CYBER MONDAY hints, tips, tricks, horrors to avoid as you shop online for the holidays NOVEMBER 13, 6:30 PM Free! No registration necessary! At 4pm watch live from your local library or from this link http://alturl.com/57dd9 Watch the recorded presentation anytime after the 15th http://alturl.com/zyjio https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk%2Fp%2Fgo-bonkers-only-15-days-to-go%2F&ei=BhdlVIwThaGDBMu6g8gL&bvm=bv.79189006,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFG6Zjv_jl-BRP0ecN19D7_TBHhYg&ust=1415997442934859 http://blackfridaydeathcount.com/

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1. Protect your computer • A computer should always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a secure firewall.

http://cdn.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/frying-pan-kolbotek-neoflam-560x475.jpg https://imgflip.com/i/ac6z1 Who are you really chatting with ? Her? Or Him? It happens more often than you’d like to think. Basic Rules • Keep everything patched and updated • Never trust anything • Use good passwords • Be Prudent not Paranoid • Did you initiate the action? • Why is this free? • Is the source trustworthy? • When in doubt Google it

Basic Rules: Part 2 • Be conscious of what you are clicking on/downloading • Some pop-ups have what appears to be a close button, but will actually try to install spyware when you click on it. Always look for the topmost right red X. • Remember that things on the internet are rarely free. “Free” Screensavers etc. generally contain ads or worse that pay the programmer for their time.

What do you do AFTER you learned you've been hacked? • Change Your Passwords • Take that computer/server offline • Take as much time as you can to figure out what happened. • Was it a password? Old program that had a hole in it? If you can't figure it out, you should probably format everything. • Chances are good you can’t just patch things and keep on going. You may miss a backdoor or another open door, and the bad guys will still be around. Hopefully you had all the important stuff backed up and can start over from scratch What to Do if You Are the Victim of Credit Card Fraud Identity theft is terrible, but manageable. By acting quickly and monitoring your activity, you can minimize damage. Report Your Losses If you notice strange activity on your credit or debit card, report the charges to your bank immediately using the toll free number on the back of the card or on your statement. The Federal Trade Commission says you aren't responsible for any charges made on a stolen account number after you report identity theft, so act quickly. Enact a Fraud Alert If you find suspicious activity on your accounts, ask one of the credit bureaus to place an initial fraud alert on your credit report. Once you notify one credit bureau, that bureau will notify the others and alerts will appear on all your credit reports. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the alert will remain on your credit report for 90 days. During that time, creditors cannot open new accounts without verifying your information, making it harder for thieves to access your credit. You can file a fraud alert online through Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Order Your Credit Reports Start by ordering a copy of all three credit reports. By law, you're entitled to one free credit report from each credit bureau each year via AnnualCreditReport.com. You're also entitled to a free credit report after you file an initial fraud alert. Once you have the reports, look for any suspicious activity, like credit inquiries you didn't make or accounts you didn't open. File a Police Report In all likelihood your local police department won't be able to help you hunt down identity thieves, but having a police report is a necessary step in creating an identity theft report to present to creditors. Visit your local police station, report the fraud to the authorities, and ask them to include any accounts you know have been victimized for good measure. Ask for a copy of the report and keep it in a safe place. File an Identity Theft Affidavit The second part of your identity theft report is an identity theft affidavit, which you can file online through the FTC's Complaint Assistant site. Visit the site and follow the steps to complete the affidavit. Write down your reference number and print a copy before you close the screen. You won't be able to access the affidavit later, so you need to print it as soon as you've completed it. Make copies of both the police report and the affidavit: these two items make up your identity theft report.

