5 mistakes to avoid to improve your Cyber Monday shopping

5 mistakes to avoid to improve your Cyber Monday shopping

Cyber Monday is the best time to shop online. Shopping websites are ripe with deals and discounts on everything under the sun. You could shop for electronics, clothing, home appliances, pet products, and more. That being said, shopping online is not always an easy task, and it’s especially not easy on Cyber Monday. So, here are five things that you should avoid doing to enhance your online shopping experience on Cyber Monday.

Shopping just because there are deals
One of the biggest mistakes you could make on Cyber Monday is simply purchasing things because they are on sale. This will completely wreck your budget. Not to mention, buying something that was not on your priority list could mean that you may have to skip out on something that was actually on your Cyber Monday shopping list. This could be because you’ve spent all your money or missed the deals slot while shopping for something else. It can be very tempting to buy many different things on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But, it is up to you to ensure that you stay the course and only buy what you’re looking for.

Shopping on websites you have never used before
Another big no-no when shopping on Cyber Monday is shopping on websites you are unfamiliar with. This can help protect you from scams and fraud and ensure that whatever you’re purchasing is the right product and gets to you on time. Do not fall for any slick new websites you have never used or heard of. Stick to your usual shopping websites or use the actual brand website if you’re shopping for certain electronics or clothing. If you do want to use a new website to shop on Cyber Monday for any reason, you can check out their online reviews and complaints. You also need to ensure that the website is protected. One of the ways to do this is to check the URL. If your website is secure, it will have “HTTPS” in the web link.

Shopping without setting a budget
When shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it is easy to knowingly and unknowingly overspend. This can lead to you having to cut down on items you did not want to purchase or spend a lot more out of your pocket. Maxing out your credit card now can only mean that you have to pay for it later. If you use your credit card for shopping, you may also have to pay interest on your future payments. This will mean wiping out all of your savings on the Cyber Monday deals.

Shop with shipping costs in mind
Cyber Monday deals are usually available online. This means that you may have to spend on shopping costs. But, of course, you can find ways to work around these costs. Some brands and shopping websites will offer free shipping if your purchase total exceeds a certain value. In such cases, you can find multiple products and items you want from that particular seller. This will allow you to unlock the free shipping option. This is better than getting a better deal on another website but spending more due to shipping costs.

Shopping without online cashback portals, plug-ins, and apps
Cyber Monday is all about finding the best deals and discounts online. Many online applications and plug-ins, such as honey, can help you find the best coupons for a particular website. Some of these even apply the coupon code so you don’t miss out on the savings. Many of these applications also offer you cashback or rewards that can be redeemed later when you use them. This means you won’t only be saving money due to the Cyber Monday deal but also making money for using these applications.

Some other must-dos for Cyber Monday shopping are paying attention to the deals and discounts, being unprepared for shopping deals, and not sticking to a shopping list.

Next Read

Top 5 brands that offer early bird Cyber Monday deals

With the shopping season approaching, everyone’s excited about grabbing the best deals for themselves. While Cyber Monday happens to fall on November 28 this year, it is possible to beat the crowds to the best deals by shopping early. Several stores have already begun their Cyber Monday deals and discounts to help you stock up before everything gets sold out. Here are five early bird Cyber Monday deals one can get right now: Adidas Stock up on everything from the trendiest sneakers to sportswear, socks, and athleisure with Adidas’ early bird sale. The sports brand is well-renowned for its range of quality clothes, shoes, and accessories. The second-largest sportswear brand in the world, the Adidas three-stripe is easily recognizable by everyone. Start shopping early for your fitness and sports needs with their early-bird Cyber Monday discounts.  BestBuy BestBuy is known to run fantastic deals on Cyber Monday on tech and small appliances like laptops, Chromebooks, FitBits, coffee machines, TVs, etc. They also run great weekly deals all year round, so it is advisable to check in before Cyber Monday to grab deals on appliances you’re looking to buy. Their outlet store also offers great deals on toys, games, refurbished electronics, and more, with an option to choose from clearance, open-box, refurbished, and pre-owned items. Nike Sportswear and athleisure lovers can rejoice as they get to pick early-bird discounts and deals from multiple brands. Nike is offering up to 40% off on a selected range of products so shoppers can stock up on their favorite shoes, accessories, and clothes well before Cyber Monday. For exclusive products, deals, additional discounts, and free shipping and returns, become a member and shop via the Nike app. Amazon Amazon’s Cyber Monday sales over the last few years have involved great deals on gadgets like Fire TV sticks, Fire tablets, Echo Smart speakers, Kindles, and other electronics, fashion, health, and beauty products. Keep an eye out for their daily deals section for some of the best deals which are available for a limited time. Keep checking for flash sales regularly to find the best deals for the products you are looking for. Bed, Bath & Beyond If you are looking to decorate your home or stock up on products for your kitchen, bathroom, dining hall, etc., the Bed, Bath & Beyond early-bird sale is for you. Offering incredible deals on everything from bedding, kitchen, home décor, and more, their early-bird Cyber Monday sale will ensure that you are prepared not only for the holiday season but also to ring in the New Year with a refreshed home. Their Cyber Monday deals offer incredible savings on comforter sets, quilt sets, and duvet cover sets in a variety of prints and colors, so you can find something that matches your aesthetic! They also offer great deals on stand mixers, slow cookers, coffee makers, vacuums, luggage sets, and more. Tech remains the cornerstone of most Cyber Monday sales, so expect to see staggering discounts on laptops, tablets, 4K TVs, phones, smart watches, gaming consoles, headphones, smart home devices, cameras, and other appliances. Whether you choose to shop early or wait until Cyber Monday to complete your shopping list, it is recommended that you do your research beforehand. Know what you are looking for and set a budget for it, along with shortlisting alternatives. For tech products like laptops and Chromebooks, decide the features and power you’ll need and visit the respective brand websites well in advance to gauge what kind of offers to expect on Cyber Monday. To get the best deals, keep an open mind about what is going to be on sale. Being brand-agnostic will help you score serious discounts on similar products across brands.

