Survey finds over 76 percent of Americans plan to shop Black Friday and Cyber Monday: 5 ways to save on gifts this year

With Black Friday finally making its way to our calendars this week, many are planning to cross off items on their holiday list. But the question remains – will people be shopping online or in-store?

Well, according to a recent survey from TopCashback.com, the USA’s most generous cash back site, 86 percent of Americans plan to shop online this holiday season.

The survey polled a cross-section of 3,486 adults, aged 18 and over.

Digital Deals

Why do you plan on shopping online this upcoming holiday season?

• I want to avoid the crowds/long lines. (75 percent)

• Convenience – I prefer to get everything shipped to my home. (66 percent)

• I believe I get the best deals online. (60 percent)

• I’m too busy to shop in-person. (32 percent)

• The stores I like are only online. (12 percent)

And to help you score festive deals and the gifts you want, here are five tips from Rebecca Gramuglia, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. 

• Stack the savings. Holiday shopping means holiday sales, and what better way to save than by combining multiple deals and discounts? Don’t rush into purchasing from the first place you see the item you want. Instead, take a few extra minutes to look for the item at its lowest price point then layer on any applicable coupons and promotions. And be sure to shop through a cash back site, like TopCashback.com, to score a percentage of your money back on qualifying purchases from over 4,400 retailers.

o While comparing prices is key, comparing cash back rates is also important so you can score as much money back as you can. Shop TopCashback’s Black Friday Hub all week long from Monday, November 22 through Friday, November 26 to score increased cash back rates from popular retailers like Dyson, Macy’s, Reebok and more.

• Be in the loop. Is your must-have item out of stock? Want to be in the know for flash sales? Sign up for notifications (emails, texts, etc.) from your favorite stores to stay in the loop on when promotions go live. You can also check the retailer’s website and social media accounts for any updates.

• Use plastic. Before you grab your go-to credit card, look to see if you’ll be getting the most rewards possible from your holiday shopping list. Your card(s) may earn you increased cash back rates and exclusive offers on certain categories and/or at specific retailers. This can help you determine where to shop for gifts in order to get the most out of your holiday spending. And once you’re finished shopping, you can use the cash back earned towards a statement credit or other rewards depending on your card’s terms – right in time to help pay off your holiday bills.

• Save on shipping. If you still want to score Black Friday deals but want to avoid the long lines, opt to purchase your item online and pick it up either curbside or in-store (if available). When shopping online at your favorite retailer, look for either a “curbside pickup” or “in-store pickup” option when adding items to your cart.

• Go mobile. Believe it or not, you can sometimes find exclusive deals simply by shopping through a store’s app instead of the website. Make sure you’re signed up for emails from stores you frequently shop at to be notified of any app-exclusive discounts, promotions and first-time purchase deals.