http://dealnews.com/features/What-to-Do-if-You-Are-the-Victim-of-Credit-Card-Fraud/761658.html What to Do if You Are the Victim of Credit Card Fraud Identity theft is terrible, but manageable. By acting quickly and monitoring your activity, you can minimize damage. Dispute Credit Issues Using the list of issues gathered from your credit report, you can write a dispute letter to each creditor that reported something fraudulent on your accounts in order to clear your credit. For example, if someone opened a new credit card in your name, write a letter to the creditor disputing the account and ask the creditor to close the account and to remove it from your credit score. Attach your identity theft report as proof and mail the documents through certified mail. Keep a Record Start an "identity theft file" to keep track of your progress and keep in it a copy of your credit reports, police report, and identity theft affidavit. You should also include a dated copy of any dispute you send. If you talk to any creditors on the phone, write down the name of the person you spoke to and the time of the call. Follow Up By law, your creditors have to respond to your dispute within 30 days and make changes. So after 30 days, order a new copy of your credit reports and check for corrected information. If you still see errors, dispute them with the credit bureaus directly using your identity theft report. Make a new note of the date and follow up again in 30 days. Update Your Personal Information While it won't completely stop future identity theft, change your passwords and PINs that grant access to accounts both on and offline. Add an Extended Fraud Alert After 90 days, you can request an extended fraud alert for your credit reports. This alert will remain on your reports for seven years, and keep you off the prescreened offer list for five years, according to the FTC. You'll also get two free credit reports in the first year. To place an extended alert, call the credit bureaus directly. They may require you to fill out an additional form and mail it in. Restoring your identity and credit can take a while, but the best thing you can do is act quickly. As soon as you suspect something is amiss, start contacting the credit bureaus and your local police department. The faster you can get them working for you, the faster you can resolve things and get back on track.

http://dealnews.com/features/What-to-Do-if-You-Are-the-Victim-of-Credit-Card-Fraud/761658.html

Tips to Survive Black Friday Have a Plan • Amid the adrenaline rush of deals, it’s easy to get swept up into buying items in retrospect you regret. Make a shopping list of key items you’re on the hunt for, and save all receipts in one place in case you want to return some impulse purchases and get a full refund.

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-shopping-tips/ Tips to Survive Black Friday Be “Social” Savvy Follow your favorite brands on Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels to see what they’re offering in special Black Friday discounts. Many retailers will be “leaking” their ads and specials a week beforehand. Also, the deals and prices online often prove better than those in the stores especially factoring in free or reduced shipping.

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-shopping-tips/ Tips to Survive Black Friday Map Out the Mall Based on which stores have special deals for items you want to purchase, plan out your shopping trip to save time searching. Plus find out stores hours as they often open earlier or stay open late on Black Friday to accommodate the crowds.

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-shopping-tips/ Tips to Survive Black Friday Beware of Shopping Germs As you check out the newest mini-iPad or grab an electronic pen to sign a credit card receipt, be mindful of germs lurking about in this start to the cold and flu season. Germs congregate on handle bars of shopping carts, escalator railings and display toys and gadgets ‹all touched by hundreds of shoppers. (Yikes!) pack an antibacterial travel pack such as the one from Wet Ones to wipe germs off hands.

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-shopping-tips/ Tips to Survive Black Friday Keep Your Cool You can sometimes be waiting in line for hours on Black Friday. Just expect it. Go for comfortable shoes over style, and take along a bottle of water, and a protein snack • such as bars, nuts and trail mix • to keep your energy up. Best of all, find a new app to play on your phone to keep you entertained instead of frustrated. Make It a Team Effort Go shopping with a friend or relative who can trade off with you taking the kids to the mall playground, arcade or another side excursion while you both finish picking up the Black Friday deals on your list. Having a pal or two will also make the day fun!

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/22/black-friday-shopping-tips/ Black Friday Hints

• Who Starts ahead of time? – Last year, and Walmartstarted their sales at 6 P.m. – JCPenney,Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sears and Targetopened at 8 p.m. Kmart was ahead of them all—at 6 a.m. • Macy’s traditionally leads the pack by holding a vast "Super Saturday" sale.

• Lord and Taylor ran an extended Thanksgiving sale last year: half off all men’s shoes.

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4 Blogs to Follow for Black Friday Deals Follow these websites to get Black Friday news and deals

• Visit Bfads.net to create a bargain-hunting itinerary. Use the posted timetable featuring which Black Friday sales happen when. Last year, leaked ads were posted as early as Oct. 11 for stores including , Rite Aid and Sam's Club. The site also sends out a daily e-mail alert that aggregates the best bargains found online. – If you haven’t done it before, download a scanning app such as RedLaser or Shopsavvy. Use it to scan bar codes in stores and it will compare prices with those at nearby merchants, letting you decide whether an item is a must-buy. • Head to DealNews.com for 24/7 updates. Many of the site's nearly 100 staff members and deal hunters keep their eyes peeled around the clock and post more than 500 Black Friday bargains per day. You can find discounts at major retailers on toys, televisions and more, as well as airfares and rooms at resorts. • Use FatWallet.com (and app) to search for sale items by store, product category, price range and brand. Just enter your parameters on the site's Black Friday Deal Finder to locate exactly what you want. Plus, you may get cash back with items purchased through this site, since it shares any commissions it makes from most retailers. • For deals on electronics, bookmark Gizmodo.com. The site is a great bet if you're in the market for laptops, phones, video-game consoles and other gadgets.