Our Blogs

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

An investment advisor can be a game-changer. A capable advisor can help solve most of your financial issues and give you the best investment advice so that you can turn market situations to your favor. But, finding the right investment advisor is not easy. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while looking for the best investment advisor. Know what type of service you need First, you need to decide what kind of financial assistance you need. Do you need help picking investments? Or are you seeking advice on real estate, retirement, or insurance needs? Asking yourself these questions will help determine the type of investment advisor you are looking for. Nowadays, many people use a robo-advisor, which is as competent as a human investment advisor. A robo-advisor is great for investment management and other basic investments. But if you want substantial transformation in your money-situation, a human advisor is the viable option. Choose a fee-only advisor If you’ve decided to pick a human advisor, the next step is to choose the type of advisor: commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. If you’re planning something big financially, you must pick a fee-only advisor. Such advisors work for and get paid by other clients like you, so they always act in their clients’ best interest.
Read More
Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

With pension plans becoming more and more obsolete, retirement-focused investments have come to the fore in the past few years. Besides helping you fund your future, these valuable assets also provide incredible gains, and in some cases, constant income till the end of life. Since investing for retirement—and planning it—can prove to be challenging, we have put together a list of tips that may be helpful in the process. Assess your options Multiple investment vehicles are ideal for long-term gains and can return a sizable amount by the time you retire. Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, cash investments, annuities, and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are also good sources of high returns, although they depend on investor characteristics and risk aptitude. Saving money in certain tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k), individual retirement accounts (IRA), and brokerage accounts is also an option. Start early and young No one is ever too young to invest. It’s a healthy habit that can earn serious money in the long term, with even the smallest of investments capable of making a difference a few years down the line. Starting early gives your money time to grow and lets you accumulate more compound interest over a period of time.
Read More
4 popular credit cards for college students

4 popular credit cards for college students

A good credit score is essential as it can be a criterion for lucrative job prospects or renting an apartment. Moreover, a good credit score is an uncompromisable necessity while applying for a loan that has terms and conditions that favor you. To ensure that you have a good credit score, it is better to start building it young and early. One of the easiest ways to do so is by applying for a student credit card from prominent credit cards companies. Now, there are several credit cards companies that offer lucrative credit cards, making choosing the right one confusing. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the best credit cards companies that offer student credit cards. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: One of the biggest credit card companies in the country Bank of America offers a slew of benefits with its student credit card. With each dollar spent using this card, students can earn 1.5 points. This applies to purchases without any caps. The points can be redeemed as discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars, and vacation packages. There are no restrictions or blackout dates applicable for availing these discounts. With no foreign transaction fee or annual fee, the card allows one to earn nearly 25,000 points on spending about $1000 in the first 90 days.
Read More
What you must know about guaranteed business loans

What you must know about guaranteed business loans

If you’re looking for funding your small business with a loan, you’ll most likely come across the term “guaranteed business loans.” People often misunderstand this term as business loans that are guaranteed to be approved. But, this is not what guaranteed business loans means. To clarify the confusion, let’s understand what the term actually means, and discuss the most popular types of guaranteed business loans. What are guaranteed business loans? In simple terms, guaranteed business loans in the world of small business loans refer to loans that are secured or backed by a guarantee. The guarantee can be in the form of collateral, deposit, or an agreement. This essentially means that the lender is guaranteed to receive their money back even if the borrower fails to pay. When we talk about guaranteed business loans, we refer to loans with a personal guarantee or, more commonly, loans guaranteed by the small business administration (SBA). Let’s take a look at both these types. Personally guaranteed business loans As you understand from the term “personal,” when you make a personal guarantee on a business loan, you essentially agree to sell your assets to pay off the loan, if your business is unable to do so.
Read More
5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF

5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF

Exchange-traded funds (ETF) have been gaining popularity in the investment sector for some time now. Along with mutual funds, they have been one of the most preferred investment options among investors. With investors having pumped in billions of dollars in ETFs by now, these funds sure seem like a lucrative investment avenue. However, financial experts suggest treading this path carefully so as to avoid unforeseeable losses. Here are a few mistakes that you can avoid while investing in high dividend ETFs: Overlooking long-term investment Looking at long-term goals is the golden rule when it comes to any type of investment. However, seasoned investors invest in ETFs on a short-term basis through a type of trading called intraday trade. This type of trading allows the investors to buy and sell stocks and other investments on the same day. However, if not thought out carefully, investing in high dividend ETFs through intraday trading can result in lower returns and higher trading costs. Buying an ETF simply based on its name This is one of the most common mistakes people make when investing in high dividend ETFs. Investors may think that an ETF’s name provides an insight into its investment reach, i.e., whether the ETF has local or/and global investors.
Read More
How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.
Read More