If you're finding store prices too high these days, you may be tempted to click on a social media ad offering a great discount. But here's a warning before you do: the Better Business Bureau says social media platforms are packed with fraudulent posts targeting holiday shoppers.

In a recent BBB study, 40% of online shopping fraud reports originated as ads found on Facebook and Instagram.

Popular shoes at deep discount

Alejandra Matos is the latest victim. She loves HeyDude shoes, so while scrolling through social media, she thought she had struck gold.

"It was on TikTok," she said. "It was an ad showing a genuine logo as if it was a HeyDude page."

It resembled the official HeyDude website, but the clearance deals were incredible.

"They were offering 20 pairs of HeyDude shoes for $50, or 10 pairs of HeyDudes for $35," she said.

"I was like I'm not going to miss that," Matos added.

RELATED STORY | Fake reviews are costing consumers thousands of dollars each year, report says

She even received a shipping confirmation. But weeks later, no shoes. She took a closer look at the company's webpage and realized it was not the official HeyDude site.

"A lot of it was misspelled, incorrect spacing, wrong capitalization," she said.

Warning signs of an online scam

Those errors are the first signs of a fake or copycat website, according to Melanie McGovern with the Better Business Bureau.

"If one price is $39.99 with a dollar sign, but then another price has a different money sign from a different country... those are definite telltale flags," she said.

She says to always check the URL before you click and make a purchase. A fake may look legitimate but might incorporate extra words, letters, or numbers or use "dot-net" in its domain instead of "dot-com."

RELATED STORY | Fake designer goods warning: Could you spot a counterfeit?

Another place to find clues, McGovern said, is the contact page.

"If there's no phone number, no brick-and-mortar location, if it's just a form, that could be a red flag that they don't have any customer service," she said.

Matos, now out $90, also wants to warn others.

"I guess I acted too quickly in placing the order," she said.

So check out any social media ad carefully to make sure it links to the real site, so you don't waste your money.

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When budgeting for the holidays, did you budget enough for tips?

While thoughtful, tips add up quickly this time of year.

Luckily, tipping doesn't have to go to the extreme and if money is tight, it doesn't even have to be cash.

Sandy Vanatsky said she made a list of who to tip.

"I tip at least 20%," said Sandy Vanatsky. "It's the holidays."

"I'm getting my hair done this week, so she'll get a tip," Vanatsky added. "Anyone at restaurants, all the waiters and waitresses."

But etiquette experts say holiday tipping isn't just about putting more money in the tip jar.

Who should you tip?

Lizzie Post is co-president of the Emily Post Institute, a go-to source on etiquette.

"I think the way to think about holiday tipping is an end-of-the-year 'thank you' to the service people in your life," she said.

Post says tipping is about giving a "bonus" to people who help you all year.

"People who work on you personally or with your home, with your children, with your pets in some cases," she said.

Post notes, however, that people should never feel obligated to go beyond their personal budget.

If your budget doesn't allow for tips, Post said to consider giving a small gift like gloves for a mail carrier. She reminds people it's the thought that counts.

How much is a reasonable tip?

Post said a suggested amount to tip for many service providers is one week's pay for a nanny, housekeeper or dog walker, for example.

Or she said people can tip the cost of one session for professionals like a personal trainer, barber, salon tech or pet groomer.

At the end of the day, Post said you can never go wrong with a handwritten note alongside the tip.

"I think using your words means so much," she said.

Shopper Alicia Vester says even if money is tight, you should try to help those who help you, even if it's just a little bit.

"I think in the economy we have, tipping is helpful, especially if you have exemplary service," she said.

And that way you don't waste your money.

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Gift cards are an easy last-minute holiday gift. But it turns out not all gift cards are created equal.

Some you can buy at a discount, while others come with a fee you weren't expecting to pay. Crystal Johnson says she loves receiving a gift card.

"You can take that and do whatever you want with it, so you don't have to worry about maybe returning things," she said.

Kathy Beatty likes them too, but says there's one downside.

"For me a gift card stays in my wallet," she said, "And sometimes I forget about them!"

When choosing a gift card, WalletHub suggests you maximize savings by looking for discounts.

Especially around the holidays, many retailers offer gift cards for less than face value.

