It’s no secret that the cost of living has been on the rise over the past few years. To make ends meet, more and more people are turning to online shopping as a way to save money.
And while it’s true that you can save a lot of money by shopping online, it’s also important to be savvy about how you go about it. Here are some of the most effective ways for saving money while shopping online.
Compare prices before you buy
One of the great things about shopping online is that you have access to a wide variety of retailers, and you should take advantage of this by comparing prices before you make a purchase. A few minutes of research could save you a significant amount of money.
You can also use price comparison websites like PriceGrabber or Google Shopping to find the best deals on the items you’re interested in. Make sure to take shipping costs into account when you’re comparing prices, as this can make a big difference to the overall cost of your purchase.
Sometimes, retailers offer special online-only deals that are lower than their in-store prices. So, it’s always worth checking the online price before you head to the store.
Look for online coupons and promo codes
Another easy way to save money while shopping online is to look for coupons and promo codes that can be applied to your purchase, and there are a few different ways to do this.
The first place to look is the retailer’s website. Many retailers will list any current coupons or promo codes on their homepage or in a dedicated section of their site.
They may also send out exclusive coupons and promo codes to their email subscribers, so it’s worth signing up for their mailing list if you’re interested in saving money. However, this process is made much easier with online shopping assistants, one of which is SafeOpt, which helps you find coupons and promo codes for the retailers you’re interested in. You just need to provide your email address, choose the retailer you want to shop with, and SafeOpt will automatically apply any available coupons or promo codes to your purchase.
In addition to looking for coupons on the retailer’s website, you can also search for them on general coupon websites like RetailMeNot or Coupons.com. These websites compile a list of coupons and promo codes for a variety of different retailers, so it’s a good idea to check them before you make a purchase.
You can also follow your favorite retailers on social media. Many retailers will post exclusive deals and offers on their social media pages, so it’s a good idea to follow them if you want to stay in the know.
Wait for sales and special promotions
One of the best ways to save money while shopping online is to wait for sales and special promotions. Many retailers offer discounts on certain items or categories of items at regular intervals, so if you can wait to purchase until one of these sales or promotions is taking place, you’ll be able to save a lot of money.
Of course, it can be difficult to keep track of all the sales and promotions taking place at different retailers, but there are a few ways to make it easier. You can sign up for the email newsletters of your favorite retailers so that you’ll be notified about any upcoming sales or promotions. You can also follow them on social media, as many retailers will also promote their sales and promotions through their social media channels.
Join loyalty programs and take advantage of rewards
Many retailers offer loyalty programs that give you access to exclusive deals and offers, and some of them also offer rewards that you can redeem for cash or store credit. So, if you shop with a particular retailer regularly, it’s worth signing up for their loyalty program.
In addition to taking advantage of the exclusive deals and offers available to loyalty program members, you can also earn rewards that you can redeem for cash or store credit. For example, many retailers offer points for every purchase you make, and these points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases. Some retailers also offer special rewards for shopping during certain periods or spending a certain amount of money.
Take advantage of cashback programs
If you’re not familiar with cash-back programs, they allow you to earn money back on your purchases. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common is to sign up for a cash-back credit card.
There are a few different cash-back credit cards available, but they all work in basically the same way. You earn a certain percentage of cashback on every purchase you make, and this cashback can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases or cash.
For example, the Discover it Cash Back card offers 5% cashback on purchases in certain categories (like gas, restaurants, and Amazon.com) and 1% cashback on all other purchases. So, if you use this card to make a $100 purchase at a restaurant, you would earn $5 cashback.
In addition to credit cards, there are also a few different websites and apps that offer cashback on online purchases. The two most popular are Rakuten (formerly known as Ebates) and Swagbucks.
Both Rakuten and Swagbucks work in basically the same way. You create an account and then browse the available offers. When you find an offer you’re interested in, you click through to the retailer’s website and make your purchase as normal. Once the purchase is complete, you’ll earn cashback that will be deposited into your account.
Rakuten offers cashback at a variety of different retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target. Swagbucks also offers cashback at a variety of different retailers, but it also has other ways to earn money, like taking surveys and watching videos.
You can save a lot of money by shopping online if you know how to do it effectively. There are a few different ways to save money, but some of the most effective include waiting for sales and promotions, signing up for loyalty programs, and taking advantage of cash-back programs.
So, if you’re looking to save money on your next online purchase, keep these tips in mind.