http://www.allyou.com/smartshopping/black-friday-blogs Best Black Friday Websites

Both Websites allow for searches for specific items. I found what I was looking for most often at dealnews.com. http://dealnews.com/black-friday/ http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/

Cyber Monday Site Codes Aluminyze.com November 25-26: 35% off any Aluminyze photo when you enter code below, free shipping anywhere in the U.S. Code: CYBER12 AnnasLinens.com November 26: $10 off every $50 you spend (total purchase before shipping and tax) ArtTownGifts.com November 21 – December 8: 10% off purchases of $29 or more site-wide with code below (one time only, cannot be combined with other offers) Code: CYBMALC Avon.com November 26: with every $50 or more purchase you will receive a leopard tote with select beauty essentials (including Fergie’s new fragrance collection, which isn’t available until February 2013) BlueStarBazaar.com November 26: 20% off with code below, free shipping on orders over $50 Code: CYBERBLUE DavidsBridal.com November 21-26: 10% off your entire online order, 20% off orders of $200 or more, free shipping on all orders of $200 or more, purchase 100 invites get 25 free (invitationsbydavidsbridal.com only) November 26 only: 40-50% off select items DrBrandtSkincare.com November 26: 50% off on all Dr. Brandt full size eye creams, free shipping site-wide EcoLustre.com November 26-28: 25% off with code below, plus surprise jewelry gift with any purchase Code: ECOMONDAY Lesters.com November 26: 20% off all purchases, free shipping site-wide Code: 483033 Macys.com November 25-26: Starting at 7 a.m. Nov. 25 all orders of $75 or more will receive free shipping with code below (excludes furniture, mattresses and rugs), BOGO free select women’s sweaters, BOGO free select women’s boots, 60-70% off select comforters, 50% off select handbags, select price reductions store-wide Code: CYBER

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/20/cyber-monday-coupon-codes-2/ Cyber Monday Site Codes Page 2 NecklacesForMoms.com November 26: 20% off Posh Mommy Necklaces with code below Code: CYBERPOSH OpenSky.com November 26: free shipping, select items marked down, if you buy one item from Nov. 24-26 you will receive a a $10 coupon via e- mail that is valid on the site through Nov. 30 Overstock.com Through November 22: Hourly $50 gift card giveaway now until Nov. 22 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. November 22-24: starting at 12 a.m. thousands of deals site-wide on select products, with new deals added each night at 12 a.m. November 25: Cyber Monday starts at 9 p.m. with new deals on select items November 23-29: Extra savings of 10% off select area rugs, 10% off select bedding and bath, 10% off select furniture, 10% off select kitchen and dining, 20% off select outerwear and boots PetSmart.com November 24-26: Cyber Sale, select web-only pet products will be discounted 50 percent Related: PetSmart Starts Holiday Sales Before Black Friday PetiteLemon.com November 26: 25% off site-wide (for 24 hours starting 12 a.m. PT) RitaSunderland.com November 26 – December 1: 25% off all merchandise with code below Code: ALLYOU25 Stylevisa.com November 23-26: all merchandise will be 20% off with code below Code: CYBERSTYLE ThePamperedChef.com November 26: Free shipping on all orders of $75 or more (ends midnight CT) Related: 20% Off Holiday Gifts at CafePress.com

