With the holiday season quickly approaching, many savvy shoppers may be considering ways to save money .and get ahead on their gift shopping. Using the internet to save online is one of the best ways to reduce the hassle and cost of holiday shopping, according to Las Crusces Sun-News.

"It's not hard to [shop online.] in this environment," Gary Gomes, who routinely shops online, told the news source. "It costs so much to ship something. [The online retailer will] put a card and fake your name so that, coupled with pricing and ease, it's a no-brainer."

According to Phil Rist, executive vice president of BIGresearch, many online merchants will be using social networking websites such as Twitter and Facebook to reach out to shoppers. Wise consumers may want to look for great deals on these platforms.

The website also reminds people to shop safe.ly this holiday season. Remember to review return policies and check that all connections are secure when making purchases on the internet in order to avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime.

According to the Better Business Bureau, for the past five years, identity theft has been the top complaint received by the Federal Trade Commission. Using secure payment services is a good way to protect sensitive data when shopping online.