Cyber Monday, is this the new Better Black Friday?

So that's what they're calling today, Cyber Monday....

Black Friday (the day our darling retailers are finally "out of the red ink" and "into the black" in terms of their business profit... assuming that really means anything in this economically depressed time) has officially opened the holiday shopping season in the US. In this tight economy, I imagine that the special prices, bargains, sales and flare caused quite a stir and some long line-ups on retail floors this past Friday. Some of this frenzy may very well have spilled over into the weekend.

But now we are faced with something (relatively) new on the horizon... Cyber Monday.

So, what’s this all about anyway? Wasn't Black Friday “THE DAY” with the deals??

Well, believe it or not, Black Friday may not be "all that" anymore.

Cyber Monday is the Better Black Friday for online etailers. Allegedly, this is when the online etailers kick off their selling season. The kicker for your traditional "brick n'morter shops"....etailers offer comparable (or lower!) prices, no line ups and often free shipping... does it get better than this? But wait, there's more... you can enjoy your long holiday weekend and then shop on line from the comfort of either your home or even (say it aint’ so...) your office on Monday.  You can basically “shop til your mouse (or credit) drops or breaks...”

Cyber Monday has been called a gimmick, a marketing myth; others call it a buzz word without a basis in fact. But whatever you call it, in the end, it’s still shopping.

So whether you spend high or low, make sure you do it responsibly. Be happy and be safe.

Remember, things could always be worse...