7 Ways To Save Money When Shopping Online

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Shopping online offers a modern convenience and access to a huge variety of products that meet nearly any shopping list. Plus, with a few smart moves, online shopping can even help you save money. Having millions of products at your fingertips allows you to quickly compare prices and find the best deal, but so many options can be overwhelming or even lead to impulse buys. Here are some strategies to help you stick to a budget, score the best deals and save money when shopping online.

1. Make a List and Plan Ahead

iStock/Riska

It may not be the flashiest of tips, but going into a shopping trip, even an online one, with a plan could save you a lot of money. Take some time to write down a list of what you’re looking for in advance. Then, when you see sale banners and recommended products pop up on your favorite e-commerce sites, you’ll have a reminder of what you’re shopping for. A little impulse buy now and then is usually no biggie, but keeping what you need separate from what’s nice to have is a good way to keep costs down.

2. Use a Credit Card

The old myth that credit cards lead to higher bills persists, and it’s true to some extent. If you spend more than you can afford to pay each month, you’ll be hit with not only a big bill for your card expenses, but hefty interest charges too. However, if you keep a careful eye on your spending, credit cards have a lot of benefits when it comes to online shopping:

• You’ll be better protected: Credit cards typically have stronger fraud and purchase protections than debit cards. So if you can stay within your budget using a credit card, it’s often a safer way to shop online.
• The right card earns relevant rewards: Many cards let you earn points specifically on online shopping, Amazon purchases or other categories. Do a little research to find the right card for your spending habits, and you could end up with a nice bank of points or cash back.
• Merchant offers can help you save: Merchant offers are discounts from popular brands that you can access through your credit card account. It’s worth perusing current offers to see if there’s a relevant coupon you can grab that matches an item on your shopping list.

Related: The Best Credit Card Bonus Offers

3. Install a Browser Extension

Some programs and credit cards offer browser extensions you can download and install on your computer. It’s always worth checking that anything you download is legitimate and safe, but in general, browser extensions from reputable brands can help you save money when shopping online. 

For example, the Slickdeals browser extension is free and quick to install. Once you’ve got it set up, it will go to work automatically with no extra effort on your part. The extension will find any available discounts and coupons as you shop online and browse your favorite sites.

4. Shop at the Right Time

If you’ve got a big-ticket item on your shopping list, strategize about the best time to make that purchase. For example, popular summer items, like grills, lawnmowers and patio furniture can often be found at discounted prices in September. Similarly, holiday decor is frequently on clearance after the big event.

Not everyone can plan that far ahead, so another good bet is too start looking early. Some items get marked up as the season goes on. You might find decent prices on window air conditioners in the spring or early summer, for example, but at the peak heat of the season, merchants often increase the price on these in-demand items.

If you need something fast though, you’re not out of luck. Sites like Slickdeals are full of user-sourced deals that can help you save a bit of cash. Consumer Reports also has a Best Time To Buy calendar that outlines the best months to buy certain items, like big appliances, mattresses, computers and more.

5. Sign Up for Deal Alerts 

Many of your favorite e-commerce shops and brands have text alerts, email lists or other notification systems you can opt in to. This can be another low-effort way to let discounts come to you so you can spend less time digging around the internet for the best prices. You can often customize your preferences to get updates on only the deals and products you’re interested in to help cut down on clutter. These alerts can be a major time saver when you’re in the market for a specific product, a typically high-priced item or something that’s often out of stock.

Setting up Slickdeals Deal Alerts is quick and easy, and you can customize your preferences for the products you’re in the market for. We’ll notify you when a new deal lands that matches your needs.

6. Avoid Buy Now, Pay Later

It’s tempting to purchase a product that’s on sale or looks great in the listing photos, but if it’s way outside your price range, you may have buyer’s remorse down the road. One popular—yet controversial—service to help consumers cover the cost of a purchase is called “buy now, pay later” (BNPL). Essentially, BNPL is a short-term loan that allows you to pay off a purchase in several installments over time.

BNPL has some benefits, and it could be useful in a pinch. For example, it’s available with many big retailers, and some of them even offer interest-free plans. However, these plans have downsides, too. If you find one with interest fees, you’ll likely want to steer clear. Also be sure to check the fine print to see if you’ll incur a late fee if you miss a payment. BNPL plans can also encourage consumers to buy more than they can afford. If you can avoid them and shop with a list, a plan and a budget, you’ll save money.

Related: The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping

7. Read Product Reviews

iStock/martin-dm

Researching the right product for your needs might require a little extra time, but it’s often worth it in the long run. Not only can it help cut down on impulse buys on products you know little about, but it will help you suss out highly rated items from those that perform poorly. These days, you can find tons of product reviews online, from curated blogs that do extensive testing on specific merchandise, to communities dense with savvy users who share exactly what they like and don’t like about items, deals and brands. 

A little knowledge up front may mean the difference between buying something that breaks or you can’t use—and nabbing the perfect product for your needs.

Bottom Line

E-commerce has made shopping more convenient and faster, and the wide variety of products is pretty incredible. Online shopping has become a regular part of our lives, and thankfully we don’t have to give up great deals and discounts to take advantage of it. To save money the next time you’re shopping online, keep a budget and shopping list in mind, look out for deals and consider paying with a credit card to some extra payment and fraud protections.