How To Shop Online & Save
Updated January 2021
Tips for getting the best deals online
It seems that today you can shop online for almost anything; clothing, furniture, toys, personal care, and even food. Since more and more retailers are offering an online option, we want to share a few tips and ideas to get the best deals when you choose to shop online.
Cash Back Shopping Portals
Cashback portals are the first thing you should check for.
Cashback programs are available for many stores. These are usually offered through a portal site, like the ones listed below. Some of these sites have both US/Canada and Worldwide retailers.
For example:
- Rakuten (formerly ebates) (Cashback & referral bonus)
- Shopper Army (Cashback, Surveys, Reviews)
- Swagbucks (Cashback, Surveys and more)
Once you decide what retailer you are going to shop from, check if they are affiliated with a cashback portal to earn money back on your shopping.
How do Cash Back sites work?
You log in through the cashback site and select the retailer you want to shop from. The retailer’s site will open and you shop as usual. After you place your order, your cashback acct will show the amount you earned back. Some payout on regular intervals or hold until your account reaches a certain amount.
Coupon Codes
You can often find coupon codes for 30 to 50 % off on most sites.
Most retailers have the option to sign up for a Newsletter. You will often receive coupon/promotional codes in the newsletters. Some sites offer regular discounts, while others are occasional offers.
Following their social media sites is another great way to find promotional codes.
Add Honey to your browser and see if there are any active discount codes available for the stores you are shopping at. I have my web hosting through GoDaddy and have saved a ton using codes that Honey has found for me over the past few years. Join Here and start saving!
Payment
Most sites offer a few ways to pay. Paypal and Credit Cards are the most common and secure. If you are not a credit cardholder, you may want to consider purchasing a Pre Paid card (fees involved, so factor it into your deals). Visa Debit is a more recent option and many banks are now offering this feature on their cards, allowing you to draw funds directly from your bank account.
I have been a Paypal user, buyer, and seller, for many years and love it. Unfortunately, not all retailers accept Paypal payments. I have it linked to my bank acct instead of charging to credit cards or enterning my banking information on all the different sites with a visa Debit.
For paying with credit cards, it can also be beneficial to use a rewards credit card, earning additional rewards with each purchase.
Shipping
Many sites offer Free Shipping. Sometimes it is a limited offer, oftentimes it is free shipping with a minimum order.
Take advantage of free shipping whenever you can. Always factor shipping into your budget if you o have to pay it. Is it a better deal and more convenient than shopping in store for the same item.
More Tips: