The most exciting time of the year is back again – the shopping season! With sales and offers about to hit brick-and-mortar and online retailers in full-swing, it is time for shoppers to get their budget and shopping lists ready. Be it fashion, travel, lifestyle, or gadgets and electronics, if one wants to make the most out of the 2023 shopping season, these are 10 hacks to help them have the best Cyber Monday ever.
- Look for early bird deals
Shoppers don’t really have to wait until Cyber Monday for sales. Many retailers like Amazon and Best Buy offer deals a week or two in advance, so one can get started with buying their favorite products. Shopping early is also a great way of ensuring that all orders arrive in time for holiday gifting. - Use money-saving shopping apps and browser extensions
One can save beyond the seller’s advertised deals during the shopping season. While keeping track of every offer across sellers may not be possible, using money-saving apps and browser extensions can help one find discounts automatically. Use apps and extensions such as Vouchercloud, InvisibleHand, and Honey to save more this Cyber Monday. - Make a wish list
Another way to have a great Cyber Monday is to work with a wish list. Before the sales begin, shoppers should make a list of things they really need to buy. This will ensure they do not fall prey to any marketing ploys and go straight to brands and discounts that interest them, helping save money. - Opt-in to share the location or go anonymous
Many retailers require using buyers’ location to offer local discounts. So, when using retailer apps to shop on Cyber Monday, one must opt-in to share their location so they can find more personalized deals around them. In some cases, going anonymous may also help. To do so, use the private browsing mode on the browser to find new deals that retailers may use to attract new customers. - Sign-up for newsletters and email alerts
Shoppers should follow their favorite retailers on social media and subscribe to their e-mails and newsletters. Staying up to date with the brands’ latest offerings will help one take advantage of the deals before others. One can also sign up for text or e-mail alerts for retailers as well as deal-scouting sites. - Look for deals throughout the day
Most brands do not launch all their deals in one go. They’re staggered to be released throughout the day to make it easier to manage website traffic. So, shoppers should be sure to check in multiple times during the day so they don’t miss out on any deals! - Use gift cards to shop
Cyber Monday is a great time to put one’s gift cards to use. Many of us have unused gift cards lying around in our wallets or saved up credit card points that may work as a gift card. One must look into their arsenal and use these to save money. If one would like to set a budget, they can also purchase store gift cards for their desired amount beforehand and limit their shopping to the money on those cards. - Track prices over time and compare
Whether one is shopping online or in-store, it is always a good idea to track prices over a few weeks or months to ensure they are getting the best deal. While many buyers do this manually, one can rely on online tools like CamelCamelCamel and Slickdeals price tracker to check the price history for products they are looking for. - Learn about retailer’s price codes
Major retailers also have “secret retail codes,” which can highlight whether a product is on clearance sale, or could be marked down later. Learning these codes before shopping can also help one save a few dollars. Across stores such as Costco, Target, Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Home Depot, Old Navy, Sears, and Office Depot, prices ending in anything other than a 9 or 99 are generally marked-down or on sale. - Don’t fall for marketing tricks
Retailers use several tricks to get shoppers to buy more than what they need. For instance, brick-and-mortar stores may use strategic product and ad placement or appeal to the customer’s sentimental side using the power of music or fragrance. Online, these deals may be disguised as “buy more, save more” or targeted advertising across social media. Shoppers should remember to be aware of these marketing tactics and stick to their budget and wish list to avoid overspending.
With this list of hacks, shoppers can get ready to make the most of their shopping spree on Cyber Monday while working within their budget.