Thanksgiving has passed and the holidays have officially started. While gift giving can be one of the best parts of the season, admittedly, it also can result in a lot of stress. Whether it be trying to stay on a budget or trying to find the right size, sometimes finding the perfect gift isn’t that easy. That’s why I’ve come up with a list of five tips and tricks you can use when online shopping this holiday season to make your life a little bit easier:
1. Check Your Email
I know this might seem obvious, but a lot of retailers send out daily coupons this holiday season via email. The problem is that it can be sandwiched in between dozens of other emails. I suggest that when it’s time to go shopping, go to your email account and search for the stores you might be interested in shopping at and see what offers they might have. Hey, five dollars saved is five dollars you can keep for another gift. Also, don’t forget to look in your clutter or junk mailboxes; sometimes retailers are pushed into there and that could mean hidden coupons.
2. Cyber Monday
For those who want to stay away from the mania that is Black Friday, then Cyber Monday is just for you. A lot of companies either stretch out their Black Friday sale to Monday, or some just start fresh with some new sales. Places like Amazon and Target are well known for their ridiculous Cyber Monday deals, that cover things from electronics, clothes, to toys; perfect for everyone on your shopping list. Also, watch Amazon’s lightning sales, they are short-lived but amazing.
Courtesy: TotallyMoney
3. Search for Discount Codes
We all know about websites and apps like RetailMeNot or Shopkick, but speaking from personal experience, sometimes we just want to rush and buy the product, that we forget to check those sites first. Like with emails, retailers sometimes release exclusive coupons just on those sites, and usually, they are huge discounts because they assume that not as many people will see them. You should also double check and see what sites offer student discounts like ASOS and Francesca’s, just by showing your student ID you could save 10 percent on your total purchase. So, don’t forget to double check those sites before checking out.
4. Filters Are Your Friends
If you know you are on a budget or that you are looking for a specific size of clothing. Don’t forget to use the filter option on online websites to make your life easier. Have to stick to that 20 dollars Secret Santa cap, no problem. This way you can look through what you want without getting distracted with things that are way over budget. Same with sizes. Sometimes when clothes go on sale, it’s only a certain size that’s on promotion. Use the filter to save yourself from rushing over to that cute blouse you spotted only to find out it’s full price.
5. Sometimes You Need to Walk Away
Another trick is to pick out what you want, put it in your shopping cart and just wait. While it may pain you to just know it’s just sitting there, trust me it will be worth it in a couple of days. This goes back to checking your email because sometimes companies will see that you left things in your shopping cart and email you a small, yet significant, 10 percent or 20 percent off as an incentive to buy it. Look out for telltale emails that have subject lines like, “We’ve Noticed You Left Something Behind” or “Did You Forget Something?” Like the old saying goes, sometimes good things come to those who wait.