Gift cards can replace cash, and many businesses offer gift cards to customers as a way to shop for goods and services. Corporate gift cards, holiday cards, and even cash-back cards are offered for redemption online or at the store. But redeeming them may not always be easy, and if done incorrectly, one can miss out on significant savings and incentives. Here are five shopping blunders to avoid when using gift cards: Not treating gift cards like cash It is advisable to treat gift cards like cash and keep them where they are easily accessible and visible, like in the wallet. Additionally, holding off using them is a common gift card mistake, as one can easily forget or misplace the card So, treat it like cash to ensure that it is put to the best use whenever necessary. Forgetting to cash out Many retailers allow people to cash out a small balance left on the gift card after making a purchase. Retailers in some states are even required by law to pay the remaining amount. In certain states, the threshold for the payout is as low as $1. This option of immediate cashback is usually valid at physical stores. Here, one can even combine gift card balances and ask for store credit.

Coupons are a great way to save money while shopping. But they come with an expiry date. If you’re thinking that expired coupons are useless, think again. Some shops may not accept these coupons. However, a few easy steps can help you use them to the fullest. While it is always advised to be careful of the expiration date, there are times when you may miss it. That’s when these tips might be helpful. Don’t tear them up It’s best to not tear up the coupon with the expiration date. Additionally, do not try to hide the “best by” date to get around the rules. If you happen to do so, most stores will definitely know there is something wrong and immediately reject the coupon, even if there was a way for you to use it. Be honest about the expiration date and check with the store if the coupon can still be useful. Ask for a grace period It is quite possible that the coupon’s manufacturer put in a grace period for the coupon, which will mostly be mentioned in the fine print at the bottom. If you are unable to find any information about that on the coupon, you can search the manufacturer’s website.

There are several ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. But one of the most popular ways to show your loved one how much they are appreciated is by surprising them with gifts. You may opt for personalized presents or choose from classic, conventional ones. The multitude of options can make it challenging to pick a perfect gift. So, here are ten tried-and-tested gifting ideas that can instantly brighten their mood and make the day memorable. Takeout dice Takeout dice makes choosing the dinner place easier and adds an element of fun. You can also give the ask-and-answer card game filled with couple-relevant questions. The game can prompt light-hearted, intimate, or even deep conversations. Coordinated outfit for dinner Nothing spells out a thoughtful gift like planning an entire outfit for your significant other. Setting up a simple dinner for two? Make it extra special by gifting a coordinated outfit along with suitable accessories and shoes to wear to the dinner. Sneakers Available in a multitude of designs, a cool pair of sneakers is not only stylish but also a useful gifting option. Couples can also get matching pairs or buy customized sneakers for their significant other. Concrete tabletop indoor fireplace A minimalist and modern tabletop fireplace can be an esthetic addition to a romantic, at-home date night on Valentine’s Day.

As the calendar inches closer to the year’s most anticipated shopping extravaganza, Black Friday, eager shoppers are already being treated for what’s to come. While Black Friday may commence towards the end of the year, retailers are getting a head start on the deals frenzy by offering early-bird discounts. This trend, which gained momentum in recent years, allows savvy consumers to snag incredible bargains ahead of the shopping rush. Here’s everything to know. When will Early Bird 2023 Black Friday Start? Black Friday 2023 falls on November 24th, but it’s worth noting that many retailers and online platforms kick off their sales well before the official shopping day, starting a few days earlier or earlier in the month. One might start seeing early bird discounts and promotions from various retailers starting November 2023 or as early as October 2023. Early Bird 2023 Black Friday deals to expect 1. Clothing and accessories Macy’s has announced its Black Friday event with early access from 11th November 2023, followed by Black Friday Specials from 19th to 25th November. The discounts will be seen on women’s fashion, designer handbags, jewelry, beauty brands, dinnerware, bedding, furniture, and mattresses. The event also provides an opportunity to plan for gifts, catering to various preferences such as men’s clothing and kids’ toys.

With Black Friday 2023 approaching, buyers are gearing up to buy gadgets, home appliances, and other products that have probably been on their lists for long. Black Friday allows buyers to fulfill all their requirements at prices much lower than the market rates. Moreover, the shopping season offers a wide range of products from different categories, facilitating considerable variety. Here are some quick hacks and tips that can help one make the most of this sale season: Shop in the morning The best time to shop for deals during the shopping season is in the morning, as several retailers begin their days during the wee hours of the morning. Moreover, popular products typically run out of stock, especially if offered at highly reasonable prices. Thus, it is a good idea to begin one’s Black Friday shopping early on in the day to reap the benefits of the best deals. Check out the previous shopping season’s sales Another way to determine beforehand what products will likely go on sale is to check out the products offered on discount the previous shopping season. This analysis can help one earmark these products before the sale and buy them promptly as soon as Black Friday commences.

