Convenience Killer: How To Manage Online Shopping So You Can Still Save

What would you do with more than three billion dollars?

That question was answered by the masses as the shopping holiday season rang up more than three billion dollars in sales on Cyber Monday, 2016, and made it the biggest shopping day in the history of the United States.

That revenue stream is undoubtedly impressive, and despite concerns each year when it comes to holiday shopping that the final numbers will come in under expectations, this year was anything but that regarding online shopping.

In fact, that number is confirming recent trends that more people are shopping online now more than ever, trading in the long lines and hustle and bustle of Black Friday and subsequent shopping days for the comfort of their couch and more reason to sit back, point, click and save just as much.

As much as that is good news economically and for retailers whose fourth quarter and year-end revenue is dependent upon holiday shopping, consumers should be concerned for their well being to some extent with this uptick in online shopping.

Reason being, online shopping is convenient, simple and easy, and while that all sounds good for the customer, you always can fall victim to overspending for a variety of reasons. With online shopping, there’s no exchange of money in person, no taking out the debit card, getting a hard copy of a receipt and having it burn a hole in your wallet while you potentially regret spending too much.

Online shopping is devoid of responsibility often when we buy since we get wrapped up in just how superbly efficient the entire process is. Running up your credit card bill is a lot easier, too, since the information is typically stored on more reputable sites and higher-end retailers so the notion of having to think long and hard about your purchase before you pull that card out and use it doesn’t exist as part of shopping online.

To preserve your financial standing and avoid overspending, shopping online takes planning, a keen sense of awareness most of all, and the ability to step back for a second and treat shopping in this medium the same way you would if you were standing in front of a register watching an employee ring in a purchase.

Doing so is going to prevent overspending in the face of a trend that is enticing for the masses but still needs to be tempered with good judgment and your finances certainly in the front of your mind.