The most discounted cards, according to WalletHub, come from:

Sonic at 16 percent off. Cinemark at nearly 10 percent off. Netflix at 9 percent off.

Meantime, many restaurants will give you a $10 or $20 bonus gift card for yourself when you buy a gift card for someone else.

Consider resale value

But many times, we don't really want, or don't plan to use a particular gift card. The good news is there are many sites where you can resell them.

So if you need to sell a gift card, Wallethhub says the cards that get the most money back are:

Costco Home Depot Best Buy

Watch for cards with fees

One thing you may want to avoid, according to WalletHub's Chip Lupo, are cards with fees. He says Visa and Mastercard hit gift card buyers with fees close to $7.

"If you're shopping for someone and don't really have an idea of what their favorite retailers might be, something like that would be a good idea," he said of Visa and Mastercard gift cards. "But again, they do come with a cost which reduces the overall value."

Beware cards that lose value

Melanie McGovern with the Better Business Bureau says some gift cards lose value over time, so use them before it's too late.

"You might misplace it and forget about it and five years later you say, 'Oh I found this gift card but that retailer's out of business or it's empty.' So always use that gift card right away," she said.

Meantime, the Better Business Bureau warns you to inspect gift cards carefully for signs of tampering before you buy them.

Despite the risks, just about everyone appreciates them.

"I'd be good with that," Crystal Johnson said. "You got one? "

So give generously, but know the downsides with some cards, so you don't waste your money.

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You still have plenty of time left for holiday shopping, unless you're after one of the season's must-have toys. Stores have been advertising deals on toys for weeks, so the good news is that you'll find some great deals out there.

The bigger question is whether those popular toys will still be available when you need them.

Which toys to buy? The experts' suggestions

Amy Bueter struggles with which toys to buy.

"I got girls and boys," she said, "and boys are a lot harder than girls."

RELATED STORY | Stores shortening their return windows: What to know about holiday returns

So for a peek at some of the hottest toys of the year, we turned to James Zahn, a senior editor for The Toy Insider. Straight from its annual holiday gift guide, Zahn showed us:

Play-Doh pizza delivery scooter, equipped with a built-in pizza oven

"So I can open this up," he said, "and we've got all the stuff we need inside to bake Play-Doh pizzas."

Rainbow High Watercolor and Create fashion dolls

"Each one of these comes with all kinds of watercolors and clothing that the kids can decorate themselves," he said.

Animatronic Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch

"Stitch, you wanna take a nap?" he asked the toy. "So we'll just tuck him in."

When it comes to price, Zahn says deals are still out there, even if you missed Black Friday.

"You might even run across one-day specials," he said.

But when it comes to finding toys, Zahn warns we're now in the "danger zone."

"We see regional outages like Stitch, for example," he warned. "I might be able to go out and find a bunch of them today here, but for someone in another city, they might be gone already."

For a change, consider vintage toys

In the meantime, if your child likes the offbeat, consider it a classic. James Sawyer, co-owner of the vintage toy store The Toy Department, is amazed by how many kids these days are into Star Wars and Transformers toys from the 90s or early 2000s.

RELATED STORY | Advent calendars become a new holiday marketing craze

Plus, there's a bonus for mom and dad.

"It takes you right back to being a kid," he said.

And he says you do not have to pay hundreds of dollars for them, although some early Star Wars figurines will cost you that much. Some Star Wars toys, as well as Hot Wheels cars, are just a couple of dollars.

"We've got a whole collection that is $4 or $5 each," he said.

That way you get to relieve your memories, while your child gets to make new ones.

Visit TheToyInsider.com for more information about their toy recommendations and their complete 2024 Holiday Gift Guide.

And that way you don't waste your money.

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"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

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Imagine loading the car with presents on the way to grandma's house only to get a flat tire on the way. And after pulling off the highway, you get another surprise: the spare tire you thought was in the trunk was never really there.

 It's happening to more and more drivers these days, and in some circumstances can be dangerous.

College student stranded on the highway

When college student Courtney McKeown recently had a flat, she says she called AAA assuming the driver would simply swap out the spare tire.

"We thought it would be in there," she said. "So we opened that up and realized there wasn't a spare tire."

Her Jeep did not even include a temporary "donut" tire, just a little air pump.

