Tips To Help You Shop Safely On Cyber Monday

Today is a big shopping day and here are some tips to help you shop safely on Cyber Monday.

Most of us do our shopping online now. It's way easier to find deals than bopping from store to store. Things are delivered straight to your door. The list of the perks goes on and on. I'm still an in-store shopper for things like clothes and shoes so I can try them on and lotions/perfume so I can smell them before I buy them. Also, as far as Black Friday shopping goes, you can avoid a fight over a $25 savings on a big screen TV.

If heading out to the stores is still a big part of your Thanksgiving tradition, for others it's more of a thing of the past. In fact, this year on Black Friday, spending was over $9 billion.

Maybe you woke up to an email from every company you've shopped at with their deals of the day. There are already some stores I've gotten two from and the day is just beginning.

But the Better Business Bureau is reminding you that online shopping, especially on a big day like Cyber Monday, has risks. Today, the scammers will be in full force online taking advantage of customers shopping for the best deal. I always see ads on Facebook and Instagram for really cute, but really cheap stuff. I started googling to see if they're legit, and you'd be surprised how many times I find out they're not. People are getting ripped off all the time, just be diligent.

In the instance that any shady charges show up after your purchase, it's a lot easier to contest them through your credit card company than your bank. Also, never make purchases with online sellers by wiring money or using a prepaid debit card.

Don't make a purchase from a website you're not familiar with. If you're not sure, you can always check their BBB Business Profile, look at ratings and read customer reviews. Also, make sure any web page you make a purchase from is secure by checking that the web address begins with "HTTPS" and not just "HTTP".

Check to make sure you have antivirus software installed on your computer and that it is up to date. This will help prevent you from visiting non-secure websites and pop-up phishing scams. It will also help keep your personal information safe.

If there's something you want, don't wait until tonight to buy it. If it's a popular item and the deal is great, it may sell out early.

A lot of online retailers will claim they have the best price on an item, but their offers can be misleading. Make sure you do your homework by comparing prices with websites like CamelCamelCamel. Remember what appears to be the best deal may not actually be.

Check your credit card rewards program for special point offers for Cyber Monday and over the next month. Also, if it's a place you shop often, sign up for their loyalty program and start accruing points that could save you money down the road.

Read the fine print before you buy. Some online store policies may change for Cyber Monday offers. Be aware that stores may not allow returns for “final sale” or “closeout” items. Also, make sure to get gift receipts if it's for somewhere else, so returns or exchanges can be name if necessary.

Keep an eye out for unsolicited emails, texts, calls, or letters. They usually look pretty real and may claim you have a free gift waiting for you or that there is a problem with a delivery – all you need to do is click on a link or give up your personal information. Avoid phishing scams by ignoring email that doesn't look quite right or calls from numbers you don't know.

If you shop online today, you should get everything in time for the holidays. But if you don't want to chance it, buy online and pick up gifts at the store.

I'm writing this because I ran into a problem searching for my favorite Christmas movies. A problem you've probably run into as well. You want to know where you can stream your favorite Christmas movies. So you search it. You click on one of the articles, and after you get assaulted with all their ads, you realize it was written last year. Most of the movies aren't where they say they are. So I'm fixing this.

I'm not going to guess, or rely on someone else. I'm going to tell you exactly where you can find the movies you want. Because things on the internet stay up forever, if you're reading this in 2023, hit the back arrow. Or swipe left, or whatever you're doing in the future to get out of an article. If you're seeing this in 2023 it's likely that many of these movies will be on different apps. If you're still streaming apps in the future. MAYBE they're beaming the movies straight to your brain. In your self driving flying car.

If I'm missing something, or somehow I messed up, find me on the contact page. Also, I don't mention Amazon or Hulu very often. I got rid of those apps because they annoy me. Any time you'd find something you'd want to watch, well now it costs extra. I pay for your app and you provide me with links to buy the things I want to watch? Nope. I'm out.

So let's get into the holiday spirit with a Christmas movie. Even if you live in South Florida and it's 85 degrees. I turned the air down to 73 and made some hot cocoa to get in the spirit

And yes, since it's my list,  Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

Die Hard is on Starz.

On the Xumo app. Which is a free app.

HBO Max. TBS app. The new one 'A Christmas Story Christmas' is also HBO Max.

Apple TV+. If you don't have the app, They will let you watch it for free Dec. 22 through Dec. 25. 

HBO Max, TBS

The original is on Peacock. The Jim Carrey remake is on HBO Max.

Peacock

I didn't see it on any of the apps. That totally blows. It's on of the best Christmas movies ever. Sure, you can rent it on Amazon. Or maybe it's on Plex.

Edit 12/3:  They just added it to Showtime. Maybe my complaint was heard?

Disney+

Better known as ''the movie with Heat Miser.'' It's on TBS.

It's not streaming, but it is airing several times on tv on CBS November 29th, and then throughout December on Freeform.

Home Alone 1 and 2 are both on Disney+.

I didn't see it streaming anywhere.

Disney+

Netflix

The original is on Disney+ and Amazon. The remake, which I think is better, is on Disney+.

Paramount+ and Amazon.

HBO Max and TBS.

HBO Max, Peacock

Disney+

HBO Max

AMC

Disney+

Find your Turbo Man on Starz