Online Shopping Hacks
About How to Save Money When Shopping Online: Tools, Apps, and Hacks
Online shopping has revolutionized the way we purchase everything from groceries to electronics. It’s convenient, quick, and offers access to a world of products from the comfort of your home. However, this convenience can sometimes come at a cost if you’re not savvy about finding the best deals. The good news is that there are numerous ways to save money when shopping online using tools, apps, and clever hacks.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the best online shopping hacks that will help you cut costs, get discounts, and optimize your purchasing power. Whether you’re looking to save on big-ticket items or everyday essentials, these tips will help you make the most of every online shopping experience.
1. Use Browser Extensions for Automatic Savings
One of the easiest ways to save money while shopping online is by using browser extensions that automatically search for coupons, apply discounts, and offer cashback.
Why It Works:
Browser extensions do the hard work of searching for coupon codes and applying them at checkout. You don’t have to manually search for deals, which saves both time and money.
Popular Tools to Use:
– Honey: This is one of the most popular browser extensions that finds and applies coupon codes at checkout on thousands of websites. Honey also offers “Honey Gold,” which rewards you with points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
– Rakuten (formerly Ebates): Rakuten offers cashback on purchases made through its portal. You can also install its browser extension, which alerts you when cashback is available on a website.
– Capital One Shopping: Another useful extension that finds and applies coupon codes, as well as compares prices at other retailers to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
How to Get Started:
– Download and install the extension for your preferred browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.).
– Shop online as you normally would, and the extension will automatically notify you of available discounts and cashback offers at checkout.
Quick Tip: Stack savings by using multiple tools. For example, you can apply a coupon code found by Honey and also earn cashback through Rakuten on the same purchase.
2. Sign Up for Store Newsletters and Loyalty Programs
Many online retailers offer exclusive discounts and promotions to customers who sign up for their email newsletters or loyalty programs. While receiving more emails in your inbox might seem annoying, the potential savings can be significant.
Why It Works:
Retailers use newsletters and loyalty programs to reward their most engaged customers with discounts, early access to sales, and special promotions.
How to Get Started:
– Sign up for newsletters from your favorite online retailers to receive promotional emails with exclusive offers.
– Join loyalty programs, which often offer points, cashback, or discounts on future purchases.
Quick Tip: Create a separate email account specifically for newsletters and promotional emails. This way, your main inbox won’t get cluttered, and you’ll still have access to all the deals.
3. Use Price Comparison Websites
One of the most effective ways to save money when shopping online is to compare prices across different retailers. Price comparison websites make this easy by aggregating prices from multiple stores for the same product.
Why It Works:
Prices can vary dramatically between retailers, especially for big-ticket items like electronics or appliances. By comparing prices, you can ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Popular Tools to Use:
– Google Shopping: Enter the product you’re looking for, and Google will show you prices from various online retailers.
– PriceGrabber: This site allows you to compare prices from a wide range of retailers, helping you find the best deals.
– CamelCamelCamel: Specifically for Amazon shoppers, CamelCamelCamel tracks price history and sends alerts when the price of an item drops.
How to Get Started:
– Visit a price comparison website before making a purchase to see if the item is available for less elsewhere.
– Set up price alerts to be notified when the price drops to a certain level.
Quick Tip: Don’t forget to factor in shipping costs when comparing prices. Sometimes, the store with the cheapest item may charge higher shipping fees, negating any savings.
4. Time Your Purchases for Sales and Discounts
Knowing when to shop can make a big difference in how much you pay. Online retailers frequently run sales during specific times of the year, and understanding these trends can help you score big savings.
Why It Works:
Retailers often have predictable sale periods where they offer significant discounts on various items. By timing your purchases around these sales, you can save considerably.
Best Times to Shop:
– Black Friday/Cyber Monday: These are the biggest shopping days of the year, with steep discounts on electronics, clothing, home goods, and more.
– Amazon Prime Day: Amazon offers exclusive deals to Prime members during this event, typically held in the summer.
– End-of-Season Sales: Retailers often discount clothing, outdoor gear, and home goods at the end of each season to make room for new inventory.
How to Get Started:
– Make a list of items you want to buy and track their prices leading up to major sales events.
– Use tools like CamelCamelCamel to track price drops and ensure that a “sale” price is truly a good deal.
Quick Tip: Bookmark items in your online shopping cart or wishlist, then wait for sales or coupon codes before completing your purchase.
