News

Six tips to master Cyber Monday shopping

Six tips to master Cyber Monday shopping

Photo: Metro Services


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — If you’ve still got some shopping hunger after Black Friday, Cyber Monday is right round the corner!

If you didn’t get everything you wanted or needed on Black Friday or Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday still offers plenty of chances to snag deals from your couch, the Grainger, or at Café Kopi.

Here’s a few tips to make sure you tackle Cyber Monday with ease:

• Make a plan. Know what you want before the day hits. Compare prices ahead of time so you can spot a true deal—whether it’s new tech for finals week or gifts to take home for the holidays.

• Shop safely. Scammers target Champaign-Urbana shoppers, too. The Better Business Bureau advises double-checking URLs, especially when buying secondhand, spelling and contact info before entering payment details. Secure sites only!

• Hunt for coupon codes. Browser extensions and deal apps can apply extra discounts automatically, giving you more room in the budget for a burrito from Maize or boba from Kung Fu Tea.

• Watch shipping costs. Free shipping is ideal, but when it’s not offered, make sure the sale price still saves you money.

• Ship straight to family. If you’re not heading home to Chicago, St. Louis or anywhere else soon, sending gifts directly can be cheaper than paying to ship them yourself.

• Shop off-peak. Early morning or late evening tends to be smoother. Midday, when everyone’s on campus Wi-Fi, can slow things down.

Cyber Monday may be online, but with a little strategy, it pairs perfectly with Champaign-Urbana living.

Recent Headlines

3 days ago in Sports, Trending

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles win their second NFC East title in a row by beating the Commanders 29-18

As the percussive horns of Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" filled the air, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni — wearing a black T-shirt bearing the words, "Been there, won that" — made the rounds in the locker room, offering hand clasps and back slaps to his players after they accomplished something that hadn't happened in two decades: win a second consecutive NFC East title.

3 days ago in Entertainment

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records.

3 days ago in Entertainment, Trending

Pop culture in 2025: A ring for Taylor, an ill-timed KissCam … and whatever ‘6-7’ means

From the inexplicable to the familiar, here's our annual, highly selective journey down pop culture memory lane.

6 days ago in Entertainment, Music

Judge nixes conviction of one of two men found guilty of killing Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay

A judge Friday voided the conviction of one of the two men found guilty of the 2002 killing of Run-D.M.C. star Jam Master Jay, ruling that there wasn't enough evidence that the man had a motive to kill the hip-hop luminary.

6 days ago in Entertainment

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt welcome their ‘perfect angel girl’

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt have announced the birth of their "perfect angel girl." They took to Instagram on Thursday to herald the Dec. 12 birth of Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson, accompanied by several photos of the couple cradling and caring for their newborn.