7 Easy Ways to Save Money While Shopping Online

Shopping online has become a new normal. With greater convenience and less of a hassle of rushing out to a physical brick-and-mortar store to pick up that one thing you forgot, online shopping is a practice many engage in daily. From groceries to new shoes to electronics to that dress you saw that you just can’t not get, you can get it all with online shopping.

Online, you can see all the available options, colors, sizes of whatever it is you’re looking for. And usually, you can order with just a few clicks. It’s fast, easy and you don’t have to brave any wet or snowy weather.

But that convenience factor can also make it very easy for you to spend money without really thinking twice about it. Your credit card number is already saved in the online store, so all you have to do is “add to cart” and complete that order.

It’s not until you get that statement in the mail that you may think to yourself, ‘maybe I shouldn’t have spent that much…’

But did you know there are actually many ways you can save money online that are simple and easy to do?

Here, we share 7 easy ways you can save money while shopping online and start today!

1. Shop at Sites that Include Free Shipping

Shipping. It’s often that extra cost we fail to factor in when filling up our online cart. We think it won’t be that much, and then we find out that it’s like half the cost of our entire order.

There’s an easy fix for those surprising shipping costs: shop at sites that offer free shipping. Whether it’s dependent on your order amount (free shipping on orders over $100) or a flat, no shipping costs, period, find those sites. On some sites, becoming a “member” can get you that free shipping benefit. For example, if you’re a frequent shopper on Amazon, choosing Amazon Prime, which offers free shipping to its members, may help you save big on those additional costs.

2. Order in Bulk

Do you have items that you go through frequently? Whether toilet paper, laundry detergent or boxes of cereal, there may be items that you are constantly writing on the grocery list.

Ordering in bulk on sites not only help you keep a more consistent inventory, but it also may save you a lot of money. Buying in bulk may also help cut down on packaging waste, keeping it environmentally friendly.

It is important to note that buying in bulk for every item you need doesn’t always save you money. You’ll have to account for things like storage of all those items, the price per item and if you actually do go through that much of a particular item.

But for household staples like toilet paper, soap, toothpaste and others, buying in bulk may be a great option to choose, especially if you’re purchasing for a large family.

3. Search for Promo Codes

Promo codes, like coupons, bring extra bonus savings to online shopping. Searching for promo codes is easy, too. All you need to do is just find the store and get that magical combination of letters and numbers to add in on the site’s order page. And just like that, you could save a lot.

When you’re looking to use these promo codes, make sure you read what the code is for. Most retailers have restrictions on what these promo codes can be used on, including limitations on sale items, clearance and is available on only certain products. What’s more is that many are also time sensitive, so you need to stay up-to-date on the latest sales by following your favorite brand’s social accounts and joining their email list. One of our favorite stores that has regular sales is Norton, whose Norton coupon codes are able to get you a discount of 20-40% off your purchase, depending on what time of the year you buy. 

4. Using Price Comparison Tools

When you find something you really like, how do you know that you’ve found the best deal? Using price comparison tools while online shopping can help you. In fact, it’s just as easy as using your search engine – whether you use Google, Bing, Yahoo or AOL. There are also other services available that are specific to price comparison.

When using a price comparison tool, you can search for the product you’re looking to buy and see various prices of that product. Sites like these make it easy to shop around and ensure that you’re getting the best deal out there. Just earlier today I was able to find a low price using a price comparison site and a Cricut coupon code. #winning!

5. Opt For In-Store Pick Up

Sometimes, you may shop online just because you hate the hassle of shopping around, looking for what you like and deciding on what to purchase. But then there’s the cost of shipping. And you might roll your eyes at paying to receive your items at your front door rather than actually going to the retail store that’s just a few miles down the road.

This is when opting in for in-store pick up, rather than home delivery, can really save you. Many online retailers offer this option to help you save money and to help get you in the door of the store. This hybrid method of online shopping is a great way to find exactly what you want with convenience yet not spend extra just to get it delivered to your house.

6. Get Newsletters & Price Alerts

Looking to get “member exclusive” benefits? For many retailers, all it takes is just subscribing to their emails and price alerts. These emails often contain special sales going on that you might not have known about before. They can contain offer codes and other unique ways to save. In fact, I just got a Vimeo discount code from a “Deals Roundup” newsletter I subscribe to that saved me over $100 bucks!

While subscribing to these retailers does bring another email into your inbox, they give you the inside scoop or first look at a major sale that can help you save big.

7. Use a Cash-Back Rewards Site

Just like you would cut coupons for in-store purchases, online shopping can often include using cash-back rewards sites to keep a little extra for you. Sites like Swagbucks or Ebates reward you for shopping online and using their services. Their processes can be very simple – submit your receipts, fill out surveys or just stay logged in to the site as you do your online shopping. Earn reward points to bring cash back into your virtual wallet.

With online shopping, you get the benefits of added convenience, easier shopping around and saving money – in more ways than one. Find out what strategies work best for you as you excel in saving big while online shopping.