How To Save Money Shopping Online (2024)

I can feel the deals in the air! Since I have been a deal/coupon blogger for just about four years now, I would consider myself a pro at finding ways to save extra when shopping online.

If it’s getting close to the holiday season and you need to save cash, or you are in a spending freeze, or the budget is a little tight, all of these tips below will save you money when it comes to online shopping.

How To Save Money Shopping Online (1)

Set a Budget.

Even if it’s a killer deal, your budget and needs may tell you no. It is better to go on shopping knowing the amount of money you have to spend and figure out how to return items or even bring them back to the store.

A budget will help with impulse shopping when you see the hype of a good deal. You can always add items to your cart if you see the deal and decide what else you need to shop for that day.

Be sure the site you are purchasing from is SECURE.

See the top a small padlock symbol in the address bar (or elsewhere in your browser window) and a web address beginning with HTTPS:// (the s stands for ‘secure‘). So, for example, you can see at the top of our website right now we have HTTPS. That is what you want when using credit card information or any payment.

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Take Advantage of sites offering FREE Shipping.

There are many sites from Amazon, to Target, to Walmart that offer free shipping closer to the holiday season and all year round. Of course, many retailers are scrambling to keep up with Amazon now. But, of course, my favorite for free shipping is Amazon and Target.

Sign up for Amazon PRIME FREE TRIAL NOW!

You can utilize a free membership during the best time of the year to score deals. Plus, the free two-day shipping is ideal this time of year.

Score a30 Day Trial, or a discountPrime Membership for EBT Cardholders $5.99 monthly

Shop Amazon – Give the Gift of Amazon PrimeHow To Save Money Shopping Online (3)

FREE Shipping for the Holidays is a no-brainer!

Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.How To Save Money Shopping Online (4)

Sign Up for Newsletters and Loyalty Programs

By signing up for newsletters and loyalty programs, you’ll gain access to exclusive discounts and deals. For example, Sephora’s Beauty Insider program rewards customers with points that can be redeemed for free products.

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Use Browser Extensions to Find Deals

Browser extensions like Honey and Rakuten can find and apply coupon codes automatically. Plus, they’ll compare prices across different websites to ensure you’re getting the best deal.

Think of this like your BJs Perks membership or Target Redcard- that’s what Ebates is too! But no credit card is needed.

Rakuten will play abig part in your online shopping experience. You’ll earn cashback on your online AND in-store purchases. Plus, new members get a free $10 gift card after their first purchase throughEbates.

Use Rakuten to Get Cash Back on Your Online Purchase

Shop on the Right Day

Did you know that some retailers offer discounts on certain days of the week? For example, Amazon’s Prime Day and Black Friday offer huge discounts on a variety of products.

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Leave Items in Your Cart

Leaving items in your cart can lead to discounts. Retailers will often send follow-up emails with discount codes or other incentives to entice you to complete your purchase.

Take Advantage of Cashback Programs

Cashback programs like Ibotta and Rakuten offer cashback on your purchases, which can be redeemed for future discounts or even cash.

Check for Price Drops After Purchase

Many retailers offer price adjustments within a certain timeframe after purchase. If the price drops within that time frame, contact customer service to receive a refund for the difference.

Always check the price in your cart before hitting confirm.

Prices tend to change quickly online, especially Amazon. If you are following us, we always post the prices at the time of posting, but it’s something worth double-checking.

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Skip Add-ons and Warranty

Think back to your budget. Most warranties are literally a joke. This comes from my father, who has worked in the retail business all his life. They never cover the things you need them to.

Keep an eye on your credit card/Bank Account

To be sure, check your accounts once that day for any unusual activity. If you are paying attention to secure sites, you should be good, but this is the busiest shopping time of the year and the highest time for credit card and identity theft.

Ibotta Isn’t Just for Groceries Anymore

Ibottais another Cashback tool that will give you rebates (CASH) for your purchases. This comes in handy for CVS and Walgreens Black Friday Deals and much more. Grocery shopping withIbottais fantastic!

Now you can shop online with Ibotta too! Just grab the deal before you purchase to receive the cashback amount.

Just clip the offers for products you bought (or plan to buy), scan your receipt, and watch the money start adding up!

Ibottawill keep money in your pocket ALL year long.

Camel Camel Camel

Use this site called Camelcamelcamel to find out when an item goes to the price point you want. That’s right, you set the price point, and when it gets there, you get a notification. It’s one of the tools we use as a deal/coupon blogger!

Follow a Deal/Coupon Blog

You’re in the right place. My brother Taylor and I will be posting all the hot deals we see on our website here. So you can keep coming back o the blog every half hour to every hour to see the new deals we have posted!

I hope these tips help you save some serious cash when you shop online today, tomorrow, and always!

Don’t forget to follow our deal blog– we do 20 days of Giveaways in November, and let’s say the popular Instant Pot may be on the list!

