Shopping online is often considered the “cheaper” way to shop, but did you know you can only get the most savings if you know how to shop smart? By being a smart online shopper, you can take advantage of various strategies to maximize your savings.
Whether you’re hunting for discounts or navigating through special offers, being aware of these shopping tips can make a big difference in your overall spending.
Here are seven practical shopping tips that will help you score bigger savings on your next online purchase:
Best Tips When Shopping Online
1. Use vouchers and coupons.
Some coupon sites that you can check out are Groupon, Living Social, Savings.com, Deal Catcher, Retail Me Not, and Coupons.com. These coupon sites offer online coupon codes so you can get great savings from your purchases.
2. Use the correct code.
To avail of the discount, you will be required to type in the code indicated in the coupon or voucher on your check out. A code can be a combination of numbers and letters. Make sure that you will be typing in the exact code. Also, so don’t forget to check the date on the voucher to make sure that the code is still valid.
3. Shop early.
Don’t wait until the holidays before you start buying items you need. Products that do not expire like handmade items can be bought earlier as prices tend to go up during peak seasons. Create your shopping list in advance so you’ll know exactly what to buy and how much money you’ll need.
4. Compare prices.
It’s much easier to do comparison shopping online because there are readily available tools that you can use. Comparison shopping engines like Price Grabber, Shopzilla, Nextag, Become, Pronto, Bizrate are all free to use.
Just type in the item you want to buy, hit enter, and you’ll see a list of online stores where the product is available and the seller’s price. Some comparison shopping sites also offer reviews. Take the time to read these reviews to know more about the merchant’s reputation.
5. Shop more, save more.
Again, planning your purchases ahead of time will help you to enjoy even more savings. Merchants usually offer a much lower shipping cost if you buy more than one item from their shop. Typically, you can enjoy Free Shipping if you reach a certain amount of purchase. Also, you may be able to get a bigger discount if you buy several items from the same seller.
6. Check out the Clearance or Sale section
Before feasting your eyes on the new arrivals, click on the SALE or CLEARANCE page of the online shopping site where you can find items at 20%, 50%, or 70% discount.
Keep an eye out on basic wardrobe essentials – a white blouse, the little black dress, a blazer, a good pair of pants, etc. For basic pieces like these, it’s always good to choose designer brands for their high quality.
Remember, basic pieces will be the foundation of your wardrobe. You will be wearing these many times as you style them in different ways. You may want to bookmark the online stores of your favorite designer brands and check back often or sign up to their mailing list to receive SALE alerts in advance.
7. Don’t be a victim of online fraud.
Enjoying a huge discount would be useless if you will purchase from an untrusted seller. Before purchasing, see to it that the merchant is using a secure website and a safe online shopping cart. How would you know? The URL or the website address must begin with https://, instead of the usual http:// for most websites.
Get to know the seller’s reputation. Make sure that it is a legitimate brand and that you are on the brand’s official online store. Taking that extra time to confirm an online store’s legitimacy and record can save you from lots of trouble including potential scams, financial losses, and the frustration of dealing with poor-quality products or non-delivery.
Be Smart When Shopping Online
Shopping online can be a great way to save money, but only if you know how to shop smart. By using coupons, comparing prices, and taking advantage of sales, you can make the most out of your online shopping experience.
Planning your purchases and shopping online for multiple items at once can help you score even bigger discounts. And don’t forget to always ensure the safety of your transactions by shopping from trusted, secure websites. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a more cost-effective and enjoyable shopping online experience!