SINGAPORE — Hot on the heels of the recent Singles Day sales, online shoppers are gearing up for Black Friday (Nov 25) and Cyber Monday (Nov 28) deals. Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, while Cyber Monday was created by marketing companies to persuade people to shop online. Together, they are traditionally seen as the US’ annual shopping bonanza. Here are some tips on how to maximise your dollar:

Save on shipping when shopping from US sites

Shipping costs can make or break a great deal — you can avoid spending a bomb on shipping by using services such as MyUS. The site offers a package consolidation service that combines all your purchases from different US sites into one, so you save on international shipping charges. Not ready to shop from several sites on the same day? MyUS has a premium membership option that allows you to store your purchases at its warehouse for up to 30 days before consolidating your packages into one. Sign up for the free 30-day trial now to make the most of your upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday purchases.

Start making your wishlist

We are just a week away from the major sales, which means you should have your wishlist ready by now. Having a specific list of items you want to buy helps you decide if they are a good deal on the day of the sale — plus, it keeps you focused on what you really need to buy! What’s more, retailers such as Amazon are known for rolling out early bargains, so start stalking your favourite shopping sites daily.

Get familiar with the return policy

Different websites offer different return policies, so it is important to read the fine print before splashing out on a hefty purchase.

Branch out from the usual suspects

Even though Amazon is the king of Black Friday sales, there are other sales and promotions going on that are worth your time, too. Adidas, Asos, Coffee Bean, Grab, Lazada, Lego, Naiise, Shopback, Yankee Candle, Zalora are some, just to name a few.

This article first appeared on www.ELLE.sg