5 Online Shopping Tips to Help You Save Money

Shopping online can be extremely convenient. Doing so allows you to steer clear of parking lot congestion and commuting costs. You can even shop in your pajamas right from the comfort of your home. You can have purchased goods/gifts sent right to your loved one’s doorstep. But, there are also downsides to shopping online. Online scams are prevalent, shiny “deals” encourage overspending, and packages could go missing when they’re needed most.

But with the following smart habits tips, many of the problems can be taken care of. 

1. Always Compare Prices Even During Sales

Don’t get carried away by big sale days. Such days somehow create a sense of urgency when people are likely to make purchases without really thinking through about their purchase. You’ll save money if you take time to really consider the prices first, make comparisons before taking your buy decision. Sometimes stores make the “original” price look higher, and then they make it look like a huge discount by reducing the price. You can conveniently use a price-history tracker or browser extension to see the actual price of an item over the past few weeks to help you make a decision. Even in times of big sales, always make it a habit to stick with your shopping list. A deal can only save you money if you are planning to buy the item anyway. If the item isn’t on your shopping list, it’s best to ignore the deal altogether.

2. Shop Thoughtful Gifts through Social Media

Some social media platforms are a great way to come up with gift ideas. On these platforms, many content creators habitually share weird and interesting finds, and even cheap products that are really enticing. But don’t take all the videos you see on social media platforms as facts, as many are created to entice you to buy. Before you buy something from a video, read reviews outside of the video, make sure the seller is reputable, and compare the product photos to the actual listing. That helps you not to expend money needlessly.
 
3. Always Think Ahead Before You Click “Buy”

Ensure to always plan your shopping well ahead so as not to lose control of your spending or even your sanity. Always determine the items you want to buy and set cost limits before you commence shopping. Always factor in other things you might spend money on, such as shipping fees and handling charges. You can’t be too careful when it comes to saving money on shopping.

4. Personalized Gift Ideas 

If you are buying personalized gifts, you must take extra precautions if you want to save money. Personalized gifts are special because they are made just for the person receiving them. To buy personalized gifts online, always proofread everything relating to the product. Read all product details and confirm sizing. Carefully check the product preview before making a purchase. 
 
5. Beware of Fake Deals and Shop Only on Trusted Sites

Online shopping scammers thrive because most shoppers are always rushing around and looking for deals. To avoid falling prey to scammers and losing money, always put on your thinking cap while shopping online. Beware of excessively low prices, mouth-watering promos, pressure promos, web addresses with misspelled brand names or weird endings, missing contact information, return policies, or business addresses. Always use protected payment methods. Credit cards and secure payment services often provide better protection for buyers than debit cards and direct bank transfers. Avoid paying any store with gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

It is precautionary to treat every delivery notification as potentially fraudulent. Keep a keen eye out for fake texts and emails making all sorts of claims. Never click any links to shop. It is best to go directly to the website of the retailer or the carrier’s app, and type in your tracking number. Make sure your accounts are well secured by using strong, unique passwords. You can enable two-factor authentication where available. You are best advised to stay off public Wi-Fi when shopping online.

Cybersecurity Awareness Tips to Avoid Online Scams

Cyber scams are increasingly giving online business owners sleepless nights. As cyber-criminals get smarter, more sophisticated and more brazen by the day, even a single compromised password, fraudulent email or careless click can expose sensitive information, disrupt operations and potentially cost a business very dearly. This is why experts encourage business owners to periodically change passwords and update their software. Taking security precautions is ultimately a business responsibility, not simply a technology responsibility. Protecting digital systems means protecting your money, employees, customers, reputation and the trust you've worked years to build for your business.

Additionally, business owners are encouraged to use strong and unique passwords for enhanced security. They should avoid using the same password for multiple accounts because if cyber-criminals obtain credentials from one compromised account, they may try using same credentials to access email, financial accounts or other business systems. As an added security measure, business owners are encouraged to use multi-factor authentication whenever it is available. This helps create another security barrier for criminals who may already have obtained the right password or login credentials.

Significantly however, technology alone cannot prevent every cyber-attack. The people running the business are the most important lines of defense for the business. They are the ones who can easily detect and flag messages with undue sense of urgency, particularly phishing threats. Business owners should be very conversant with how to stop and verify unexpected requests before clicking links, opening attachments, sharing information or transferring money. If a message appears suspicious, the rule is to quickly contact the individual or organization independently using a trusted telephone number or website rather than information contained in the suspicious message. This extra step can be particularly important when criminals attempt to manipulate the people running a business into changing payment instructions or transferring funds. In those situations, a few minutes spent verifying a request could prevent a substantial financial loss.

Slowing down is about the most important cybersecurity practice and it is also the simplest. Cyber-criminals frequently use fear, urgency and pressure to encourage people to act fast before thinking things through. Making it a habit to question unusual requests and crosschecking things can slow things down a bit. This can help strengthen your business’ defenses.

The financial consequences of inadequate cybersecurity can extend well beyond the immediate cost of an attack. Businesses may face operational disruptions, lost revenue, legal expenses, customer notification costs and damage to their reputation. For smaller businesses, the impact can be particularly difficult to absorb and may even be fatal to the business.

Keeping computers, smartphones, applications and other connected devices updated regularly is another basic but essential security measure. Software updates frequently contain security patches designed to close vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit. Delaying these updates can leave otherwise legitimate systems exposed to attacks that will otherwise have been preventable.

Finally, it is advisable that business owners create very clear procedures for reporting potential security incidents. People should know what precautions to take before they click on any suspicious link, provide information to a suspected scammer or if they think an account has been compromised. Very prompt actions and reporting procedures can give a business a great opportunity to effectively contain a scam before it becomes a larger and more damaging breach.