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.
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.
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 a 30 Day Trial, or a discount Prime Membership for EBT Cardholders $5.99 monthly
FREE Shipping for the Holidays is a no-brainer!
Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.
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.
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 a big 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 through Ebates.
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.
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.
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
Ibotta is 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 with Ibotta is 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!
Ibotta will 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!
Peggy hogan
Sunday 18th of November 2018
Great tips. I love free shipping. I also love me that ibotta is more then groceries. I have earned so much with ibotta. The only one I don't use is Ebates I use Topcashback instead.
Shelly
Saturday 20th of October 2018
Tasia, I definately need to start checking in even more frequently than i have been. You tell all the great deals. Thanks for all the time you and Taylor put in for all of us to be able to save also, it does not go unappreciated.