Cyber Monday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, during which one can get great discounts on almost everything. From laptops and phones to dishwashers and dryers—one can find everything they need at a reasonable price during the shopping season. However, making the most of Cyber Monday does require some planning. So, here are a few hacks that can help one have the best shopping experience this year:

Set a budget
One of the best ways to ensure one gets what they need and avoid overspending on Cyber Monday is to set a budget for the day. This is because, during the sale, one may find a variety of products available at amazing prices, making them want to add everything to the shopping cart. Sometimes, they may end up buying things they do not need or use. So, to make sure the purchases do not burn a hole in the wallet, one can try setting a limit for sale day expenditure and using only the money they set aside for the purpose.

Follow brands on social media
Most brands (sellers or retailers) have a social media presence to connect with consumers. This can come in handy during the sale season. For instance, retailers may advertise early bird offers and deals on products, such as phones, laptops, or tablets, on their social media pages. By keeping up with the retailers, one can learn about likely Cyber Monday deals. So, one should consider following retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Nomad Goods and compare their deals.

Sign up in advance
When making online purchases, signing up on e-commerce websites or official brand sites can give one access to specific discounts for members. So, before sale days, one must download the shopping application on their phone or sign up on the website and add all the relevant details to make an account. This way, one can enjoy member-only benefits such as Cyber Monday deal notifications and early access to shopping season discounts.

Make a list
One of the common mistakes during the sale season is impulsively buying unnecessary products that seem to carry huge discounts. But a simple yet effective way to make the best of the deals is to make a list of all the products one plans to buy months in advance. Then, to simplify the shopping experience, one can save the list on the phone or computer to easily access it on the sale day. Later, they can also look up previous year’s Cyber Monday deals, as this can help them keep an eye out for the retailers offering the best discounts.

Ask for coupon codes
Online shopping is a convenient way to make the most of shopping season deals, as one can avoid waiting in long lines for a product they want. In addition to sitewide deals, certain coupon codes can help one get additional discounts and cashback on their purchase. Here, live chat can come in handy, as certain retailers can offer discounts to those who ask the operators for coupon codes using the live chat feature.

Use a credit card
While one can get deals on various modes of payment, for additional security, they should consider making payments with credit cards. So, in case of any issues during the process or fraudulent purchases, the bank can swiftly notify the card owner, block the card, and even initiate a refund.

Utilize loyalty programs
As mentioned previously, certain brands and online retailers offer exclusive deals to their members. So, signing up for loyalty programs can help one get early bird access to deals, promotions, and rewards. However, the rewards may be given based on the purchase meeting the terms and conditions. So, one should analyze their needs and use the rewards toward eligible purchases.

Start shopping early
Most Cyber Monday online sales start pretty early in the morning or late at night the day before and run for the whole day. So, if one wishes to make the most of the sale, then start shopping as early as possible, either at night the day before Cyber Monday, or early in the morning, to grab the best deals.

Avoid expensive add-ons
On big sale days like Cyber Monday, one can expect to find irresistible deals on various products, making them want to buy add-ons that they may not need. If opting for in-store shopping, the staff can try to upsell certain products, making one buy a more expensive version of the product they want. So, to manage expenses and stick to a budget, one should avoid buying expensive add-ons.

Set an alarm
In addition to trying the hacks mentioned above, one can try setting alarms to avoid missing the sale starting time. For instance, on certain websites, the sale can start very early in the morning or at other odd times. So, setting alarms can help one buy the necessary products before they run out of stock.