"This is what you get as an alternative to a spare tire," her father Chris McKeown said. "You get this pump for inflating the tire and this can of Fix-a-Flat."

RELATED STORY | Advance Auto Parts plans to close over 700 stores as sales sag

But her father says the pump would have been useless.

"In our case, it wouldn't have worked because the hole was in the sidewall," he said.

So she had to call and wait for a tow truck in the dark.

More and more common

It turns out the issue of cars "missing" spare tires isn't really new. Consumer Reports found that since 2020:

Just 10% of cars are equipped with a full-sized spare Just under 50% come with a space-saver or donut tire

Consumer Reports automotive technician Michael Crossen says automakers are ditching spares to cut production costs and reduce the weight of the vehicle. But donuts are simply a temporary solution, he cautions.

"You shouldn't drive on them for more than 50 miles. So, it's truly temporary," he said. "And a lot of cars do come with those."

Spare tire or not, Consumer Reports says you should be ready for a flat in case it happens to you.

"You definitely should know what you have in your vehicle. You want to be familiar with it now rather than when you need it on the side of the road in the dark," he said.

RELATED STORY | 5 steps to save money on auto repair

 Crossen suggests you stock the basics:

Hazard triangles or road flares A working flashlight (that means check the flashlight batteries on occasion) Rags or gloves to help with a tire change And a phone number for roadside assistance

"I think there's a lot of people out there that don't realize this," McKeown said, talking about her Jeep's empty wheel well in the back.

McKeown now plans to buy his daughter a donut tire, typically around $100, saying it's money well spent.

That way you are safe in the event of a flat, and you don't waste your money.

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"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

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The last thing you want after buying or receiving a gift is not being able to return what you really don't need. That's why it's important to check a retailer's return policy before you make that purchase because some are not as loose as they were a few years ago.

Julie Sons, looking for toys at Walmart, wasn't thinking too much about returns.

"I usually don't worry about it," she said. "It's usually pretty easy to return anything."

RELATED STORY | Many retailers offer 'returnless refunds.' Just don't expect them to talk much about it

But Marshalls and TJ Maxx shopper Briana Green still takes precautions, just in case.

"I do keep all my receipts," she said while leaving the stores with a nice haul. "That's because my mom taught me to do that."

Extended return windows... in some cases

Consumer Reports Deals editor Samantha Gordon says one nice thing around the holidays is that many retailers extend their return windows for purchases made during the holiday shopping season.

"They know that shoppers are buying things in October and November," she said, "and that they're not giving to their recipients until late December."

But every policy is different including start and end dates.

RELATED STORY | Retailers saw $743 billion in returns in 2023

Retailers that have extended returns until January 31, for most holiday items, include:

Amazon Bed Bath and Beyond (after its recent acquisition by Overstock) Macys Walmart

But other stores have earlier return deadlines this year, including:

Old Navy: January 15. Best Buy: January 14.

Best Buy's Tyler Curtice reminds shoppers they have just two weeks into the new year, so don't delay.

"Starting November 1, our return policy runs through January 14," he said. "You can return items or request a price match."

In the meantime, Target's extended holiday return window this year only applies to electronics and entertainment items. Most electronics can be returned until January 24. But Target says Apple and Beats products must be returned by January 8, if they were bought between November 7 and December 24.

Be sure to save your receipt or get gift receipts for people you're shopping for to ensure easy returns later.

"Some retailers will honor a return without a receipt," Gordon said. "But if you have it, the odds of getting that full return or exchange, whatever the case may be, is definitely gonna be better if you have that receipt."

Other tips to make for smoother returns:

Dont open boxes or remove tags if you think you won't want the item Check a stores return policy before you buy

Some stores will let you keep returns

Nowadays, you may even run into rare situations where a store lets you keep returns. A recent ReturnPro survey found that 59% of stores implemented "keep it" policies last year. They typically apply to goods less than $20, and only when a store thinks it costs more to restock an item than to let you keep it.

Shopper Rob Raby says he makes sure he is well prepared for the inevitable return.

"I save all receipts for everything," he said.

That way you should have many happy returns, and you don't waste your money.

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You'd hate to order the perfect holiday gift this Cyber Monday or in the days afterward only to have it snatched by a porch pirate.

