Is Cyber Monday different from Black Friday?

Verdict: Skip the wait. For most items, Black Friday and Cyber Monday offer similar prices, so pick whichever the deal shows up on first.

Cyber Monday is the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend. It began as an online-only shopping day. Now the two events blur together, and many retailers run sales for the whole stretch from before Black Friday to after Cyber Monday. ## When Cyber Monday can be the better day

Usually in a few categories: online-only products, software and subscriptions, and some electronics that were sold out or sold at a limited price on Friday. Retailers also tend to run leftover Black Friday stock again, sometimes with a slightly different price. This is a typical pattern, and it changes each year.

When to skip waiting

Do not hold off for Monday if:

• the item is popular and could sell out
• the price on Friday already hits your target
• you need it as a gift and shipping time is tight

A deal that sells out is not a deal you can wait for. If your target price shows up early, take it.

The rule

Use the price-history check: look at the last 30 days, the last 90 days and the last big event. If the Friday price is at or near the low, buy. If it is not, wait for Monday and look again, since a second chance costs nothing.

For the full list of what is and is not worth buying, see what is real and what is hype on Black Friday. If you are worried about a price falling after you buy, read about price adjustments and returns.