Online shopping has made spending money easier than ever. You can buy almost anything without leaving the comfort of your home, and some sites even have one-click shopping. This may make it sound like online is the worst place to save money, but in fact, there are many opportunities online to spend less.
Refinance Student Loans
Online, you can research the advantages and procedures for refinancing your student loans. If you are employed with a good salary and have good credit, you may be able to refinance. You can find a number of lenders online that can offer you lower interest rates, and this can save you a lot of money in the years ahead.
Use Online Comparison Engines and Calculators
Whether you are looking for better rates for health or auto insurance, a home-refinance, or just everyday products, there are online comparison engines and apps that can help you find the best rate. You can use online comparison engines for travel as well, seeing what airlines and hotels offer the best prices. Similar to these engines are apps that allow you to scan barcodes while you are shopping to determine the best prices. Online calculators can help you determine whether it is financially smarter for you to rent or buy, figure out how long it will take you to reach a certain savings goal, or help you make a plan to pay off your debts more efficiently. You may be surprised at how much you can save with the information you obtain using these tools.
Use Online Coupons
You can get online coupons from sites that specialize in offering them, from merchants themselves or from being enrolled in loyalty programs. Coupon apps and websites can help you save money shopping online, and apps can make it particularly easy for you to locate and store useful coupons.
Sign Up for Mailing Lists
Most people are trying to cut down on the amount of email they receive, and your instinct may be to avoid clicking that box that allows a company to send you notices of special offers, sales, and more. However, unless you are making a one-time purchase, it may be worth your while to sign up for those emails. You can get coupons, notices of special sales, and many other offers of opportunities to save money on travel, books, restaurant meals, movies, and just about anything else you can think of. If you plan carefully, you can time your major purchases around these offers and rarely pay full price for anything.
Sign Up for Loyalty Programs Online
There are plenty of online loyalty programs that can add up to big savings. Loyalty programs have become increasingly sophisticated as they recognize how much people use their mobile devices while shopping, and even if you are at a brick and mortar store or restaurant, you may be able to pay within the app and get a discount. You might also be able to pay less by accessing QR codes you can scan at checkout.