So we turned to one of the giants in the delivery business for ways to keep your packages safe after one man had an expensive delivery disappear after it was dropped off.

Package was dropped off and stolen in a couple of hours

Matthew Hubbard showed us the spot where he says a Grinch stole his Christmas.

"They put it right here in front of the straw bale," he said, pointing to a spot at the end of his driveway, at his Kenton County, Kentucky home.

He had ordered $300 worth of parts to repair his truck but says when the delivery arrived, he was visiting someone at a local hospital, and no one was home.

The delivery driver sent a text showing the package was indeed dropped off.

But, Hubbard said, "within a 3-hour window it was gone."

For an idea of how widespread this problem is, the company Safewise estimates 120 million packages were stolen from porches in 2023.

This holiday season, we checked with an Amazon spokesperson, Richard Rocha, for what the retail giant suggests you do to protect yourself

To start, he suggests shoppers tap into their real-time tracking tools.

"We provide a photo on delivery," he said, "so you can see exactly where the package was left."

If you are not going to be home, Rocha suggests you:

Specify a hidden drop-off location around the house. Or, when possible, ship to an alternate location. And set up text alerts with Amazon or other retailers.

Use caution with text alerts these days

Rocha says text and email alerts are a great way to track packages.

But keep in mind that a delivery text may be a fake.

The Better Business Bureau's Melanie McGovern reminds us that fake delivery alerts may contain fraudulent links.

"Everybody gets fake texts from USPS," she said, as well as from UPS, FedEx, and other services.

So she suggest you "keep track of everything so you know if you opted in for that text or if it's a scam."

If a package is stolen, she says:

Report the theft to the police and the shipping company. Reach out to the retailer to see if the item can be replaced. Check if your credit card offers purchase protection.

Matthew Hubbard says his claim, which is not with Amazon, has gone nowhere.

"They just opened a case and closed it," he said,

And he now has less money for his family this Christmas.

"We work hard for our money and provide for our household, and $300 is a large hit in any circumstance," he said.

So don't let an unattended package sit outside for hours, so you don't waste your money.

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Throughout the holiday season, and especially during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, we're all looking for those ultra-low markdowns. But these days, impostors are lurking everywhere who could ruin your holiday cheer.

Shoppers Mandy, Julie, and Holly, who were out shopping at a recent craft market, say fake or misleading ads have burned them.

"You see something for sale, and what you get is not the same thing. Oh yeah, all the time," they said,

RELATED STORY | Save on your holiday greeting cards with these highly rated services

Ashley Volbrecht owns a mobile fashion boutique, Truckshop.

She has heard many stories of fashion fails from customers duped by low prices on social media.

"If it's too good to be true, it's too good to be true," she said. "You get it in person, and it doesn't look like the photo or its lighted differently."

Beware spoofed websites, unexpected messages from stores

James Mirfin is the global head of Visa's Risk and Identity Solutions.

"You do need to be much more aware when you're shopping online," he said.

His first warning: Watch out for spoofed websites that are after your information.

Recently, he said, "We saw a nearly 300% increase in the number of fake or scam merchants that were set up compared to the previous four months."

NerdWallet credit card expert Sara Rathner says to be especially wary of emails and texts from retailers, even if you've shopped with them before.

"Sometimes they're telling you, 'Hey, there's something wrong with your account. Click here to update your account information.' Don't do it. Do not click that button," she said.

When shopping online, experts say:

Shop with a trusted retailer Beware rof etailers you have never heard of in social media ads offering extremely low prices Set up two-factor authentication, especially if you've saved your credit card information online

When shopping in person at a store or craft fair, Mirfin says you still need to be on guard.

"The best thing you can do for secure transactions is to tap or to use contactless. So there's an extra level of security and peace of mind that comes there," he said.

RELATED STORY | Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: When are the better deals?

And if possible, he says use a credit card, which provides more protection against fraudulent activity, instead of a debit card.

Karen Gassett is extra cautious when shopping online.

"Is it true, or is it fake? You are kind of taking your chance," she said.

That's why she prefers shopping in person at trusted stores, and local craft fairs where you know who the artist is, so you don't waste your money.

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From the envelopes to the very last stamp, the cost of sending holiday cards grows quickly. Some are simple cards with a basic holiday message, and they can be a good way to save money.

