Cyber Monday… loading
You already know that Black Friday will take place on November 29th this year, but you may not also know that the following Monday is another shopping extravaganza. The date you need to know for this year is December 2nd.
Just like Black Friday, Cyber Monday originated in the USA, and is believed to have begun in around 2005. Cyber Monday now happens in many countries around the world, including on Bob Shop here in South Africa. In other words, across the space of just four days, you have two incredible opportunities to save money on the things you really want.
Black Friday was originally about bargains in physical retail stores, and has evolved to include online bargains, too. Cyber Monday began life as the online equivalent of Black Friday, but bricks and mortar stores are now getting in on the act.
Zoom in on devices and gadgets
Cyber Monday has retained its techy origins in the sense that most of the bargains on offer are focused on devices, accessories, gaming and similar categories. That leads us to our first tip: if you have quite a few items on your watchlist this year, it would be worth looking for non-tech bargains on Black Friday and then focusing on smartphones, laptops, tablets and the like on Cyber Monday.
Finding a bargain
Just like Black Friday, making the most of Cyber Monday involves planning ahead and maintaining laser-like focus. Do your research in advance so you know the usual prices of the items you’re looking for. This will make it easier to spot the best bargains.
Familairise yourself with the specifications of the devices or accessories you want, so that you can ensure you get the exact version or model you want. Cyber Monday is often used by retailers to discount stock of previous models, so it’s advisable to be certain exactly which models or versions are on offer.
Buying a slightly older model of, say, a smartphone can be a great way to save money. Each new version of a device often doesn’t change that much, so buying last year’s model makes total sense.
Managing your money
A lot of the same advice that applies to shopping for Black Friday bargains is equally relevant to Cyber Monday. Making sure you don’t get carried away and spending more than your budget is a question of having a list and sticking to it, and avoiding being distracted by offers for things you don’t actually want or need.
Avoiding FOMO
Because many of the items involved in Cyber Monday sales are ‘big ticket items’, offers like ‘25% off’ can involve very significant savings. Naturally, that brings out the competitive instinct in people – especially when stocks are limited.
For that reason, it’s worth noting the exact time that specific Cyber Monday sales begin or online deals go live. That might mean staying up until midnight – the adrenaline surge of grabbing a bargain may be enough to keep you awake, but if not, you might need snacks and coffee or energy drinks. Fortunately, you can find all of these must-haves at great prices on Bob Shop
