Not only do you want to save money on Cyber Monday, you also want to save yourself from any troubles later. We tapped Jackie Warrick, the president of CouponCabin.com, for tips.
Prepare a plan
To stick to your budget, it helps to do some research before you shop, she says. “It’s important to do your homework and start shopping on an online coupon site, instead of starting on individual store websites or doing a wide-reaching Google search for coupons,” she says. “Couponcabin.com is of course a very helpful place to get started: Instead of spending tons of time seeking out the deals, you have all of the offers in front of you.”
Trust your instincts
“If something seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Warrick confirms. “[People] shouldn’t get caught up in hitting the checkout button before they’ve had a chance to make sure the site that they’re buying from is legit.”
Don’t get stuck on shipping
Never pay for shipping on orders of $50 or more, Warrick states: “If a store doesn’t offer free shipping on their site, you can definitely come to Coupon Cabin to find a code that you may be able to apply to your order.”
Stay up to date
If you want to really find the best savings and special offers throughout the day, Warrick advises following your favorite stores on Twitter and Facebook.
Stay safe
Unfortunately Cyber Monday isn’t only good for shoppers — it’s also a prime time for scam artists. “[People] should make sure that their anti-virus software is up-to-date,” Warrick says. “Then, in the event that they do visit a malicious site or get hacked, their passwords and other information are likely to be protected. … Also, pay attention and only enter payment information on sites that use SSL security [which keeps your credit card information private],” she adds. How can you tell if a website is secure? If the URL of the site you’re shopping on begins with https, rather than http, that’s a good indication. Warrick also suggests that it helps to regularly check your credit card statements, so you can detect any suspicious activity early.
