Be wise online!

With Christmas coming at lightning speed, the majority of us will be pursuing gifts for our loved ones. The next 29 days will be a fury of purchasing and wrapping gifts for under the tree. If you are like me you will also pursue deals. One of the best days to pursue those deals is Cyber Monday or the Monday after Thanksgiving when retailers encourage online shopping by offering great deals. According to Deal News, Cyber Monday sales totaled “$3.45 billion in 2016.” If the amount of sales is any indication, Cyber Monday is here to stay. So how does one stay safe and also snag the perfect gift online? Macon-Bibb Cooperative Extension offers the following tips to make your cyber experience a great one.

Deal with reputable sites. You will have to enter sensitive information like your credit card information, expiration date and security code. While no system is 100 percent safe it is safer to use sites that are reputable and that have been around for a while.

Review your purchase. Because you will be pointing and clicking make sure the price, quantity and description are correct. There have been times when the price at checkout differs from the price quoted on the website or you inadvertently increase the quantity of an item. Reviewing your bag can help catch discrepancies prior to purchasing.

Read the product description. Pay close attention to the size and dimension of items. While there are great deals out there, there is a stark difference between a mini Barcalounger and a full size one. Please don’t ask me how I know, just trust me on this one. Also, read the reviews, if everyone that purchased that item gave it a horrible review you may want to reconsider or find another brand.

Make sure you know the return policy. Occasionally we get items that aren’t exactly what we expected. Returning items is a hassle in general, returning items purchased online can be a nightmare. Most often you will have to mail the item back to the retailer within a specified timeframe. Make sure you adhere to the timeframe or you could be stuck with the item.

Make sure someone is there to retrieve the package. Unfortunately, not everyone is warm, fuzzy and honest. Some unscrupulous people realize it’s shopping season. Delivered packages left in open areas are a gold mine for these people. Have items shipped to your office or to a retired family member or friend. Wives this can also help keep the husband’s big gift — and the little one you purchased for yourself — a secret. Smile.

Keep track of the budget. Because there will be so many great deals on Cyber Monday it can be tempting to click away. Make sure you keep track of your spending. Christmas is one day. We want to ensure we can live comfortably afterward.

This story was originally published November 20, 2017 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Be wise online!."