Tips to save money shopping online.

14 Tips to save money shopping online: Priceless expert advice

Shopping online makes many things easier. Unfortunately, some of the things it makes easier — like accruing debt, filling your house with unneeded junk and staying up until stupid o’clock buying stuff — aren’t great.

There’s more to successfully shopping online than just filling your cart and pressing “buy.” We all know the basics — shop around, there’s this cool thing called Black Friday, and so on — but for those truly in the know, there are advanced money-saving techniques out there. Read on for 14 tips to save money shopping online.In a nutshell:

Stores and online sites are very good at getting you to spend more than you need. Here are a few things to consider:It can feel far too easy to buy things you neither want nor need due to the sheer amount of stuff out there, the effortlessness of purchasing and the clever sales techniques retailers use.It’s hard to know if you received the best price and it’s all too easy to worry that you’ve been ripped off, no matter how good the product or the deal.You may already have things in place — reward schemes, gift cards, credit card-linked offers — which, with minimal effort, can save you money.

“One trick is to use a browser extension or app to find and enter coupon codes at checkout automatically,” says Erika Kullberg, attorney, personal finance expert and founder of Erika.com. “Honey, Capital One Shopping and Rakuten are free extensions and apps that can be installed on many popular browsers, while Piggy is a Honey-like browser extension for phones. Some of these apps, like Honey, also track price drops and offer cash back on certain purchases. They’ll scan the web for discount codes, but then they’ll also give you cash back on any purchase made through the extension.”

“If you see something you want, go to a website like CamelCamelCamel or PriceGrabber and type in the seller’s name, such as Amazon,” says Kullberg. “These sites will tell you whether the item you want to buy has a history of being cheaper on that site. They’ll also show you whether the price is cheaper on another retailer’s site. Then, if you set up price alerts for that item, you’ll be notified when a price drops to the level that makes it something you want to buy.”

You might be sitting on money, since tens of billions of dollars’ worth of gift cards end up going unused. Per a 2023 Bankrate survey, 47% of U.S. adults have at least one unspent voucher or gift card, with the average amount coming in at $187. Add that all up and you get a whopping unspent $23 billion.

“Odds are you’ve received gift cards from loved ones, friends, colleagues, your employer, as part of promotions, etc.,” says Brett Narlinger, senior vice president of global commerce at Blackhawk Network. “You can put unused gift cards to good use immediately, as they can often easily be redeemed online and via retailers’ apps.”

Another thing that often goes unredeemed is loyalty points, with people signing up for reward schemes and forgetting about them. “You have likely banked loyalty points in reward programs over time, so put them to good use and save yourself money,” says Narlinger. “After all, you earned them!”

Retailers often limit what you can do in terms of discounts, only letting you use one discount code at a time. But if you have multiple systems on the go at once, the savings can really add up.

“Stack discounts,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “As in, combine a rewards credit card with a store promotion and an online shopping portal — Rakuten, for example. That could represent three ways to save on the same purchase.”

Shopping online means buying stuff is easier than it’s ever been, but it can be beneficial to treat an online shopping expedition the way people used to have to treat offline ones: with a plan. That way, you can avoid making impulsive purchases because you’ve stumbled across something cool-looking.

“Have a goal, make a plan and consolidate,” says Kyle Enright, president of Achieve Lending. “It’s all too easy to do ‘recreational’ online shopping that racks up more purchases and, often, more debt than you can or should handle. Try to shop online only when you know what you’re shopping for and when you have a realistic budget in mind. Map out which sites you’ll visit in what order and what to shop for at each. And, if purchasing multiple items, try to purchase everything (or as much as you can) from one site. You will save time and minimize shipping costs, as well as the environmental impact of shipping.”

Sometimes, a site is so insistent that something is a great deal that it becomes easy to get excited, causing you to go for it without thinking about how good a deal it might or might not actually be. There are so many ways sites get you to spend more, it can be hard to resist.

“Evaluate deals online objectively,” says R. Persichitte, CPA, CFP, CFE, affiliate professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “Sites like Temu are famous for gamifying the shopping experience to make it seem urgent and exciting. It’s nothing new. Kohl’s used the same business model for years. They’re playing on your fear of missing out and creating a mindset that supports overspending.”

What he suggests is making your own mind up about what a product should cost, then going from there. “Don’t look at the price if you see something you want to buy. Instead, before seeing the price, ask yourself, how much am I willing to spend on this thing? If the thing is more expensive, don’t buy it. If it’s less expensive, buy it. You remove the gimmicks and other tricks designed to get you to buy more. The less you pay, the less you buy, the more you save.”

Many credit and debit cards are linked with certain retailers to provide discounts or cash back. However, these offers often require activation. “Most shoppers are sitting on these offers without realizing their potential,” says Kelli Hobbs, loyalty and rewards expert at Valuedynamx. “By taking a few minutes to activate them, they can save significantly on their regular online purchases.”

It’s generally straightforward to do. “First, log in to your online banking or mobile app and check the rewards or offers section. Banks often partner with various retailers, offering exclusive discounts and cashback deals. Once you’ve activated the offers, use your linked card to make purchases. The savings are applied automatically without needing to remember coupon codes. Card-linked offers (CLOs) can often be combined with other promotions, sales and loyalty points, maximizing your savings.”

Many sites now offer Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) programs. However, as convenient as they can seem, they might be more trouble than they’re worth, and the small print could hide all sorts of inconveniences.