http://dailysavings.allyou.com/2012/11/20/cyber-monday-coupon-codes-2/ How to Find Black Friday Deals Online Is a crowded mall not your thing? Here are a few strategies for finding Black Friday deals from the comfort of your home • Get a head start, and save on gas. Cyber Monday, like Black Friday, is a misnomer, because many e-tailers unveil sales the day before Thanksgiving. Last year, for example, Kohls.com featured sales of up to half off that Wednesday. – Sites like ebags.com, hasbrotoyshop.comand revolveclothing.com offer free return shipping, even on sale items. To keep abreast of deals, register at Hukkster.com and install the "hukk it" bookmark button. Whenever you see an item you like, hit "hukk it" and you'll receive an e-mail alert when it goes on sale. • Easily compare prices. According to a survey by marketing research firm Ipsos, 33 percent of shoppers spend more than an hour comparing prices for holiday buys. Speed up the process with Google Chrome's Invisible Hand browser add-on, which can alert you to better prices before you make a purchase. • Seek online coupons. They abound during the Cyber Monday sales season, saving shoppers an average of $26.60 per purchase. To find ones that are valid, download the free Couponomatic browser add-on fromBeFrugal.com. It fills in the promo-code boxes you see at checkout. They even offer a $5 cash back bonus if the coupon doesn't work. • Factor in free shipping. During Black Friday, many websites, such as Best Buy's, offer free shipping as an incentive. So don't click "buy" unless you see shipping is free—if not, consider a competitor. Another option when you buy online is to look for free home delivery from a local store. Last year on Black Friday, Dick's Sporting Goods offered this option on certain treadmills and ellipticals. • TIP: GiveAnything.com sells e-gift certificates redeemable at hundreds of online merchants. • If you haven’t done it already, sign up for a shopping portal, like ebates.comor shopathome.com. They work with thousands of merchants, and if you click through to participating retailers, you can get additional rebates—ranging from 1 percent to more than 30 percent—off your total purchase. Along with websites such as befrugal.com, they also alert you to coupons that you can stack along with the rebate for significant extra savings.

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/black-friday-online-deals Long Term Lines? • Just be aware that some deals last only a few hours, so plan accordingly. • If there’s a limited-stock item you must have, this is the day to camp out—the sooner the better. Learn each store’s waiting-in-line policy, meant to prevent fights over spots.

Don’t Waste your time though… "I scoured the circulars for a particular smartphone, and I found a deal at Best Buy. But when I got there, the crowds were huge! Just as I was about to brave the line, my husband called and said the store's website had the same deal. I ordered the phone online and even got free shipping.“ --Rebecca Trissler, 42, Chicago

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/black-friday-2014 • Gather all your Black Friday sales circulars and take them with you. Some stores might offer price matching but only if you can show them proof of what another merchant is charging. • In the store, check your favorite deal websites and shopping apps one more time: Retailers, especially andNewegg, might expand sales or lower prices to match rivals at the last minute. • About half of what’s in a store’s Black Friday in- store circular will be available to buy online, too.

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/black-friday-2014 Get hungry while shopping ?

• Deal hunting can give anyone an appetite, and restaurant chains know it. In 2013, Applebee’s gave away a $10 gift card if you purchased one for $50. Boston Market offered a $5 card for $25 spent. California Pizza Kitchen threw in a $20 card if you bought one for $100

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/black-friday-2014 Be on the look out for… • Small appliances. At Walmart last year, you could score a Dirt Devil for just $15, nearly 50 percent off; a Bissell Pet carpet cleaner was $98, down from $160; and a 6-quart Crock-Pot was just $9.44. • Name-brand electronics. Last year Walmart offered a 32-inch HDTV for $98 to customers during the first hour. DVDs, Video Games • Cameras. Target offered a Nikon L320 for $99, marked down from its usual $230. • Large appliances. Best Buy tempted shoppers with a $1,700 Whirlpool French-door refrigerator for $1,000. • Tools and work clothes. Last year, Sears halved the price on a Craftsman 220-piece mechanic’s tool set, to $100. And all Diehard boots, which normally cost as much as $105, were $45. • E-readers. At Best Buy, you could get a 7-inch 16GB Kindle Fire HD tablet for $99, $145 less than on amazon.com • Toys: This year the hottest items include goodies from Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol and Disney’s Frozen, which set off a frenzy in the spring when stores sold out of all things Anna and Elsa. • Appliances: Kohl’s last year sold a KitchenAid mixer for $101, counting rebates and coupons, about $100 less than retail. • Electronics: Last year, Sears rewarded loyalty-club members with goodies including a 32-inch LED television for nearly 30 percent off. • Fashion: Express started its Black Friday sale online on Tuesday last year, offering half off all clothing. • Amazon kicked off its busiest shopping day of the season with a TiVo Roamio HD digital video recorder and streaming media player for $150 (normally $200) and a 46-inch Samsung LED TV for less than $500 (down from $700). • Newegg.com sold a Nintendo Wii mini console with a Mario Kart game for $100.

