It’s never been easier to waste your money online than it is today. In just a couple of clicks, you can drop 100 bucks online and have all manner of items turning up at your door the next day. But if you want to be more conscious of how much you are spending, we have got some shrewd tips for saving money when shopping online in this article.
1. Make two lists: what you want and what you need
It helps to have a clear idea in your head of what you want to buy when you log online and start spending. Write down two shopping lists: things you would like and things you actually need. Try and cut out the unnecessary items altogether. At the least, share this wish list with friends and family, and it may give them some ideas on what to get you for birthdays and Christmases.
2. Compare prices and hunt for deals
Luckily you no longer need to trawl through dozens of websites to see which have what you are looking for, for the lowest possible price. Fortunately, you can find several comparison websites that will do all of the hard work for you.
Don’t just rush into the first website that you visit. Have a little shop around, because we can almost guarantee that you will find a better deal elsewhere. Just remember that cheaper doesn’t always necessarily mean better!
3. Look for coupons online
Coupon codes are one of the most effective means of saving money when you shop online. There are some different ways that you can get your hands on coupons:
- Sign up for newsletters
- Search for coupons on trusted websites
- Use coupon browser extensions
4. Sign up for reward programs
Loyalty pays off in e-commerce and if there is a specific brand and business that you like using, be sure to register with them and start collecting those loyalty points. Some websites offer programs that, after x-amount of purchases, reward you with all manner of exciting opportunities from discounts to freebies and priority postage.
5. Shop locally
If you live in the United States, there’s no good searching for dildos in Australia. Save yourself plenty of money on postage and packaging by purchasing goods online, locally. That way, you won’t have to worry about your goods being shipped overseas and costing the earth.
6. Leave items in the cart
A classic trick online is leaving your items in the shopping cart before purchasing. Online stores will typically have a system in place that is designed to offer you discounts if they get the impression that you have cold feet and maybe thinking about leaving their website. Play it right, and you could end up with a cheeky 5 or 10% discount on your purchase!
7. Set yourself a realistic budget and stick to it
If your spending habit is getting a little out of hand, you need to set yourself a realistic budget. You’ll never be able to save any money for a mortgage if you constantly spend every penny you have online on things you don’t need.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to speak to someone about your spending if you think it’s getting away from you and you cannot manage it by yourself.
