Easy Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online (and Offline)

Updated on 03/16/2023

Easy Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online (and Offline)

In 2021, nearly 2.14 billion people made online purchases. This number is growing, with online shoppers estimated to spend $5.7 trillion on online purchases in 2022. While shopping online may be more convenient than visiting a brick-and-mortar store, it can also be a great way to save money.

If you know the right online shopping tips, there are many ways to save money shopping online. Whether you are looking to get discounted products or more for your money, these simple tips to save while shopping is sure to help you achieve your goals.

Always Look for Online Coupons

Many online shoppers forget to look for coupons that could save them a substantial amount of money. For example, Walmart regularly offers grocery coupons that could help you save anywhere between $10 to $100 off your purchases. You can save money on a variety of online purchases if you take the time to source these kinds of online coupons and discounts.

One of the best ways to find coupons is to head to your favorite stores’ and manufacturers’ websites. There, you can sign up for their email lists. You will often be sent coupons and other special offers. 

Additionally, you can head to one of the many websites that collect coupons from different stores. Websites such as SmartSource or RetailMeNot have some very attractive offers, including Safeway grocery store promo codes and much more.

If you have a loyalty card for any store, you may have the option of downloading coupons directly onto the card. This way, they will be automatically applied when you make a purchase.

Other places to look for coupons include grocery store websites and drug store websites, where you can print or download coupons for in-store and online purchases. You can also download online coupon apps, such as Ibotta and Groupon, that collect coupons for you in one convenient place.

Find Savings at Wholesale Stores

When you buy wholesale, you get more than you would from a conventional purchase. And what makes it even better is a significantly lower unit price.

Instacart is a grocery delivery app that can be used at a variety of stores. One thing that many people do not realize is that you can use Instacart to order online from Costco, one of the most well-known grocery wholesalers in the world. 

Similarly, BJ’s Wholesale Club gives you access to wholesale prices for a membership of just $10 per quarter or $25 annually. In addition to the wealth of products available, you can take advantage of BJ’s groceries and save on everyday items.

Walmart runs Sam’s Club, which offers wholesale prices on everything from tires to tea and mattresses to milk. If you do a quick search on the internet, you will be able to find some great Sam’s Club membership deals, such as the Groupon deal, which offers membership for just $5.

Today, there are even wholesale stores that exist entirely online. One of these stores is Boxed, which has prices that compete with Amazon. Additionally, Boxed gives you two free samples of your choosing along with your order. 

Take Advantage of Cashback Rewards

Getting cashback on the products you buy most frequently is one of the best rewards that can come from using a credit card. As long as you are able to make the monthly repayments on what you have spent, these cards will give you points or cash for certain qualifying purchases. It is a great way to make money as you spend it. 

There are some credit cards that will offer a set cashback rate on all purchases, whereas others give bigger rewards for specific purchases, like gas or airline tickets. What you choose will depend on your own spending habits. The highest cashback credit cards may offer a rate as good as 6 percent. Cards in this reward range include the Blue Cash Preferred Credit Card from American Express. While it does come with an annual fee of $95, it is worth considering if you think the cash back you earn is likely to be higher.

The Discover It cashback card offers a rate of 5 percent on purchases up to $1,500 per quarter. You are not charged a fee for this card, but it does require you to have a good credit score to qualify.

With so many reward programs on offer, it pays to do your research. You can always use a comparison website to find the best cashback cards and make a decision based on how much you spend, what you spend it on and which card will be the most rewarding for you.

Another way to get cash back for purchases is through cashback apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51. You can use these apps to get cash or rewards for making purchases at certain retailers. For extra savings, be sure to “stack” this cashback deals with any sales and coupons you can find.

Shop at the Right Times

If you are tempted to make a retail purchase on a Saturday, you may want to wait. 

Most stores offer new deals on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. So be sure to add things to your cart and wait until these days come along to see if you can take advantage of a new deal. 

There are at least two exceptions to this general rule. If you are planning to buy airline tickets, wait until Sunday to make your purchase. While Sunday is the cheapest day for airline tickets, Monday is now the most expensive day to purchase them. 

However, if you want to purchase a laptop or desktop computer, wait until Tuesday. Computer manufacturers like Dell and Hewlett-Packard introduce new coupons on this day of the week.

In addition to these special days of the week, there are particular months that are good for certain purchases. For example, January is considered a good month to buy TVs and other electronics. Because of Memorial Day sales, May is a great time to look for furniture discounts at big-box stores.

Need a gym membership? June is a great time to sign up, as gyms want new members to sign up in the summer. They may offer deals, and you can always try to negotiate your membership cost.

By Admin