http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money-shopping/black-friday-2014 Black Friday Myths 1. MYTH: Black Friday Sales Begin on Black Friday There's no stopping the holiday creep and this year we expect the majority of Black Friday sales to commence on Thanksgiving Day, if not earlier. In fact, there's a good chance that you'll see more Editors' Choice deals on Thanksgiving Day than on Black Friday, and some of the best deals might even sell out before Friday. Moreover, this year there are only 26 days (three full weekends) between Black Friday and Christmas, so we expect to see retailers releasing Black Friday sales as early as two weeks before the namesake day. Other retailers may start teasing their sales come late October.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 2. MYTH: Stores Have Ample Stock of Doorbusters "Doorbuster" deals are exceptionally low-priced items meant to generate buzz and lure shoppers into stores on Black Friday. Most retailers have very limited quantities of these products, and it's likely that only the first few shoppers in line will snag them. However, we expect to see more retailers offer "guaranteed doorbusters," which won't be as scintillating, but have traditionally still be quite good.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 3. MYTH: Doorbusters Are Available In-Store Only While doorbusters are advertised in advance to bring shoppers in-store, over the years the competition between retailers has become so fierce that these hot deals have increasingly also made their way online. Data from previous years has shown that up to 70% of in-store Black Friday deals were also available online for the same price — or less!

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 4. MYTH: In-store Black Friday Shopping is a Dangerous Contact Sport Watch the evening news and you'll see plenty of Black Friday mobs, fights, and brawls. Fortunately, most holiday shoppers will never witness such events. Sure, there will always be reports of overly-aggressive shoppers on Black Friday, but a majority of consumers actually express feeling a sense of camaraderie while waiting in line predawn. Plus, no store wants instances of violence associated with their name in the news, so they will do everything in their power to keep things orderly (including beefing up their staff). You might have to deal with large crowds and a mess of inventory, but the chances of encountering a real brawl are extremely slim.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 5. MYTH: Every Sale You Come Across on Black Friday is the Best of the Year Black Friday is the best time of the year to go on a shopping spree, but as we stated earlier, not every sale you encounter will merit its best-of-the-year branding. Some general categories see better prices later (like winter apparel, which will drop significantly in price come January), while there will always be just average prices nestled in amongst those doorbuster deals. That means shoppers have to do their research in order to save during Black Friday; know what you want, be flexible if you can, and don't bite if the price doesn't seem right. Also check out our monthly buying guides for overall category trends.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 6. MYTH: Nobody Will Beat Black Friday Prices Amazon is every big-box retailer's worst nightmare because it always undercuts the Black Friday sales of many brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, big- box retailers such as Best Buy have started price matching Amazon's Black Friday promotions. In a few weeks, we'll publish an extensive list of stores that will offer price matching on Black Friday. Expected in the list will be Best Buy, Home Depot, and Meijer, all of which met competitors' prices last year, and in some cases offered better deals.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 7. MYTH: All of the Good Deals Are Printed in Black Friday Ads Everyone loves a secret sale, so on Thanksgiving Day retailers will release additional Black Friday deals that weren't in their earlier circulars. Moreover, some retailers will respond to competitor pricing and make last-minute price cuts in order to compete (a further reason why some stores won't advertise their best deals in advance). So even if you've already perused a store's leaked Black Friday ad, you should continue to check for updates because secret sales could show up as the big day approaches.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 8. MYTH: Leaked Black Friday Ads Are Actual Leaks Once upon a time, Black Friday ad leaks were actual scans of ads that were questionably posted to the internet for shoppers to analyze in advance of the big day. Now, stores wield their ads strategically, releasing sneak peeks for rewards members or previewing the ads for select media, all to control the flow of information to their greatest benefit.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 9. MYTH: You Have to Go to the Apple Store for Its Black Friday Sale Though you'll see consumers flock to the Apple Store on Black Friday, the truth is Apple's holiday sale is among the worst. Traditionally, they've offered discounts of up to 10% on select devices, but last year Apple ditched the discount and instead paired those same products with Apple gift cards. Unfortunately, the sale was disappointing and retailers like MacMall, Best Buy, and Walmart offered significantly better deals. As a result, this year we're again advising shoppers to avoid the Apple Store at all costs. Unless you're in the market for an Apple refurb — which is a great way to save money on Apple devices — there's no reason to shop from Apple during the holidays.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 10. MYTH: Designer and Luxury Goods Don't Go on Sale Black Friday is a blockbuster event for low-end goods from stores and manufacturers you may not be familiar with. However, in recent years several high- end retailers have broken the age-old trend of skipping Black Friday promotions. But rather than offer promotions from their main brands, luxury retailers have let their outlets do the dirty work. Stores like like Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Barney's Warehouse, and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH are a few outlets you can expect to participate in Black Friday sales. (For more information on how to score a deal on luxury goods, check out our Black Friday clothing guide.)

