Online shopping became a lockdown hobby for many, serving as an easy way to lift the spirits and inject a bit of excitement into our restricted lives. If online shopping is a habit that you’re finding hard to kick, don’t worry – simply use the guide below to make sure that you’re shopping smart and making savings along the way.
Shop Around
This may sound obvious, but it’s so easy to get sucked into a purchase by a heavily discounted price or the retailer warning that there’s limited stock available. Take a breath, stay calm, and, instead of heading straight to the checkout, just take a few moments to shop around to check that the price really is as good as it looks. You may find that other retailers are offering the same item at the same price as the discounted one you initially saw.
For extra convenience, use a comparison site that will do the legwork for you. This is a task that takes minutes but could save you a lot of cash.
Make Use of Review Sites
Again, in the excitement of seeing a brand new bit of gadgetry or the latest toy for the kids online, we may forget about the importance of checking a few online sites for reviews relating to the product first. Review sites can help us to get an idea of the quality of an item offered by a specific brand or can be used more generically – to find, for example, the best-rated toaster or the most suitable grocery delivery service for those following a vegan diet, or wanting to eat organic food.
Have a look at top10 for an example of a review site that can help you shop smarter on everything from mobile phones to online doctors’ services to pet food to healthy eating plans. Taking some time to scour these sites will help you to find the best price as well as the most suitable product or service, and also means that you’re less likely to spend your money on something that turns out to be disappointing or not what you were expecting.
Get Vouchering
Maximizing discount codes and vouchers when online shopping is an easy way to save money. Search online for discount codes relating to the retailer you want to shop with, and simply enter the details at the checkout. It can take some time to find a voucher that’s in date but this task is well worth the effort as you could potentially save a significant amount of cash.
There are also apps and browser add-ons available that, once installed, will search for vouchers and discount codes for you automatically and add them at the checkout.
Ditch Your Cart
A cheeky little trick to help you save some money when purchasing online is to simply abandon your shopping cart prior to checking out – this only works if you’ve set up an account with the retailer, though, so be sure to do this first.
Abandoning your cart will usually trigger an email from the retailer being sent to you, trying to tempt you back to finish your transaction and offering you a discount as a lure. This tactic doesn’t always work, but it’s worth trying!
Get On The Mailing List
Many online retailers will offer you a money-off code for your first order if you agree to join their mailing list; this is another simple way of accessing what can be significant savings. If you prefer, it’s easy to simply unsubscribe from the mailing list once you’ve used the code to access your discount. However, it’s worth noting that many retailers offer specific discounts to those on their mailing lists, and you’ll be the first to hear about upcoming sales, too.
Have A Go At Haggling
You may be surprised at just how prepared a retailer is to offer you a discount if you simply ask the question! Have a go at using live chat before making a purchase and querying whether the retailer would be prepared to offer you some money off.
If you’ve seen the same item on sale at another outlet for a lower price, then you have a stronger hand to play, so be sure to mention this as part of your online discussion. Even if you don’t manage to secure a discount, you may be offered free delivery, or a trial-size version of a product, for example.
Access Cashback
Sign up to a cashback site to actually earn money every time you spend online! There are a number of these types of sites available, so have a look around to find the one that would suit you and your buying habits best. The sites usually work by asking you to access the retailers’ sites via their own portal, allowing them to track your transaction and apply the cashback earned accordingly. Once available, this can be transferred directly into your bank account; it’s important to note, however, that some cashback sites have a minimum withdrawal amount, so check the small print to make sure you’re happy with all the terms and conditions.
