Cyber Monday Tips and Info

Cyber Monday is almost here! If you don't know what Cyber Monday is here is a quick wikipedia description:

Cyber Monday is a marketing term for the Monday after Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving in the United States, created by companies to persuade people to shop online. The term made its debut on November 28, 2005 in a Shop.org press release entitled "'Cyber Monday' Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year".

You've no doubt noticed that most brick and mortar stores actually offer many of their specials online alone with free or highly discounted shipping. Your email inbox should be loaded with coupons and discounts galore!
For all of you who may or may not have hit Black Friday shopping, there  is still plenty of time to shop til you drop (or in this case until your eyes get tired) online from home.
Cyber Monday sales and deals may be better than Black Friday. There is a high probability that retailers will offer even better deals in order to prepare for Christmas inventory.
Just remember to:

1. Budget. Ordering online is almost effortless. Keep track of all your purchase costs so you don't have shoppers remorse when your credit card bill comes.
2. Have a plan. What or who are you shopping for. Try and keep this and your budget next to you while shopping. It's easy to forget someone or double gift if you don't have a tangible item in your hands right away. 
3. After you shop, review your list and make sure you have not gone over your budget or missed anyone. The point of these shopping days are to Christmas shop with a budget. There really should be nothing left on your list to buy for people. In a perfect world, all packages arrive on time, in working order, exactly as you order them. You have them wrapped and under the tree and you miss all of the Christmas mall mayhem.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest

3 Black Friday Tips

I love to shop. Most of my clients love to shop. Black Friday, let's touch on this a bit.
I am going to speak from my experience in the Bay Area as a Black Friday shopper of 15 years.

Should you get up at the crack of dawn and shop? Heck yes. I have found the best deals as soon as the store opens its doors. Is it crazy? Yes! Is it worth it? Absolutely.

3 TIPS:

1. Budget. Know exactly how much you want to spend, and what you want to buy. Aimless shopping can lead to senseless shopping. 
2. Set your alarm clock.
   Start the first hour in a higher end store such as Macy's or Nordstrom (I believe Macy's opens several hours before Nordstrom). Barneys, Burberry, Saks, etc - you are not going to find them open early or a great deal. They don't need it. Don't have your heart set on a bargain.
   * Macy's Union Square/ Walnut Creek. The first hour is amazing. Go to the department you like best first. There will be lines and it will be a little crazy. But it won't be as crazy as it will be in a few hours when most of the people wake up.
3. Plan your shopping trip. Unfortunately, once you have finished at Macy's nothing else is really open. If you are in the city, Juicy, Gucci, Barney's, etc aren't open until around 10am. Some stores within the Union Square Mall are open but not many. This is the same with Walnut Creek, with less options. So what do you do while you wait? You can bring your Macy's bags back to your car to kill time, you can grab a cup of coffee, you can read a book. Plan to have a couple hours downtime in between. If I have spent my budget I go home and relax!

Have fun shopping and remember to only purchase things you LOVE. If you aren't feeling it - don't buy it. Save yourself from buyers remorse or from adding more clutter to your life. Don't overspend, and try not to get anything you need to return. Most people end up shopping again when they come back to return items.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer
I am located in Pleasanton Ca, and serve the San Francisco Bay Area.
I specialize in Hoarding Disorder, Chronic Disorganization and helping the overwhelmed with clutter. I love what I do, and I provide realistic expectations and timelines. Don't suffer in chaos any  more. Every breath is a new beginning! Please visit my site at www.collectorcare.com
Tweet me on Twitter : Like my Facebook page : Find me on Pinterest