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 11. MYTH: If You Go Overboard on Black Friday, You Can Return Your Purchases Stores tend to tighten their return policies during the holidays, making it hard for consumers to return items. Some retailers will go so far as only offering store credit on returns, even if you have a receipt. A handful of stores are also keeping track of serial returners and banning them. And if you don't remember to ask for a gift receipt, your recipients might be doubly unhappy: they'll likely receive a store credit for only a portion of the purchase price.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 12. MYTH: It's OK to Skip Cyber Monday if You Shopped on Black Friday Black Friday may get all the attention, but last year Cyber Monday managed to trump Black Friday in terms volume of Editors' Choice deals, which is our designation for the best sales of the year with price lows never before seen. So shoppers take note: Cyber Monday is no longer a holiday you can afford to skip.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 13. MYTH: Deals Are Excellent Throughout Cyber Week While a number of online retailers advertise week-long Cyber Monday sales, the truth is the best deals appear on Sunday and Monday only, with some holding over to Tuesday. Just as we saw with Black Friday, many of the best Cyber Monday deals have crept into the preceding day, in this case Sunday. Last year, for instance, there were four times more Editors' Choice deals on Sunday and Cyber Monday combined than the remainder of Cyber Week.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 14. MYTH: Once Processed, All Black Friday Orders Are Final Unfortunately, submitting an online order — even after entering payment information — doesn't guarantee that the items you purchased will be yours. Retailers occasionally display inaccurate inventory and will sometimes let consumers buy an item that is already out of stock; this is a particular problem on Black Friday, given the speed of transactions. Moreover, if a site accidentally publishes the incorrect price for an item, and shoppers take advantage of the amazingly low price, a store may decide to cancel all orders for that item. Best Buy notoriously did this in 2011 when it mistakenly offered a $100 iTunes gift card for $60; the store then canceled all orders and asked customers to instead purchase the deal for the intended price of $80.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 15. MYTH: Your Credit Card Info is Secure Unfortunately, the only guaranteed way to safeguard your personal information this holiday season is by paying with cash. However, we understand not everyone can reasonably do this. So the best way to avoid data hacks this holiday season is by taking multiple precautionary measures when shopping online. Pay with credit rather than debit, update your passwords, and keep a close eye on billing statements to ensure your card hasn't been used by thieves elsewhere. Should a security breach occur, immediately contact your bank and report your losses.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Black Friday Myths 16. MYTH: Bargain Bin Devices Are Always Cheap Quality Bargain bin devices have a reputation for being bottom-of- the-barrel items that nobody wants, be it movies, laptops, or apparel. However, this past year budget products have been showing more flair than usual. That's because some of these items, such as entry-level 42" HDTVs and ultra-cheap laptops, simply cannot get any cheaper. So to make them more appealing, retailers have given them more panache. For laptops, that means you'll find budget machines with better-than-average specs. In the case of TVs, it means finding budget 42" sets from name-brand manufacturers, instead of just off-brand models. Ultimately, it's a win for shoppers because you get more value for your dollar.

http://www.businessinsider.com/black-friday-shopping-myths-2014-10?utm_content=buffer48a5a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer 10 Essential Affirmations For Every Holiday Shopper Believe in yourself… and your mad shopping skills. Brought to you by Target, wishing you a happy (and successful) holiday experience this year! posted on Oct. 31, 2014, at 3:22 p.m. http://www.buzzfeed.com/targetholiday/essential-affirmations-for-every-holiday-shopper 1. What to keep in mind when you can hardly contain your excitement when those magical doors open:

2. And the only motivation you’ll need once they finally do: 3. What you need to keep repeating as you wait in line for that next big sale: 4. For when your friends are there to help you snag the best deal possible: 5. For the shopper who’s determined to get all of their shopping done in one swoop:

6. For the go-getters who have a plan and are sticking to it: 7. Just keep this in mind when the holiday shopping crowd looks a little larger than usual: 8. Or for anyone who feels like staying home and shopping in their pajamas: 9. For when the only thing you’re ready to do is get the ultimate present for yourself this year: 10. And for the shopper who doesn’t mind waiting until the last second to do their holiday shopping: http://rhizomenetwork.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/thats-all-folks.jpg Thank you for your Participation