Are you a shopaholic who follows the newest trends in fashion and decor? Do you love browsing and trying on the items in-store or prefer to shop online from the comfort of your home?
No matter your shopping habits, it’s easy to overspend on things you don’t need. Many stores run sales several times a year, but if you want to buy something right now, you may have to pay full price.
Whether you’re on a budget or thrifty, there are a few little-known online shopping tips for getting the lowest prices online. Keep reading to discover nine incredible tricks that’ll help you find the best deals and save money!
1. Use Coupon Code Generators
The best and easiest way to save money online shopping is to use promo codes. Sometimes, the stores offer them for a limited time, but if you miss them, the items are back to their original prices.
Luckily for shoppers, there are websites that serve as code generators where you can snag some pretty sweet deals. Simply visit the site and choose the coupons you need for your purchase. Then, paste the coupon code at checkout and enjoy your new items for a reduced price.
2. Combine A Few Coupon Codes at Once
One of the simplest online shopping tips and tricks is to combine several promo codes at once. If you want to get the best deal, you have to use them the right way.
For example, if you have a promo code for 15% off and another coupon for $5 off, apply the percentage discount first and the monetary discount after. If you can do this with several codes, you’ll be able to slash the initial prices in half!
Another trick is to subscribe to a store’s newsletter from several different email addresses. This way, you’ll receive different types of promo codes on each and combine them as you see fit.
3. Talk to Customer Service
If a store offered a sale and you missed it, try talking to customer service. Some online stores will re-issue an expired discount to close a sale. They may even give you a new, better promo code to get you to buy.
Remember to be polite and explain the situation, but don’t be nagging if they can’t do anything about it. Also, don’t use this trick too often, or you’ll become known as the ‘bargain hunter‘ which may not sit well with the customer reps.
4. Keep An Eye On Influencers
Bloggers and influencers are another great way to save money shopping. For example, if you’re shopping for Christmas gifts, look for influencers’ gift guides and brand collaborations.
They’ll usually offer direct links and special discount codes to online stores where you can get the items they recommend for a much lower price.
5. Delete Your Browser Cookies
Online retailers don’t want you to know this trick, but deleting your browsing history, cookies, and location tracking can help you snag better deals.
This is because they base their prices on these criteria, so if you visit a store’s website from an anonymous browser, it’s possible to get lower prices. You can also do this by using your browser’s incognito mode, a VPN or proxy site, or switch to a different browser.
Another tip is to log out of all your store, email and social media accounts and restart the computer to remove any remaining cookies or trackers.
6. Use Rebate or Cash Back Sites
If you’re wondering how to save money while shopping, meet rebate and cash-back websites. They’re every online shopper’s dream as they give you a percentage of money back with your purchases.
If you’ve been trying to clear your credit card debts, this is a great way to use the cash you receive for future shopping sprees.
7. Abandon Your Shopping Cart
We know, it’s hard to click away from a cart full of items, but there’s a trick to it. Online stores track your website activities. If you walk away from your cart without completing the purchase, they’ll do anything to get you back.
In many cases, you’ll receive an email from the store asking you to check out with the added bonus of a discount code. This is an attempt to motivate you to buy, but make sure you’re logged into your store account so they know where to send the email.
Leaving your shopping cart for a day without buying will also land you discount deals from online stores. If you check the item prices the next day, you may find automatic reductions applied by the retailer to make you complete the purchase.
8. Become a Subscriber
Want to know how to save money shopping online? Stop tracking online sales and let the discounts come to you. In most online stores, as soon as you land on their website, you’ll get a pop-up that asks you to sign up for their newsletter.
The incentive for giving your email address are discount codes targeted for subscribers. This way, companies can inform you of all upcoming sales and get coupon codes and special discounts right into your inbox.
9. Monitor Price Drops
Many online retailers tend to change their prices throughout the week. If you buy something and discover it’s been discounted the next day, you can ask the store for a refund of the difference in prices.
Most online shops will do this, but to stay on the safe side, use credit cards that come with built-in price protection. There are also websites that can watch this for you so you don’t waste precious time.
Save Money With These Online Shopping Tips!
Shopping online is convenient and easy, but it can lead to splurging and buying things we don’t need.
When you’ve set your eyes on something but don’t want to pay full price, try these proven tricks to save more money and stay within your budget.
If you liked this article and found it helpful, check out our style blog for more fashion advice and online shopping tips!