After eating your body weight in calories after the big feast, the biggest shopping day of the year arrives, Black Friday! Dating back to the late 1980s, Black Friday is a day that kicks off the Christmas shopping season. But now people are skipping the long lines and opting for Cyber Monday the following week. Regardless of which day you prefer, everything comes with a risk. Here are some quick safety tips for shopping during these relentless times.
The alarm clock goes off super early and you are ready to hit the town running to every store with the best Black Friday deals. Shopping malls and outlets are filled with mobs of people running inside to get the latest PS5 or 4K TV. Be wary of retailers who promise certain deals for a certain amount of people. It can cause stampedes, protests and fights so make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes and clothing. If you wear a purse, you might want to consider leaving it at home since it will be easy to snatch up. Smaller purses or wallets with the least amount inside of them are best. If you are shopping with family and friends and get separated amongst the crowds, make sure everyone has their cell phones charged up so you can find each other.
After shopping for a bit, you decide to run back out to the car to drop off packages before heading in for round two. ResidentShield renters’ insurance will be there to protect you in case a thief is watching you and decides to break into your car. Bring some old blankets or towels so you can place them over those shopping bags, so they are not in view, or put them in the trunk. Parking near a light helps as well since thieves are less likely to be around a well-lit area.
For those of you who just got anxious reading about Black Friday, Cyber Monday can be a safer option. Cyber Monday started at the beginning of the 21st century. People were returning to the office and high-speed internet connections after the Thanksgiving holiday of window shopping and buying what they liked online.
The term Cyber Monday was coined by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in 2005 with a press release titled “Cyber Monday Quickly Becoming One of the Biggest Online Shopping Days of the Year.”
However, Cyber Monday comes with some risks as well. Be aware of scammers! Always make sure when you open any email you know who or what retailer it is from. Amazon, Apple, and more are constantly having scammers email fake emails to get personal information. Never shop on public WiFi. Learn to spot holiday shopping scams. Only shop at reputable retailers and read over reviews on products.
You also want to be aware of theft with all the packages that will be arriving soon at your doorstep. For those in apartments, make sure you know your complex’s package and delivery rules. Keep up with the tracking emails. If your packages get stolen, make sure you are covered by ResidentShield renters insurance.
Remember to take a deep breath and time outs for yourself during these stressful holiday weeks. Mental health is most important so be sure you are taking care of yourself first. Happy shopping!
