Tips for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is a day to focus on spending at small and local retailers. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping:

• American Express offers a $10 credit on member statements when you spend $10 at a qualifying business. You must register your card before Nov. 30 and shop at one of the businesses listed . Online purchases do not qualify.
• Franchise owners are small business people too. Don't forget to visit them on SBS.
• For more ideas on where to shop during SBS visit this list of businesses sorted by state from the National Federation of Independent Business.
• Remember that many online businesses are also small businesses and shop them on Cyber Monday for deals.

Still not done shopping? There’s always Cyber Monday. Here are a few ways to have a safe and successful online shopping experience:

Shop with credit: Credit cards carry anti-fraud protections, making shopping online safer.

Minimize information: Use a unique password to shop on Cyber Monday that you don't use for other accounts and provide the least information possible when placing an order. Unless it is a website you frequent, check out as a guest instead of registering. Use a special "shopping" email address to receive confirmations, receipts.

Get organized: Make sure you've searched for the best price of the items you want using price comparison tools. Find coupon codes or cash back offers before you start shopping. And know the requirements for free shipping so you to don't get stuck at checkout paying more than you intended.