Shopping online is certainly convenient, but can it save you money too? As long as you rein in the urge to give in to impulsive purchases, you’ll find that you can save major money when you do your shopping online. Here are some tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

1. Always check for a promo code. A promo code is like a coupon, only you use it online. It is a code that you enter at checkout. All you have to do to search for one is enter “promo code store name” into a search engine. More often than not, you’ll find yourself getting free shipping, ten percent off or another discount.
2. Comparison shop. The beauty of shopping online is that you don’t have to get in the car and run around to five different shops in order to find the best deal on a product, wasting gas as you go. If you are making a major purchase, check the sites of at least five merchants to find the best deal.
3. Read customer reviews before you buy. Always go to a site that offers reviews from customers who have purchased the product. You may not purchase the product there, but you can tell from the customer reviews whether or not the product is a good value or a lemon. Beware of sites that only have one or two reviews. The company could have very well had them written by its associates.
4. Put the product in your shopping cart and sleep on it. Sometimes when you’re online, you see something fantastic. It is so easy to make impulse purchases when all you have to do is click a few buttons from the comfort of your home. Instead of buying, try putting it in your shopping cart or on a wish list and see if you still want it in a day or two.
5. Subscribe to RSS feeds that tell you about deals. Amazon’s Gold Deals are an example of this. If you are on the lookout for good prices on gift items, this is a good one to watch. There are other feeds to watch as well.
6. Get a discounted gift card for the store you want. Type “trade gift cards” into a search engine, and you’ll find all sorts of sites that match people who want to sell their gift cards with those who want to buy them. For example, you might find a $100 card for an online bookstore being sold for $80. Often, all you need is the code, so your savings can be almost instantaneous.
7. Consider buying used, when appropriate. There are several sites that sell used books and DVDs. Half.com is one that is very popular and has a great selection. People can save up to 90 percent when they shop at sites like this. Auction sites can also offer good deals.
8. Buy from sites that offer free shipping. Many sites offer free shipping on orders over a specific amount, while others offer free shipping all of the time. Make sure to comparison shop to make sure that the shipping price hasn’t been incorporated in the price of the item. If not, you can save a lot of money when you don’t have an extra ten or twenty percent added onto your order.

If you stay away from impulse purchases and incorporate some of these techniques into your online shopping experience, you’ll find that you will really rack up the savings. And just think of all the gas money you’ll have saved!

Does anyone else have any tips? Leave a Comment!

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