neoncherries
Is there anything better than ordering yourself a little something fun? Here are ten easy online shopping tips that will help you save on everything.
Online shopping is on the rise in the U.S., and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, by the year 2021, it’s anticipated that the U.S. will be home to at least 230 million online shoppers!
There’s nothing wrong with online shopping. However, if you’re working with a strict budget, online shopping is an easy way for expenses to add up without you realizing it.
You don’t have to give up online shopping altogether. You just have to be smart about the way you shop.
Listed below are ten online shopping tips that will help you save money while still getting the items you need and love.
1. Compare Before You Buy
If you come across an item that has been marked down or seems to be going for a great price, don’t buy it right away.
Instead, do some research to see if you’re actually getting the best deal. There might be a better sale somewhere else or a similar product that is available at a lower price.
Taking the time to compare before you pull the trigger can help you save a lot of money.
2. Let Your Cart Sit
These days, we can get pretty much whatever we want, whenever we want. In a day and age where so much is available at our fingertips, it helps to practice delaying gratification from time to time.
Instead of going ahead and buying everything you’ve put in your virtual cart, let it sit for a day or two. This gives you time to reflect and decide whether you actually want to go through with the purchase.
3. Subscribe to Email Newsletters
If you shop with a particular online retailer on a regular basis, consider signing up for their email newsletter.
When you do this, you will be alerted when there’s a big sale going on and you’ll be able to grab your favorite items at lower prices.
As an added bonus, you also often will receive a small discount code (usually in the 10-20 percent off range) when you sign up for a store’s email list.
4. Get Price Drop Alerts
There are lots of online services that send you emails when the price drops on a particular item.
Take advantage of these alerts to get great deals and save money on items that you’ve had your eye on for a while. This is great for big-ticket items that you don’t need right away.
Signing up for these emails will also help you to avoid buyer’s remorse since you’ll know you got the item for a great price.
5. Search for Coupon Codes
Always search online for coupon codes before you complete a purchase.
There are tons of discount codes available, and you could save a lot by taking a few minutes to do some digging. If you’re not interested in the hunt but still want discounts, sign up for a browser extension that scans for coupon codes for you.
You’ll be amazed at some of the deals these browser extensions find for you, and they’re usually available at no cost to you.
6. Shop Seasonally
Shopping seasonally isn’t just for the grocery store. You can also save money by buying certain items during specific seasons.
For example, you can often find great deals on winter clothing if you wait until the early spring to purchase them.
It takes a bit of planning and preparation to become a seasonal shopping pro. Once you get the hang of it, though, you’ll be able to save a lot of money.
7. Download Retailer’s Apps
Another great way to save money when shopping with a specific retailer is to download their app.
Lots of retailers have apps that give you access to coupon codes and special offers that other shoppers won’t know about.
This is great for those who do a lot of shopping on the go or from their mobile device and don’t want to miss out on savings.
8. Pick Up in Store
If you love online shopping but hate paying for shipping, try to order online and pick up in store when you have the chance.
This allows you to continue enjoying the convenience of shopping from home, but you get to avoid those pesky shipping fees.
Of course, you might not always have the option to pick up in store, but take advantage of it when you can.
9. Avoid Dynamic Pricing
Online retailers use dynamic pricing to increase the cost of particular items based on the demand for a product, your browsing history, your location, and your spending patterns.
To avoid dynamic pricing, be sure to clear your browsing history and cookies before you shop. Log out of your email accounts and switch to incognito mode, too.
There are also browser extensions that can help you outsmart the dynamic pricing model.
Taking these steps will help you avoid paying more than you should for a particular item and allow you to keep more money in your savings account.
10. Sign Up for Rewards Programs
Finally, be sure to sign up for rewards programs with your favorite online retailers.
This will give you access to more savings opportunities, as well as deals that other people won’t be privy to.
Take advantage of cash back rewards on your credit card, too.
Check with your credit card provider to find out where you can get cash back or rewards points and make those stores a priority whenever you can.
Get More Online Shopping Tips Today
As you can see, online shopping doesn’t have to deplete your bank account. There’s no need to give it up entirely if you’re working with a limited budget.
If you keep these shopping tips in mind, you’ll be able to buy the items you need and want and save money in the process.
Are you looking for more shopping tips that will help you save money? If so, we’ve got lots of resources available in the Money section of our website.
Check it out today to learn more and get some great money management and savings advice.
