Smart Shopping Expert Shares Her Cyber Monday Tips & How To Shop Safely Online

With Black Friday in the rear view mirror, it’s time to set our focus on Cyber Monday. We turned to a smart shopping expert to get an expert insight on what categories to shop and the best ways to save.

Categories to focus on

• Fall apparel & footwear – “Save up to 70% at H&M and Everlane, while Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Madewell are offering discounts in the 40% range on clothing and accessories.  Pricey Lululemon has a ‘we made too much’ section, where you can save big (in the 50% off range). Many other clothing brands are offering discounts in the 20-25% off range.”

• Tech – “Tech is one of the strongest categories on Cyber Monday because of the vast number of sales. I am seeing deep discounts – often as deep as 40 – 50% – on laptops, TVs, tablets, smartphones, and smartphone accessories.  You can even get a deal on phone service – Mint Mobile is offering new customers three months of free service when you sign up for three months. A great companion gift for a smartphone.”

• Small home appliances – “There are strong deals in this category – up to 60% – on everything from robotic vacuums, countertop gadgets and home security systems/video doorbells.”

• Beauty products – “This is a good time to buy beauty gift sets for others and to stock up on essentials from our favorite brands.  I’m seeing discounts in the 25-30% range from Drybar, Goop, ULTA and Urban Decay.”

 How to save even more

“If you are not using deal sites, especially during the holiday shopping season, you are leaving money on the table. They all function a bit differently, but during this hectic sale time, Slickdeals.net  is a favorite because they have 12mm deal seekers working together to vote on and vet all the deals out there, so you know you are getting visibility into the best deals. Their browser extension will automatically alert you to available coupons and cashback offers. Or, visit their Front page first for the top deals voted on by their community. You can also search by retailer or click on ‘clothing and accessories’ for specific fashion-related deals.”

Pay attention to your credit cards

“You can also save more by using the right credit card, as some cards offer cashback and exclusive savings. For example, with the new Bread Cashback American Express Card from Bread Financial, you can get 2% cash back on all purchases, from gifts to groceries. In addition, with this card you have access to savings opportunities with Amex Offers with brands like GoPro, UNTUCKit and Ray-Ban. When you spend a certain amount with these brands, you get money back in the form of a statement credit.”

Do your research before buying

“Before you check out, do a quick Google search to get a sense of where an item is sold and for how much. If you click on the ‘shopping’ tab in Google, you’ll find in-depth info, including price history and reviews. They also have a robust blog with lots of shopping recommendations.  Shopping.yahoo.com is another place to go for price comparisons and price tracking.”

After Cyber Monday

“Giving Tuesday follows Cyber Monday and is a great day to support brands that give back to the causes that are important to you. Heading into December, look for deals on Green Monday (Dec. 12), Free Shipping Day (Dec. 14), and Super Saturday (Dec. 17). You’ll find that any remaining fall apparel and footwear will be at clearance-level prices, and winter apparel, holiday-themed apparel, and gift sets.”

Finally