One of the biggest shopping festivals is around the corner. Get ready for countless deals and offers on furniture, gadgets, house essentials, beauty products, jewelry, and other things. But exercise some caution. With so many lucrative deals, shoppers find it hard to spot the right ones and make mistakes. A little research can do wonders and save time and effort. Here are a few hacks to have the best Cyber Monday ever.

Do not expect offers on everything
Experts believe the best things to buy during Cyber Monday are shoes, beauty items, clothes, travel, and cosmetics. As far as electronics are concerned, only gaming consoles and smartphones will likely offer fair deals. You can expect rock-bottom prices for most gadgets on Black Friday instead of Cyber Monday.

Start preparations early
Smart shoppers begin their shopping preparations during the weekend itself, when most retailers announce their offers. So, be prepared with your list and start shopping as soon as possible. Stores run out of stock quickly due to high demand, and you could end up paying more later.

Sign up with brands
Those who remain connected with retail outlets benefit the most. You might want to subscribe to your favorite brands’ newsletters and emails to get notified about every deal from them. In addition, follow stores and brands on social media. It is a helpful tip as most retailers first announce or provide early access to their bargains on those platforms.

Check in and be alert throughout the day
Cyber Monday is a dynamic event with different offers swamping the market throughout the day. To remain updated about each deal, check in during the first hour of the morning. Or even better, pre-register with the retail websites a day in advance and stay logged in. Continuously skim through the sales that go live and look for the preferred deals and bargains.

Collect gift cards before the sale
One of the smartest ways to save more during Cyber Monday is to be ready with all the unused gift cards. Besides helping lower the price further, they act as a shield in case the bargains do not prove to be that fruitful.

Skim through various deals
Doing this will tell you what you can expect from the sale. Traditional ads are not as common for Cyber Monday as for Black Friday. So, you may have to go to your favorite brands and retailers’ sites a day before to know what is in store. While most retailers are expected to provide 20 to 40% off, others may take the numbers higher. Aim for free shipping to avoid loss.

Shop using your phone
These days most people prefer shopping using their phones as it is comfortable and convenient. Retailers have taken the hint and are constantly driven to make mobile shopping as seamless as possible. But visit only those sites you trust and use deal codes that are straightforward to claim.

Go through the card reward categories
Cyber Monday is when credit cards prove far more rewarding than usual. But only specific cards may help you save big amounts during the sale. So, go through the card reward categories to know which card is likely to return more rewards. Specific credit card issuers, brands, or banks may negotiate more lucrative deals. But it sometimes requires shopping via the card issuer’s portals.

Wipe out the cookies and surf incognito
With the advent of artificial intelligence, it is pretty hassle-free for website owners to anticipate a visitor’s shopping behavior. Brands may track your shopping trends and display only those deals that they know you are willing to pay extra for. To get better deals, clear off all the cookies and surf incognito.

Use trusted websites
While online shopping is convenient, it comes with its risks. Experts recommend looking for “https” at the beginning of a website’s URL to ensure it is secure. If possible, shop through the retailer’s app and download it from a verified source.