Many parents, just like myself, will be doing the majority of their Christmas shopping online this year. And why wouldn't you? Prices are much more competitive online than on the high street, there is a wider variety of websites where you can shop and you can do it all on the go. However, there are some potential pitfalls that parents might encounter if they are doing all of their shopping online this Christmas. You just need to be extra careful about where and how you are spending your money.

Online fraud

Not every website is trustworthy. Just because a site is ranking at the top of search engine queries doesn't mean that it is safe or reliable. Parents should be diligent around Christmas to make sure they don't fall victims of fraud. There are a few ways in which parents can ensure they are shopping from a trustworthy source. You could check its Google reviews, for instance, or find out if it's listed on a site like Trustpilot.

Fake items

However, fake websites are not the only thing that parents need to be cautious about; they also need to be careful about fake items. Even marketplaces as commonplace as Amazon can be populated by fake products. In fact, The Independent claims that 60 per cent of the links on some internet search engine results pages are for websites that sell fake and possibly dangerous goods. Parents should make sure they do their research before buying anything suspicious.

Budgeting

Christmas is an expensive time. For parents, it is important to make sure you are budgeting properly. A study by PayPlan, a debt management company, revealed the effects of this. They found over 50% of parents will have to rely on their credit cards to cover essential costs this Christmas because they spend so much money on gifts. Many of them even said that the situation left them feeling stressed, anxious and depressed.

Being cautious about how much you spend this Christmas and where you purchase your shopping from will ensure parents have a happier holidays. It guarantees you won't have to break the bank, won't fall victim to fraud and won't land on the receiving end of a scam that might dampen the festive spirits.