If you’re buying for your household, make your list with your partner or roommate to get their input. It can be really helpful to have a second set of eyes to keep you from buying non-essential items. To get more “bang for your buck,” going for the cheapest option for the items on your shopping list is not always the best way to go. If a price seems too good to be true, there is a chance it is, so be sure to check verified customer reviews before you click “Add to Cart. "
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While this may not work every time, it’s definitely worth a try if you’re not in a rush to buy. In addition, abandoning your basket for a day or even just for a few hours can give you time to really think about whether you need those items or not. After leaving your cart for a while, you may forget what items you added to it in the first place—which is a sign that perhaps you don’t need them all.
Rewards program information is usually easy to find on the website, perhaps popping up when you sign up for an account or in the footer at the bottom of the page. Be careful about signing up for some rewards programs, as there could be fine print that isn’t that clear. For example, make sure that signing up for a rewards program doesn’t mean you’re subscribing to regular orders that charge your credit card every month. Additionally, companies may try to get you to sign up for their store credit card, which may come with additional fees.
The weeks leading up to special holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter are great for checking for competitions as brands increase their social media presence in the run-up to the holidays. Be careful, though, as fraudsters can often use social media to send messages claiming you have won a prize or offer you a special deal to get their hands on your sensitive information. Make sure any social media posts you interact with or communication you receive is from a brand’s official social media page.
Several credit cards offer cashback on purchases that can help you save money shopping online. Just use your credit card for all your eligible online purchases and then claim the cashback later.
Clear your browsing history and cookies before you start shopping. Log out of all your accounts, including email, Google, and social media accounts. Browse anonymously with an incognito browser. Use a virtual private network (VPN) to switch your browser location to check for better prices on different countries’ versions of the same website.
Not only can you make some huge savings by shopping second-hand, but it’s also a more sustainable shopping choice by preventing something from going to landfill. Furthermore, it cuts down on unnecessary waste and encourages a circular economy. If you’re shopping for clothing online, consider looking for some second-hand bargains to be kind to your wallet and the environment. According to the United Nations, one pair of jeans takes 7,500 liters of water to manufacture. In fact, the fashion industry is one of the most significant contributors to global carbon emissions, accounting for 8-10% every year and nearly 20% of wastewater.
For example, buying a ski jacket in summer or patio furniture in winter will likely come with considerable savings. Everything from books, toys, and electronic products experience seasonality as retailers base new releases around prime shopping seasons, like holidays. If you’re in no rush to buy a particular item, wait until it’s out of its peak popularity and reap the rewards of being a patient online shopper. You’ll find many of last season’s items at discount stores such as Nordstrom Rack, Ross, Marshalls, Burlington, and factory outlets.
If you use a lot of the same products, such as cleaning agents or household supplies, you can save money if you buy them in bulk or choose a subscribe and save option. However, keep an eye on your subscriptions and make sure they’re timed right, or you may end up with way more products than you can manage to use!
Some banks, such as Citibank, also have credit cards that let you make up the difference on an item you bought that went on sale after the fact. Check with your financial institution to see if they have this option.
