Online Shopping Tips to Save You Money

Free shipping, fast delivery, and access to pretty much every item under the sun have made online shopping the go-to. Plus, it’s no secret that the best deals are usually found online.

With that mentality engraved in many people’s minds, it’s not safe to assume that the price you see online is the absolute best deal you can get. If you really want to get the most out of your money when you shop online, then you should apply these tactics the next time you want to fill your online cart.

Utilize Cash Back Opportunities

You knew this one was coming, so we might as well get it out of the way at the top. Yes, we have a bit of a bias in this department, but for good reason.

Cash back sites are good ways to put cash in your pocket after any purchase. The neat part about cash back is that they can often be applied on top of sales and special coupon offers.

Cash back rates are calculated based on the total sale. If you plan on making a big purchase, then absolutely you should take advantage of cash back - but even smaller amounts can stack up in the long run.

Rates change frequently and often wildly depending on the store or the time of year, so getting the best deal involves checking out the latest offers. We have a Deals page that we dedicate this, but there are also limited time events such as double cash back where special offers are listed (these are where you’ll find the best rates).

Taking advantage of cash back doesn’t cost you a thing and it works similarly to how credit card rewards work. When fully utilized, it can seriously stack cash in your favor.

Use the Right Credit Card

Credit cards can be a blessing or a curse depending on what kind of person you are. If you are an impulsive buying who has trouble paying off your card every month, then this probably is a tactic you should ignore.

But if you are someone who can pay off their card every month, then taking advantage of credit card perks is an awesome way to stack some rewards.

A lot of stores have their own cards. These generally have some great sign up perks and have some saving options, but if you want to shop at multiple stores without taking out a weird number of credit cards, then finding a more universal card should be your go-to – and there are plenty out there.

Take your time with this one. It’s better to pick a card you see yourself with for a long time.

- Figure out your shopping habits

- Find a card with perks that align with those

- Compare fees and other offers

- Then apply

Shop Off Season When You Can

A lot, and I mean a lot of goods have some sort of seasonality. If you can plan a bit ahead, then buying off season is a great way to save money in the long run.

The most obvious example involves fashion and apparel. Buying a winter coat in the spring or early summer is a great way to save some money.

But there are other less known seasonal trends out there as well. For example, many people buy electronics during the holiday season, but if you wait till January, you can often find a good deal on a TV.

Jewelry is another item that has some seasonality. December – February are key engagement times, so avoid this if you want a ring.

Whatever you’re interested in, do a little bit of research and see if there’s a weirdly slow time of year for that industry, and then capitalize on this.

Use Online Coupons

It’s the twenty-first century and coupons are still a thing. They can absolutely help you get some amazing deals, but the hard part about coupons is twofold:

1) They usually last for only a limited time

2) Hunting down a coupon can be a pain

Coupon hunting online can be extremely frustrating. If you’ve ever found a coupon through a Google search only to be met with a “this offer cannot be applied”, then you understand the struggle.

The best way to ensure a coupon actually works is to get one directly through a specific store or brand. Email is currently the method most retailers use to distribute coupons, so if you want to stay in the loop sign up for email lists.

We also help on this front. We send out emails with the latest coupons from our merchants, but in case you don’t want a full inbox, we also display the current coupons for each merchant on their page as well as have a browser extension that automatically shows you deals for whatever store you're currently browsing.

Get on Social Media

In the age of online engagement, social media is quickly becoming a way companies are promoting special offers.

Wendy’s just recently gave away a free breakfast to each of their twitter followers to celebrate the chain’s new breakfast menu. Things like this happen all of the time.

Flash sales are notoriously popular to promote on social media. If you don’t mind following a few of your favorite brands, you’re sure to stumble upon unique offers fairly often.