How To Save Money Shopping Online (2024)

FAQs

How to save money on online purchases? ›

The best tips and hacks to save money while shopping online

Before making a purchase, try searching “PRODUCT NAME + coupon” to uncover potential discounts. Simplify your quest for savings by using apps or browser extensions like Honey, which are designed to automatically pull up coupons and discount codes.

How can you save money by shopping wisely? ›

You can save money when you shop if you compare prices at different stores, use coupons, think about whether you really want something, and ask questions.

What is the 30 day rule? ›

The premise of the 30-day savings rule is straightforward: When faced with the temptation of an impulse purchase, wait 30 days before committing to the buy. During this time, take the opportunity to evaluate the necessity and impact of the purchase on your overall financial goals.

How to wisely save money? ›

10 Best Ways to Save Money
  1. Eliminate Your Debt. If you're trying to save money through budgeting but still carrying a large debt burden, start with your debt. ...
  2. Set Savings Goals. ...
  3. Pay Yourself First. ...
  4. Stop Smoking. ...
  5. Take a Staycation. ...
  6. Spend to Save. ...
  7. Utility Savings. ...
  8. Pack Your Lunch.

How to get stuff cheap? ›

Follow these nine steps to ensure you get the lowest available price on almost everything you're buying.
  1. Scrutinize prices.
  2. Know where to find coupons.
  3. Consider refurbished.
  4. Set sale alerts.
  5. Ask for a rain check.
  6. Speak to a store associate.
  7. Be social.
  8. Shop secondhand.
Jun 9, 2020

Is it cheaper to buy everything online? ›

Key Takeaways. Online shopping is often cheaper than in stores because online retailers may have fewer overhead costs. Online shopping also may come with the chance to apply more discount codes so you can save even more money. You may even be able to find cheaper gently or never used items on second-hand shopping sites ...

How to shop intelligently? ›

Want to start shopping smarter?
  1. Step One: In order to start shopping smarter, we need to change the way we think about shopping. ...
  2. Step Two: Make a list of what you need/want. ...
  3. Step Three: Create a budget. ...
  4. Step Four: Set boundaries for your friends. ...
  5. Step Five: Dress yourself accordingly. ...
  6. Step Six: Try on the damn thing.

How can I save money and spend less? ›

These five steps can help you save more and work toward your bigger financial goals.
  1. Step 1: Map your income and spending patterns. ...
  2. Step 2: Budget for “essentials” and cut back on “extras” List. ...
  3. Step 3: Enroll in Direct Deposit and turn on activity alerts. ...
  4. Step 4: Automate with Bill Pay and never miss a payment.

Why do we shop wisely? ›

Not only does this ensure that you don't over buy, but also means that you have sufficient food for the week, as additional journeys to the supermarket each week does not make economic sense; you always buy more than you intended to, you are less likely to take advantage of bulk buy offers and it adds to fuel costs.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What is the 3 month rule? ›

The initial three months of a relationship are all about the excitement and getting to know each other. During this period, you are exploring each other's interests, hobbies, values, and quirks. This is the phase where you assess whether there's a strong initial attraction and compatibility.

How do you start saving money? ›

5 simple steps to start saving
  1. Set one specific goal. Rather than socking away money into a savings account, set specific goals for your savings. ...
  2. Budget for savings. Just because you decide to save doesn't mean it's going to happen. ...
  3. Make saving automatic. ...
  4. Keep separate accounts. ...
  5. Monitor & watch it grow.

How do people save money fast? ›

Canceling unnecessary subscriptions and automating your savings are a couple of simple ways to save money quickly. Switching banks, opening a short-term CD, and signing up for rewards programs can also help you save money. Making a budget and eliminating a spending habit each day can help lead to long-term savings.

Why can't I save money? ›

Staying in Debt

You may have money in the bank but if you owe the same amount or more to your creditors you're actually in the red. Chances are, you're paying much more in interest on the debt than you're earning from your savings account so you're that much more in the hole.

Why do I spend so much when shopping online? ›

Online retailers often offer discounts after you've reached a certain spending threshold. Just like the free-shipping minimum, these conditional discounts manipulate you into spending more just to qualify—even if you won't save any money at the end of the day. They change their prices without rhyme or reason.

Which form of money is best to use when shopping online? ›

By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. Credit cards use online security features like encryption and fraud monitoring to keep your accounts and personal information safe.

Who spends the most money on online shopping? ›

The countries spending the most on online shopping are China, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. These countries account for more than half of global ecommerce spending. If you are interested in what age group spends the most money online, the answer is Generation X.

What major purchases do I want to save for? ›

  • Emergency fund. Nearly a quarter of savers who take the America Saves pledge chose “emergency savings” as their first wealth-building goal.
  • Large Purchase. ...
  • Car. ...
  • Vacation. ...
  • Retirement. ...
  • Debt Repayment. ...
  • Education. ...
  • Homeownership.

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