If you missed the day-only deals and crushing crowds at local malls and stores this Black Friday, it's not too late to save a few bucks on holiday shopping. You still have Cyber Monday, the online equivalent.
And while the lines are shorter, you will have to find a way to sneak some time away from work to shop online.
According to a study by Consumer Reports, 17% of all Americans will shop online this Monday, while only 13% are expected to visit stores in person. Some retailers have predicted online sales to experience a huge jump this season--and they are boosting their deals and promotions to respond to demand.
Stores like Walmart, Overstock.com, and Amazon began offering some online discounts this weekend--called Cyber Weekend by many stores--and slashed prices on iPods, televisions, and computers. Toys R Us is promising the lowest prices of the season through their online store, with some toys marked down 60%. Many stores are offering free shipping and hourly deals, many continuing through the month of December.
The term "Cyber Monday" was first coined in 2005 to explain the sharp rise in online sales the Monday after Thanksgiving. Online sales have grown each year as stores began marketing to the day, and last year online shops recorded close to $900 million in one-day sales.