“Remember that BNPL programs are loans, usually with four payments two weeks apart, starting with checkout,” says Enright. “That means you’re signing up for a loan to pay for something over a six-week period. You’ll need to manage payment dates, which won’t coincide with regular monthly payments.”

As with loans, not all BNPL programs are alike, meaning customers who aren’t willing to scrutinize the Ts and Cs can end up in trouble — it’s one of the ways stores get you to spend more while presenting an offer that seems like the opposite. “Even if you’re late by a day on a payment, you may end up paying interest for the whole repayment period with some BNPL loans,” says Enright. “Refunds may or may not be possible, depending on the BNPL program.” Instead, he says, a regular credit card works best for most consumers.

“It’s sometimes easier said than done,” says Michael Ashley Schulman, CFA, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, “But I recommend BSDW: Breathe, slow down and wait.”

As he explains, time is often the friend of the shopper. “Most items will go on sale, so if you can wait for a promotion, holiday or special event, it will usually be in your favor. Additionally, if you’re willing to buy now and receive later — in other words, if you don’t need something immediately — you can often save money with delayed shipment or, for regular purchases, a subscription. It takes planning and patience, but you get the satisfaction of a necessary or desired purchase and extra savings or a discount.” Also, he points out, if you change your mind or regret your purchase, you often have extra time to cancel the order.

Signing up to retailers’ mailing lists can be a great source of discounts and offers, but it can also lead to more emails than anyone needs. “Everyone hates spam in their inbox, but getting on some mailing lists might really be something that can help,” says Christian Simmons, financial writer at Annuity.org. “This will up your chances of companies and stores sending you their latest deals. You can always set up a new email just to sign up for these promotions and mailing lists so you aren’t cluttering up an existing inbox.”

It can be easy when shopping online to default to the same big names again and again, but the internet is a big place. “One great thing about online shopping is that it’s opened up such a huge range of options for budgeters or those looking to save money,” says Simmons. “One easy option to consider is shopping in non-traditional or community online stores. Things like Facebook Marketplace, for example, can offer you access to second-hand or used items that can be much cheaper than you’d get from a standard online store.”

If shopping for gifts, something less expensive but thoughtful can go a lot further than a big-ticket item, and sites like Etsy are filled with vendors offering bespoke, antique or unique items for sale.

There are two areas of money-saving: paying less for what you buy and buying less in general. Different shoppers will have different approaches to these, and they’ll tend to vary from area to area — some purchases are essential, while others are anything but.

For inessential purchases, Rossman suggests “refraining from saving your credit/debit card information on retailers’ websites. Sometimes, that one-click order is too easy and encourages impulse buying.” Going through every stage of the process gives you more opportunity to think about how much you really want or need what you’re buying.

The flip side is that for essential purchases, or if you’re confident you won’t be sucked into an impulse-buying habit, making sure the site knows exactly who you are can be beneficial.

“Plan to start shopping a few days early,” says Adam Schwartz of Coupon Surfer. “Put the item(s) you want in the shopping cart, fill out the shopping cart with your information — including name and email address — but do not make the purchase yet.” That incomplete purchase drives retailers nuts. “Many times, the merchant will send you a reminder that you have items in your shopping cart along with a coupon for an additional discount to incentivize you to complete the purchase.”

It’s so simple that it would never occur to most shoppers, but being as bold as asking for discounts — or information about prices dropping — can work. “If you’re purchasing a high-priced item, contact customer support and see if you can find out if there are any sales coming up,” says Schwartz. “You could save hundreds of dollars just by waiting a week or two.”

There’s also the option of using the chat facilities that more and more sites have. “If the website has a chat feature, place the item in your shopping cart and then ask for a coupon or discount via chat. Many sites will offer a discount or amenity to close the deal.”The AP Buyline roundup

Online shopping can be made much more affordable with fairly minimal effort. There are resources in place — browser extensions, price comparison sites and ongoing credit card-affiliated offers — which, combined with a bit of self-control, careful decision-making and occasionally playing retailers’ eagerness to sell against them, can save you a fortune.Frequently asked questions (FAQs)How do you save when shopping online?

There are many ways to save money shopping online. Price comparison sites can be extremely useful, helping you ensure the product you’re buying isn’t cheaper elsewhere and letting you know if it has previously been on offer for less. If it isn’t essential that you receive your products immediately, waiting for a sale, opting for a slower delivery or signing up for a regular subscription service can all add up to savings.How do you get discounts online shopping?

Browser extensions and discount apps such as Honey, Capital One Shopping, Rakuten and Piggy can automatically find available discount codes while you shop. Your credit card may also have a discount or cashback system in place with certain retailers, which may require specific activation. Signing up to retailers’ mailing lists can also be very beneficial. Occasionally, it might be as simple as asking the retailer to knock part of the price off.How do you shop smart and save money?

Impulse and unplanned purchases can cost a lot, so sticking to a plan can make a big difference. Shopping truly smart means only buying what you’ll use or enjoy, not spending money on products unnecessarily just because they catch your eye. Building in a bit of waiting time before making purchases can also give you a chance to really think through how much you want or need this product and whether it’s the best use of your money.

With purchases that are necessary, stacking several of the money-saving techniques discussed in this article can lead to multi-level savings. Discounts from apps combined with credit card rewards on a well-timed purchase that coincides with a store promotion can mean spending significantly less money.