What to Buy And What Not to Buy on Cyber Monday

This year, you plan to skip the insanity of Black Friday and park it on the couch to watch football and eat turkey and mashed potato leftovers. You are also resting up for Cyber Monday, the Monday that follows Thanksgiving when retailers offer huge discounts on their online stores. This year, Cyber Monday lands on November 27th. With so many great deals just a click away, it’s hard not to buy all the things. When it comes to smart holiday sales shopping, knowing when to get the most out of your money is imperative. To help you strategize, we put together this list of what to buy and what not to buy on Cyber Monday.

This Cyber Monday, we're going to shop at all the best places, such as Best Buy, Kohl's, Macy's, Toys R Us, and JCPenney. Let us know where you'll be shopping in the comments below!

What to Buy on Cyber Monday

1. Name brand televisions: Many stores herald Black Friday as the must-shop day to score big on discounted televisions. What they are not saying though is that the marked-down models are from third-tier manufacturers. Take a gamble and you could be stuck with a television that is low quality and doesn’t meet your standards. Over the past few Cyber Mondays, we have seen retailers offer great savings on televisions from trusted brands such as Samsung, Sony, and Panasonic.
    
2. Good quality laptops: Similar to televisions, retailers push lower-quality laptop computers on Black Friday. Wait until the following Monday to take advantage of major deals offered on high performing models from top brands. You’ll also want to keep your eye out for good deals on tablets – sales begin as early as Thanksgiving and continue through the next week.
    
3. Toys: Do you have little ones on your Christmas list? Cyber Monday is when retailers offer can’t-miss markdowns on toys. Last year, Toys R Us hosted a super cyber week sale. Target is also great for toys – sign up for emails about the store’s Cyber Week 2017.
    
4. Clothes: You will find some of Cyber Monday’s best discounts and coupons when shopping for clothing. On average, retailers slash online prices by 30-50%. Some sales start as early as Thanksgiving and many run through Cyber week. Last year, Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Old Navy, Macy’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue offered the biggest online savings.
    
5. Small appliances: One thing is for sure, during the holidays, you can always find a great deal on small appliances. A purchase of a small appliance like a coffeemaker, blender, or toaster oven is pretty straightforward and does not need to be made in-person. By ordering these goods online, you will spare yourself a miserable shopping trip of trying to find parking and fighting crowds.
    
6. Shoes: Holiday deal shopping is hard work – there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to something while finding gifts for others. How about a new pair of shoes? Cyber Monday is when you will find big markdowns on footwear from top brands such as Nike, New Balance, Dune London, Cole Haan, and Steve Madden.
    
7. Beauty: By now, you are used to shelling out top dollar for the best makeup and beauty products. Cyber Monday is one of the few times when you can get your favorite items for less. And be sure to take advantage of the complimentary gifts offered for purchases of a certain value. Leading brands such as Caudalie, Bliss, L’Occitane, Bobbi Brown, Carol’s Daughter, Tarte, Elizabeth Arden and retailers The Body Shop, Sephora, ULTA, and Victoria’s Secret Beauty are known for their Cyber Monday deals.

What Not to Buy on Cyber Monday

1. Large appliances: While retailers lower prices on large appliances on Cyber Monday, these markdowns tend to be better on Black Friday. Why? Customers usually want to see goods like a new dishwasher, stove, or refrigerator in person before making a purchase.
    
2. Electronics and tech gadgets: If you are on the hunt for a latest tech gadget, don’t wait until Cyber Monday to start buying. Many electronic retailers start their sales early on the most in-demand products. This means those wireless speakers you have been coveting may be sold out before the online shopping date rolls around.
    
3. Winter clothing and gear: If you can hold out on buying a new winter coat and other cold weather gear, do so. Retailers wait until clearance sales, which typically happen between January and March to offer the best deals on these items.
    
4. Exercise equipment: Health and fitness retailers know that many of us ease up on exercise and eating well during the holidays. They wait until December - when people start thinking about healthy New Year’s resolutions – to start pushing the best deals on exercise equipment. You’ll save more by holding off until late December or even January to buy a new treadmill.
    
5. Home and patio furniture: While there’s bound to be a few sales on home and patio furniture during Cyber Monday, furniture retailers offer the biggest discounts on their goods during the warmer months. You’ll find the best deals on home furniture in July and August, and the best deals on patio furniture in August and September.

Knowing when to buy is key to being a savvy shopper. Approach Cyber Monday 2017 with a game plan and see how your to-buy list matches up with the biggest product markdowns. By doing this, you will start 2018 with a little more cash in your wallet.