday. The phrase "Cyber Monday" was framed by marketing companies to tempt people to shop online. This term was designed by Ellen Davis and launched on November 28, 2005, in a press release by Shop.org.
The Internet has made Cyber Monday extremely popular. It won't be wrong to say that Cyber Monday gives fierce competition to Black Friday and Thanksgiving Day with regards to shopping. It gives a chance to online retailers to make profits in the festive season.
The experts predict that this year, amidst the pandemic situation, Cyber Monday sales will hit about $10 billion. This would be a slight increase from $9.4 billion in 2019. About 90% of retailers offer some kind of promotion during this period. The deals usually start from Thanksgiving Day and continue till Cyber Monday, and maybe a few more days in certain cases.
Introduction to Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday Facts:
- When: First Monday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday in the United States
- Origin: Created by Ellen Davis, launched November 28, 2005 by Shop.org
- 2019 Record: Cyber Monday broke all sales records with $9.4 billion in revenue
- Participation: About 90% of retailers offer some kind of promotion during this period
Are you ready to save a good amount of your paycheck this Cyber Monday? The Internet has made this shopping event extremely popular, giving fierce competition to Black Friday. It gives online retailers a chance to make profits in the festive season while shoppers can grab fantastic deals from the comfort of their homes.
15 Unique Tips to Save Money
Are you ready to save a good amount of your paycheck this Cyber Monday? Get smart tips from these proven strategies:
1. Create a List and Check It Twice
Make a list of items, recipients, and contact details if purchasing gifts for the holidays. Check the list multiple times to avoid accidentally buying too many gifts for one person and forgetting others. Note contact details to take advantage of shipping deals on Cyber Monday.
2. Pay Attention to Verbal Marketing
Take advantage of what people say. Use online shopping portals like fatwallet.com and slickdeals.com to save big. Pay attention to verbal marketing and what people are posting about different products on various shopping websites.
3. Buy Only What You Need and Not What You See
Your goal on Cyber Monday is to purchase products at a low price. Don't purchase items that are of no use to you. If you're getting something at a low price, think if you actually need it. If you won't use it in the near future, spend your money on things you'll value more.
4. Purchase Products at a Good Price
Check your list before surfing the Internet. Aim to buy required items at the best price. Visit ConsumerReports.org to find good products and check current prices. Then visit websites to compare your requirements with the prices offered.
5. Sign Up to Get the Best Offers
Cyber Monday deals and discounts are only available for a limited time. Make sure you don't miss out. Sign up to get emails directly from the retailers to stay informed about special offers.
6. Check Out the Reviews Before You Buy
Product reviews are a great help to save money. Before indulging in buying anything, check out different shopping portals for reviews. You can get quality reviews from amazon.com and other platforms.
7. Notice the Hidden Costs
Don't be too attracted to deals with very low prices. Shipping costs, sales tax, and other additional costs can increase the cost significantly. Watch out for hidden costs. Never assume the displayed price is the actual cost—it may not include additional fees. Find out the true cost before purchasing.
8. Shop from Product-Specific Sites
Look for items at product-specific websites. Sites like pronto.com have databases for fashion, home, and kids' stuff, while shopping.com and bizrate.com offer best prices on bigger items. Price comparison websites like PriceGrabber and Yahoo Shopping sort through listings and mark best deals.
9. Look for Discount Sites
Visit smartbargains.com and overstock.com to snatch good deals on branded items from previous seasons, store closeouts, or refurbished electronics.
10. Sign Up to Get Price Alerts
Sign up for websites like zappos.com to get notifications about price reductions. PricePinx bookmarklet also helps keep a record of changing prices so you can buy at the best time.
11. Opt for a Promotional Code
Promotional codes can save you dollars. Google words like "coupon code" or "promotion code" along with the shopping website name. You can also find promotional codes on retailmenot.com.
12. Analyze Shipping Costs
If you're a shopaholic, sign up for a shipping subscription service to save on costs. For instance, ShopRunner members get free two-day shipping and free return shipping for holiday gifts. You can pick up free shipping coupons from freeshipping.org.
13. Take Advantage of Cashback
Websites such as fatwallet.com, shopathome.com, and ebates.com offer shoppers cashback on online purchases besides retailer discounts. Check your credit and store cards to redeem points for additional cashback.
14. Assemble and Save Coupons
Coupons can save a good deal for you. Try to save more coupons to get more benefits. Consumer money experts note that "Stacking coupons is when a retailer allows you to use more than one coupon on the same offer."
15. Be the First Person in the Virtual Line
Some items are offered only in limited quantities. This means you'll have to be first in the virtual line to grab the deal. Watch out for the words "limited supply." If you see this, find out when the sale starts and be prepared—even if it means waking up at 3 AM to grab an item at the lowest price.
Where to Search for Cyber Monday Sales
Many websites will offer you great deals and discounts on Cyber Monday. Grasp some refreshing deals at these online shopping portals:
Top Cyber Monday Shopping Sites:
- nrf.com/insights/holiday-and-seasonal-trends
- amazon.com
- ebay.com
- walmart.com
- bestbuy.com
- dealnews.com
- savings.com
- gottadeal.com
- retailmenot.com
- etsy.com
- half.com
- couponcabin.com
- shoprunner.com
- rakuten.com
- freeshipping.org
These are just to name a few. You can search online to find lots more websites offering good discounts from Thanksgiving Day to Cyber Monday, and even a few days more.
Cyber Monday: 4 Cool Apps to Shop On
You can download certain cool apps on your smartphones or tablets for hassle-free shopping. Some of the best options are:
Savings
This one is free and easy to handle. With the help of this app, it's feasible to get the latest coupon codes, compare prices with various retail sites, and more.
BuyVia
This app has customizable features to help you select products you're willing to buy. It notifies you when items are on sale and brings all your favorite websites together to compare shipping costs.
Cently (Coupons at Checkout)
Install this app to find coupon codes easily. Just type the name of your preferred retailer and the app hunts for available discount code savings automatically.
RetailMeNot
RetailMeNot is easily navigable. It searches the Internet and provides you with the best deals. Only you need to enter a retailer's name and RetailMeNot does the rest.
Important reminder: Try not to spend more, especially since all of us are going through a tough time battling the pandemic situation. It is better not to fall into debt and stay within your limits even during the shopping season.
However, if you're struggling with debt and thinking about how to repay payday loan debt and credit card debt, you can enroll in a payday loan settlement program or a credit card settlement program and solve your debt issues fast. By doing so, you can make your financial life happy.
Struggling with Shopping Debt?
If Cyber Monday or holiday shopping has left you with debt, our certified counselors can help you create a plan to get back on track.
Related Articles
Good Nelly
Shopping & Finance Expert
Good Nelly is a Shopping & Finance Expert who helps consumers navigate major shopping events like Cyber Monday and Black Friday. With expertise in finding the best deals, comparing prices, and avoiding shopping debt, Good Nelly provides practical advice to help people save money while staying financially responsible.