I hope everyone has a wonderful #Thanksgiving and #blackfriday shopping experience! You can find my Thanksgiving turkey recipe online at https://t.co/ApbMMPijBp #creditchat @experian Thanks for having me!

A10: Enable two-factor authentication on all shopping accounts. Yes, it's annoying to wait for a text code. But it's way less annoying than discovering someone drained your account while you were shopping for wrapping paper. #creditchat @experian #scam #idtheft

A10: Use unique, strong passwords for every retail and banking site. Even better: use a password manager. And, 2FA. If one retailer gets hacked, thieves can't access all your accounts. It takes 2 minutes and could save you months of headaches. #creditchat @experian

A9: Use one credit card for online shopping and check it daily. Set up text alerts for every purchase. If something's wrong, you'll catch it immediately. The faster you report fraud, the faster it gets resolved. #creditchat @experian

A9: My list: 1. Shop on secure sites only (look for the padlock icon). 2. Use credit, not debit. 3. Never save card info on retail sites. 4. Check statements weekly for unauthorized charges. 5. And for in-store? Keep your card in sight at all times. #creditchat @experian

A8: I read the return policy before I buy, especially during sales. Many "final sale" deals aren't returnable. You've got to know the deadline and what condition items must be in. Keep receipts. A great price isn't great if you're stuck with it. #creditchat @experian

A8: Free returns matter more during the holidays when you're buying gifts. Extended return windows through January are worth seeking out. And always get a gift receipt—saves awkward conversations later. #creditchat @experian

A7: Misspelled URLs that look almost right, requests to pay via gift cards or wire transfer, no physical address, and stolen product photos. Google the company name plus "scam" before buying from anyone new. #creditchat @experian https://t.co/41zNcSlScM

A7: Sketchy URLs, prices way too good to be true, no contact info, poor grammar, and pressure to buy NOW. If it feels off, it probably is. Stick to retailers you know or verify they're legit before entering card info. #creditchat @experian

A6: Add items to your cart but don't check out for 48 hours. Most of the time, you'll go back and think "why did I want that?" Delete and move on. If you still want it, at least it was a conscious choice. #creditchat @experian

A6: Sleep on it. If you still want it tomorrow, fine. But that 24-hour pause kills most impulse buys. Also, leave your credit cards at home when you're just browsing. You can't spend if you don't have it you. (And, disable Google Wallet or ApplePay!) #creditchat @experian

A5: Pay your credit card bill weekly during the holidays instead of monthly. Seeing your credit card balance go up in real-time (and your bank balance go down) will make you think twice before the next purchase. Out of sight is out of mind—and dangerous. #creditchat @experian

A5: Treat your credit card like a debit card—only charge what you can pay off this month. Earn rewards on purchases you'd make anyway, not stuff you don't need. Remember, carrying a balance wipes out any rewards. #creditchat @experian

A4: Check price history sites to see if that "50% off" is real or inflated. Read reviews before buying. And ask yourself: would I buy this at full price? If not, the sale price doesn't make it worth it. #creditchat @Experian

A4: Compare prices across retailers before buying. Check if the "sale" price is actually lower than last month. Sign up for price alerts. And remember: it's only a deal if you needed it anyway. #creditchat @experian

A3: Use credit for the protections but treat it like cash—meaning if you don't have the money in your checking account right now, don't buy it. Rewards are worthless if you're paying 24% interest on the balance. #creditchat @experian

A3: Credit card—but only if you pay it off monthly. You get fraud protection, rewards, and can dispute charges. Debit cards drain your checking account immediately. Cash limits impulse buys but offers zero protection. #creditchat @experian

A2: The deals look so good you convince yourself you're saving money by spending it. That's not saving—that's marketing. Set your limit before you start scrolling and stop when you hit it. #creditchat @experian https://t.co/41zNcSlScM

A2: Everything's marked "limited time only" so you think you'll miss out. But, #FOMO is expensive. Remember: there's always another sale. If you miss this one, there's pre-xmas, then Dec 26, and Amazon days with regularity. You'll survive. I promise. #creditchat @experian

A1a: Start with last year's spending and be honest about what you regretted buying. Cut that from this year's budget. Then divide what's left by the number of people you're shopping for. That's your per-person limit. #creditchat @experian