Today, the spirit of Christmas has become overshadowed by Christmas shopping. Often, it is difficult to find any virtues of this celebration which have not been reduced to consumerism. Nonetheless, the two-thousand year-old tradition remains at the forefront of our culture, regardless of how it is celebrated. What gains the most attention in the news are the long line-ups in stores, packed parking lots, the rush to buy presents last-minute, as well as available sales.
Super Saturday
The term “Super Saturday” has been used in various ways. In the US, it most commonly refers to the last Saturday preceding Christmas. It is the final day of the shopping season, which begins on Black Friday. Super Saturday is the last day people have to buy gifts, and stores capitalize on this by staying open longer and by offering various sales. For example, some stores remain open throughout the night and into Christmas day. Super Saturday is not highly popular when it comes to online shopping, as its purpose is really to allow the person to get last-minute gifts. However, at times people have decided to take this route due to extreme weather conditions, or simply because of the great deals available. Some people manage to get their last presents at the last moment, and some people manage to do all their Christmas shopping on this day. This is apparently motivated by great savings and happens in spite of the accompanying chaos and long waiting times.
Shopping Online
If you do decide to shop online to take advantage of Super Saturday deals, make sure to take the necessary precautions to ensure your information is in safe hands only. There are many things you can do to prevent identity theft. Firstly, it is best to shop from home. This way there is little chance that your information will fall into a stranger’s hands. Some websites store your information in order to speed up the shopping process, either automatically or with your permission, so avoiding public computers is important. Certain websites are more secure than others. Those sites whose address begins with “https://” are more secure than those with regular “https://” addresses. Make sure the address in your web browser begins with “https://” before entering any payment information. Another precaution which is worth considering is limiting the funds available to possible hackers trying to carry out identity theft. One way you can limit the amount available to them is through buying a credit card for a pre-specified sum. Such cards are disposable. Regaining lost funds is also usually easier for credit cards than for regular debit cards.
Finding The Best Deals
Finding the best deals has been made easy with today’s technology. The advent of the internet has granted easy access to store websites, allowing people to read up-to-date information about sales and hours of operation. There are also cellphone apps which help shoppers find the best deals, no matter where they are. One app worth checking out is called “Decide” and it is designed to foresee the price of an item at any given time. This is useful if you want to buy something at the best possible price and are not sure if the price for the item will eventually go down, or if it will remain stable for a really long time. Another option is available for those who cannot wait to make the purchase (for example: Super Saturday shoppers). The app is called “Red Laser” and it is designed to compare current prices, across stores. Make sure to also check out apps geared to the ecologically and ethically-conscious shopper, such as the app called “Good Guide”. This will help you reduce the negative social ramifications to which excessive consumerism contributes greatly. To view a list of similar apps, please continue onto the “Macworld” website.