5. Use Cashback Websites and Apps
Earning cashback on your purchases is one of the easiest ways to save money online. By shopping through cashback websites or apps, you can receive a percentage of your purchase price back as a rebate.
Why It Works:
Cashback sites partner with retailers to give shoppers a portion of the sales commission. You make your purchase as usual, and the cashback site rewards you with money back.
Popular Tools to Use:
– Rakuten: Offers cashback on thousands of retailers. Simply sign up for an account, shop through their links, and earn cashback.
– TopCashback: Known for offering some of the highest cashback rates, TopCashback partners with major retailers across various categories.
– Swagbucks: In addition to cashback, Swagbucks offers rewards points for watching videos, answering surveys, and other activities that can be redeemed for gift cards or PayPal cash.
How to Get Started:
– Create an account on your preferred cashback site and shop through their portal.
– After completing your purchase, the cashback will be credited to your account, and you can cash out once you reach the minimum payout threshold.
Quick Tip: Cashback websites often offer higher rewards during major shopping events like Black Friday or back-to-school sales.
6. Abandon Your Shopping Cart
Believe it or not, leaving items in your online shopping cart can sometimes lead to discounts. Many retailers track abandoned carts and send follow-up emails offering a discount to encourage you to complete your purchase.
Why It Works:
Retailers want to close sales, and offering a discount is a proven way to convert hesitant shoppers into paying customers. If you leave items in your cart, you may receive a discount offer within a few days.
How to Get Started:
– Add the items you’re interested in purchasing to your shopping cart, then close the website without completing the transaction.
– Wait for an email from the retailer offering a discount or promotion to entice you back to finish your purchase.
Quick Tip: This hack works best with smaller retailers and niche online stores. Larger companies may not offer discounts but will send you reminders instead.
7. Take Advantage of Free Shipping
Shipping costs can quickly add up, especially if you’re making multiple online purchases. However, there are several ways to get free shipping on your orders.
Why It Works:
Many retailers offer free shipping if you meet a certain order threshold or if you use a store’s credit card or loyalty program. By strategically shopping to meet these requirements, you can avoid paying for shipping altogether.
How to Get Started:
– Look for free shipping promotions and use coupon codes that offer free shipping.
– Consolidate your orders to meet the retailer’s free shipping minimum (often around $50 to $75).
– Sign up for store memberships or credit cards that offer free shipping on all orders, such as Amazon Prime or Walmart+.
Quick Tip: Some retailers offer free in-store pickup, which allows you to avoid shipping costs by picking up your order at a local store.
8. Buy Discounted Gift Cards
A lesser-known but effective way to save money online is by purchasing discounted gift cards. Websites like Raise and CardCash sell gift cards to popular retailers at a discount, allowing you to save on your purchases.
Why It Works:
Buying a gift card at a discount effectively reduces the total cost of your purchase. For example, if you buy a $100 gift card for $90, you’ve already saved 10% before even making your purchase.
Popular Tools to Use:
– Raise: Offers discounted gift cards for a variety of retailers, from clothing stores to restaurants.
– CardCash: Allows you to buy and sell unused gift cards at a discount.
How to Get Started:
– Visit a gift card marketplace and search for discounted cards to your favorite stores.
– Purchase the gift card, and use it as payment when shopping online.
Quick Tip: Be cautious when buying gift cards from peer-to-peer marketplaces, and make sure to use reputable sites to avoid scams.
9. Stack Coupons for Maximum Savings
Coupon stacking is the practice of using multiple coupons on the same purchase to maximize savings. While not all retailers allow coupon stacking, many do, especially on items that are already on sale.
Why It Works:
Stacking coupons enables you to apply multiple discounts, such as a percentage off and free shipping, leading to significant savings on your purchase.
How to Get Started:
– Look for coupon codes that can be combined, such as a storewide discount plus a specific product discount.
– Use tools like Honey or RetailMeNot to search for and apply multiple coupon codes at checkout.
Quick Tip: Always read the fine print to ensure that the coupons you’re using are eligible to be stacked and apply to your purchase.
Conclusion For Online Shopping Hacks
By using the right tools, apps, and online shopping hacks, you can save a significant amount of money while shopping online. From using browser extensions and cashback sites to strategically timing your purchases and abandoning carts, these techniques will help you stretch your dollars further. The next time you shop online, keep these tips in mind to ensure you’re always getting the best deals possible!