But personalized cards, with family photos, or a fold-out format, can come with add-ons that quickly cost more than you expected. So what can you do?

Shop local for memorable, unique cards

Are you tired of the same type of Christmas cards? Consider shopping local. At a recent holiday craft market, we found Jen Jordan and her son Jakob building a card business, Cards by Jakob, out of something he started doing for fun.

"He designs them all," Jordan said, showing off dozens of holiday cards. "He spends three, four, five hours on each one."

RELATED STORY | Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: When are the better deals?

Jakob is nonverbal, but he expresses himself with intricate, colorful drawings of birds, snowmen, and other holiday themes. And every buyer gets something unique.

"The beauty is there is so much love that goes into the cards that Jakob produces," Jordan said, "and people feel it."

Save on photo cards

Buying cards at a local shop, or even the dollar store, can save money. But what if you prefer sending personalized cards with family photos?

That is where costs can add up fast.

Consumer Reports just evaluated 10 popular holiday card services to help you choose the right cards for your budget. Lisa Fogarty said, "There really is a major difference when you see the cards at the end of the process."

Of the 10 services they ordered from, Consumer Reports gave Tinyprints by Shutterfly the top spot in terms of quality. But Fogarty says just 25 cards at TinyPrints cost nearly $110.

RELATED STORY | Best apps to manage your money as the holiday shopping season ramps up

Their best mid-priced option, Nations Photo Lab, drops to $46 for the same number of cards.

"But you're really getting amazing quality for the price," she said, "and you're saving some money in the process."

For even bigger savings, Consumer Reports rated Staples the most convenient, at around $30, but says youre sacrificing photo and paper quality.

When choosing a card service, Fogarty recommends:

Checking websites frequently for sales and discount codes Giving up some of the extras, like address printing, unless theyre offered for free

Lastly, she cautions you to order early enough so you have time to mail out your cards. Running late? You may want to visit a store that prints on-site.

"Those companies like Staples and Walmart exist so that you have that convenience of picking up those cards on the same day sometimes," she said.

Plus at small stores, you support local artists like Jakob Jordan, that way you don't send out the same card as everyone else.

And you don't waste your money.

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It's an annual debate: Should you shop Black Friday or Cyber Monday for the best deals?

It's tempting to grab a Black Friday markdown when you see them start to roll out in stores over the next few days. But keep in mind, you may find even better deals on Cyber Monday.

So when should you pull out the credit card? At Walmart, Kaylee Polk told us she's team Cyber Monday.

"So you like to be home on Cyber Monday and shop," we asked her. "Yes, I do," she replied.

RELATED STORY | Best apps to manage your money as the holiday shopping season ramps up

At Home Depot, meantime, Christina Romano told us she is team Black Friday.

"To be honest with you," she said, "I feel it is all the same. I feel like the month of November is Black Friday deals."

Maybe as a result of such extended Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday is emerging as the most popular time to shop. In a recent survey, 59 percent of people said they plan to shop Cyber Monday, surpassing 53 percent on Black Friday.

Consumer Reports' Samantha Gordon says many stores will offer the same deals both days, with some exceptions on Cyber Monday.

"Historically, tech products are at better prices [on Cyber Monday]. There tend to be more deals online than in stores. That is how Cyber Monday got started," she said.

RELATED STORY | Here's how to cut down on impulse purchases ahead of the holidays

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch says regardless of when you shop, 30 percent off is a good benchmark for newer, popular items.

"The newest Instant Pot model or a really hot holiday toy like Barbie Dream House," she said. "If you're getting that for around 30% off and you're worried about it selling out, buy it when you see it on sale."

Why you don't have to stress about lower prices later

If you're really unsure when to buy, don't stress. That's because retailers tend to have generous price match policies around the holidays.

At Target, for example, you can request a price match on or before December 24th. One exception is Amazon, which does not price match other stores or its own site.

Otherwise, when you buy something on Black Friday, check for a lower price Cyber Monday. If it is cheaper, then ask for an adjustment.

RELATED STORY | Are prices actually lower on Black Friday? Report indicates not everything is on sale

That's shopper Karen Gassett's plan.

"I'll do Black Friday more than Cyber Monday," she said, knowing she can still get the lower price if it goes down.

That way you don't waste your money.

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"Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").

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