Cyber Monday is the best time to get discounts on products across a wide range of categories. Major brands and retailers offer exciting deals on consumer electronics, home furnishings, fashion, and more throughout the weekend, giving shoppers the perfect opportunity to save money on their purchases. However, finding the best deals can require a little research to avoid missing out on essentials. So, here are the top 50 deals to expect this Cyber Monday: AirPods Pro Based on last year’s sales, one may find great deals on Apple products, saving about $49 on the second generation of AirPods Pro. These earphones offer amazing spatial audio features, six hours of listening time, and an immersive sound experience. Apple Watch The Apple Watch SE carried a price drop last year, with a $130 discount across popular retail outlets. Further, one can find deals on the Apple Watch Series 8 with prices starting at just $349. Nintendo Switch It is time to enjoy the best of classic and popular games on one of the bestselling portable gaming devices—Nintendo Switch. Past sale season trends indicate the Nintendo Switch Lite may sell for $175 instead of its regular price of $199. Retailers may also offer deals on gaming accessories when purchased with Switch Lite.

As Cyber Monday 2023 approaches, the excitement for incredible deals and discounts is on the rise. Many brands and retailers are known to offer early bird specials in various categories to attract eager buyers. These deals are often time-sensitive and offer substantial savings, making them highly sought-after. Below are five shopping categories expected to have great early bird deals this Cyber Monday. At the end, we have also listed tips to bag early deals. Laptops Going by last year’s trends, Cyber Monday is expected to unleash impressive discounts of up to 50% on laptops. These discounts could apply to both budget-friendly and high-performing gaming laptops from brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Acer. For example, last year, Dell extended discounts of up to $700 on its XPS laptops, while HP facilitated savings of up to $300. Meanwhile, Newegg featured substantial price reductions of up to $750 on various models. Walmart stood out by offering Chromebooks starting at an exceptional $79! Smartphones Well-known smartphone companies may also offer excellent early bargains during the shopping season. Samsung has a swarm of deals on its best-selling models every Cyber Monday. While Apple usually doesn’t give direct discounts, it offers attractive trade-ins and gift cards or vouchers via different retailers.

Cyber Monday offers buyers exciting opportunities to buy home appliances, electronics, gadgets, and other reasonably priced products. With Cyber Monday 2023 approaching, buyers can expect to check off items from their shopping lists at amazing deals. Further, Cyber Monday allows one to pick from a wide range of products in various categories. Here are some quick tips and hacks that can help buyers best utilize this sales season: Follow reputed brands and retailers online Today, several reputed brands and retailers use social media effectively to promote their products and engage with their customers. Consequently, most brands offering discounts on their products during Cyber Monday may communicate this to their followers on social media. Hence, buyers should follow their desired brands and retailers to stay up-to-date on their Cyber Monday deals and offers. Set and stick to a budget range Shopping in bulk may seem like a good idea during the shopping season; however, buying too many items can burn a hole in one’s pocket. To avoid such consequences, buyers should prepare a list of required products, check their finances beforehand, and set a realistic budget limit before the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales commence. Such lists can help one spend wisely and avoid overspending.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping festival of the year. People flock to stores during this time and get their favorite products at unbelievable prices. While the sale may be far away, one should start planning. Some brands offer early deals, and customers may miss out if under-prepared. Furthermore, buyers can make mistakes in haste and spend much more than they should. Here are a few such Black Friday mistakes to avoid in 2023. Not researching enough Shoppers should start researching instead of sitting back and waiting for Black Friday to arrive. One can read about the deals brands had last year and what’s expected this time around. Customers can also see whether new product launches are anticipated around the holiday season and if any outlet has announced early bird deals. Researching can be tedious as many brands and retail stores sell the same product and offer different prices. Nevertheless, it is a crucial step to identify the best offers and save money during Black Friday. Not having a shopping plan Whether one buys online or in-store, having a plan is necessary for Black Friday. Some shoppers list the products they are eyeing and shop in order of priority. This ensures they get their hands on the most essential items before stocks run out.

The buzz surrounding Black Friday starts much before the actual day comes around. As it approaches, the offers on products and services keep getting more incredible. This is why buyers can expect amazing discounts on their favorite smartphones, jewelry, cars, mattresses, furniture, and many more items, even with Black Friday a few weeks away. Here are some of the offers that are expected in the grand build-up to Black Friday: Mattress deals Quality mattresses elevate one’s sleeping experience. Going by last year’s trends, shoppers can expect great discounts of up to $800 on mattresses during the pre-Black Friday and Black Friday phases. Many quality mattresses with such deals have features such as innerspring coils and gel memory foam for ultimate comfort. Smartphone deals Brand-new smartphones are almost always hot property, but that feeling gets further elevated during Black Friday. Although one cannot accurately predict the extent of discounts on smartphones, current trends suggest that shoppers can receive handsome price cuts of at least up to $270 on newly launched models. Such phones are expected to have powerful cameras and processors for highly efficient picture quality and overall performance, respectively. Apparel deals Shoppers can purchase their favorite designer wear, casual clothing, and sporty wear apparel with incredible discounts to the tune of about 60% off their original maximum retail prices.