Shopping online is convenient but can end up costing you more with added fees such as shipping rates. However, there are several internet hacks out there to help save you a significant amount money.
Stay on budget with these resources while shopping online:
Take coupons to the next level
You can easily search for coupons online, but knowing where to find some of the best is key. RetailMeNot and Coupon Craze are two sites definitely looking into, which offer discount codes for a variety of merchants. Ebates.com is another option that actually offers cash back when you shop through them. Similarly, Swagbucks not only pays you to take surveys but also shopping online as well.
Shop during the week
Shopping online allows for a little more flexibility and convenience. Take advantage of this and save money by perusing the internet for new goods on Tuesdays and Thursdays, according to this LifeHacker article. Wednesdays and Fridays will also provide discounts. Stores tend to promote more sales on these days.
Save time shopping online with Deal Squad
RetailMeNot created Deal Squad to help consumers find the best deal online. After pasting a link to the item you want, Deal Squad will e-mail you within 24 hours with the lowest price option. Simple and easy to use, this site also saves you time, and we all know that time is money.
Sign up for e-mails
Subscribe to e-mail lists to receive VIP discount codes and sales information. But, don’t overdo it. Only subscribe to your favorite brands to avoid even more of an information overload.
Use social media
Brands reward their customers for following them online by sharing special promotions on their pages. They may even offer a one-time sale for becoming a follower of their social media sites.
Pay attention to Amazon tools
One could spend hours on Amazon, but there are many savings to be had on the site as well. By using the Amazon Filler Item Finder tool, you can search for merchandise that meet the $35 minimum requirement to avoid shipping costs. An even more useful feature is Honey, which is an app that compares prices on Amazon for you. This includes the best final prices such as shipping costs.
See if you are owed a refund
Another useful internet tool exists to determine if you are owed any refunds. Paribus accesses the receipts from your online shopping and contacts the retailer if a price on a recent purchase has dropped in an attempt to retrieve refunds for you. Paribus is technically free to use, but it does take 25% of what is paid to you as a commission.
Utilize discounted gift cards
If you’ve ever received a gift card you don’t want, you can exchange a portion of it for cash through Cardpool. Conversely, you can also purchase those gift cards others did not want at discounted rates and use for your own online shopping. Just make sure to do the math first to see if this is the best route for you to take for savings.
By paying close attention, signing up for rewards programs and using the strategies above, you can save some serious cash when shopping online. In addition, you can use this strategy for your back-to-school shopping as well.
Do you love shopping online? Do you find these tools helpful? What would you personally add to the list? We’d love to read your comments below.
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