They save you the inconvenience of crowds and lines, but unless you’re careful, your online shopping cart can really put a dent in your wallet. Use the following tips to keep hold of your money while browsing the virtual market.
1: Buy In Bulk
Many websites offer free shipping if you spend X number of dollars. Instead of hitting their shelves every time you run out of something, either buy in bulk or “save up” your need with one large shopping trip that will allow you to take advantage of the freebie.
2: Use Coupons
You don’t need to clip them out of a flyer to use coupons. Sites like StepCoupons.com will walk you through the process of using online sales and promotional offers to cut your final bill in delightful ways.
3: Look for Checkout Codes
Like coupons, these unlock special deals offered by online retailers. Unlike coupons, however, they might be sneakily or poorly advertised. Before you hit “confirm my order,” make sure you haven’t missed a checkout code that can save you a lot of money.
4: Keep An Eye on the Calendar
Different websites will slash their prices at different times. For example, fashion outlets might try to dump old stock as the weather changes; online pharmacies and health suppliers will entice new customers during flu season; tech stores love Black Friday and Christmas.
5: Use Social Media
As more and more retailers embrace social media as an advertising tool, it isn’t uncommon to find deals only accessible to Facebook or Twitter users. Don’t miss a sale just because you can’t “like” or retweet something!
