It’s no secret that online shopping has completely changed the way many of us spend money. After all, it’s incredibly easy to buy almost anything you want from the comfort and convenience of home.
The problem, however, is how easy it’s become to overspend when shopping online. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to budget and save money when online retailers make shopping so fun and convenient.
In this article, we take a look at some great money saving tips to help prevent going broke as you browse your favorite online retail sites.
Keep reading to learn how to start saving big bucks today.
Sign Up for Email Lists
It’s important to remember that every retailer with an online presence is eager to have your email address. This enables them to reach out to you with newsletters, seasonal discounts, coupons, and other information that can help you save money.
Many people prefer to keep their email private, but this is actually a missed opportunity. Retailers love to know that you’re interested in their products, and email is a cheap and easy way to help you save money.
Retailers are constantly offering discounts on specific items or a percentage off of your entire purchase.
Take Advantage of Online Coupon Sites
There are a number of great coupon sites that offer coupons for various products free of charge. Most of the time it really is as easy as simply copying the coupon or a promo code.
Some coupon sites ask you to sign up with your email address, but that’s a small price to pay for the ongoing savings opportunities .
Here is a helpful site that can help you start saving money today.
Use Google to Compare Prices
Google is a powerful tool for comparing prices online. This is a simple feature where you simply type in the specific item you’re shopping for, and then click on the SHOPPING tab to see the price offered by a wide range of online retailers.
The feature allows you to set specific shopping criteria, such as price, brand, shipping options, etc, so that you can find the best possible deal.
Shop Online and Pick Up In-Store
Another great tip for saving money when shopping online is to pick up your purchase in-store. This saves money by eliminating shipping costs. And it saves you time since you don’t have to wander around the store shopping for the item you’re interested in, and possibly discovering that it’s out of stock.
With in-store pickup, you can shop from the convenience of your couch while you watch TV. You can take your time, compare prices across multiple retail sites, find the right item at them best price, and make your purchase using your preferred method of payment. Then you can pick up the item at the store at your convenience.
This method of shopping offers the convenience of shopping while eliminating shipping costs. And many retailers offer lower prices when you make your purchase online rather than in-store.
Make Major Purchases During Seasonal Sales
More and more people are discovering that online retailers offer the same major seasonal and holiday discounts as the brick and mortar stores.
This is another reason why it’s such a smart idea to sign up for email newsletters. Online retailers will typically alert you to upcoming events such as Black Friday and other holiday sales when many items will be offers at significantly reduced prices.
We recommend planning ahead and making shopping lists in order to maximize savings during these special seasonal sales. These are great opportunities to make Christmas and birthday purchases, and then sock them away for later in the year.
This is especially true during the days and weeks following Christmas when many retailers offer deep discounts on a wide variety of products.
Sign Up for Customer Loyalty Clubs
Loyalty clubs are another way retailers reward customers who tend to show brand loyalty. Many retailers regularly offer coupons when you subscribe to their email lists, and as a member of a loyalty club, you’ll typically be privy to discounts not offered to the general public.
You’ll also be offered deep discounts on items that are specially offered to loyalty club members but won’t be available to non-members. This is a great way to save extra money and to feel like you are getting exclusive deals.
Search for “As Is” Items for Deep Discounts
Another savings opportunity that many online retailers offer yet don’t always advertise is “As Is” discounts. These are discounts on items that are typically either damaged or have been discontinued.
These items are often in perfectly fine condition but maybe slightly damaged in some minor cosmetic way, such as a scratch or missing a part. These items are generally offered at a deep discount if you aren’t worried about your purchased item being new out of the box.
Simply go to the search field on the retail website of your choice, and search the term “as is”. You might be surprised at how much money you can save on items that are often in great condition.
Keep Items in Your Online Shopping Cart
Here’s a final money-saving tip you might not have been aware of. When you put an item into your shopping cart on an online retail site and leave it there, that retailer will send you email reminders that the item is in your cart, and will typically alert you of any price drops.
This feature allows you to save money without having to be constantly shopping for lower prices on the items your want.
Great Tips for How to Budget and Save Money When Shopping Online
Learning how to budget and save money when shopping online is a great way to give your wallet a break. After all, there’s nothing better than finding a great deal on items you’ve been looking for. The tips contained in this article can help make the most of every dollar.
Click here to see the best budgeting apps and why you should use one.
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