We are living in the digital age where technology is at the sweep of our palms, and tasks such as shopping have never been so convenient.
With just a few taps on a smartphone, a package is delivered to our doorsteps, sometimes in a matter of hours or minutes.
As outstanding as this sounds, people often find themselves drowning in a pile of credit card bills that are higher than those cardboard boxes we throw away at the end.
And trust me when I say this: it isn’t just you; there are globally more than 2.71 billion online buyers, and a few might repeat the same mistake (Source: inBeatAgency, 2024).
Thus, if these things make you worried about how to go about online shopping without abandoning your financial goals, try implementing the tips given in this blog.
Use Coupon Codes
Coupon codes are, without a doubt, the best way to save money on your online shopping.
You can find online coupon codes all over the internet, but the best way is to use a specialized voucher site.
Such spots have thousands of tickets from all over the web, which means you have a much better chance of finding one offered by a retailer you want to shop with.
Make sure you verify the authenticity of such sites before you use them so you don’t waste time with dead links.
The represented data below is focused on the number of digital shoppers in the United States from 2017 to 2025.
Compare Product Prices
Comparison sites, when looking into reviews and pricing,g can be a good way for you to save money on your shopping, too.
Some may charge subscription fees, and others are free and typically take a commission off the top of any purchases you make.
The use of comparison sites should become an integral part of your online shopping strategy; otherwise, you are never going to start saving money.
Sign Up for Newsletters
Newsletters are articles emailed to consumers with news and information about their favorite brands.
Most people don’t read them, but retailers send them out anyway because it is a marketing opportunity for them.
You don’t have to read them to sign up for them, but you can still benefit from them as these are a marketing opportunity, and dealers do everything they can to get people to join.
You can usually access discounts of up to 15% on purchases of any amount if you are looking to join any.
Abandon Your Cart
Did you know that sometimes abandoning your cart can be a good way to trigger discounts?
As long as you are signed up for a retailer’s website or newsletter when you abandon your cart, there is a chance that they will send a coupon code straight to your email inbox.
Something worth noting is that sometimes, these voucher codes can take up to two days to come.
The chances are that before you receive an email with a set of numbers, you will receive one from the retailer reminding you that you have left items in your cart.
If you receive the latter type of email, it is a strong indication you will receive the former as well.
Use Cashback Often
Cashback bonuses are offered by stores and credit card companies which offer you money back on purchases made through the card, yet, these are often neglected.
These features are quite beneficial, especially for loyal customers of a specific store who are regularly consuming the services and products of the mart.
If you intend to use your cash in credit card bonuses, ensure to keep track of the amount you have used in swap offers to better calculate your total expenses.
Wait for the Sale Season
The sales season is something that a lot of people often miss entirely because they are not signed up for newsletters, so they do not have opportunities to learn about it.
These opportunities come around several times a year, but the biggest of them is during the winter months.
Black Friday sales are quite popular around the globe as they allow shopaholics to purchase items at a fraction of what they normally cost.
If you’ve opted in to receive emails from certain retailers, they will inform you prior to the sale so you won’t miss out on limited-time deals.
After the deal, they will also send you an email to fully inform you of when the event is going to be over.
Do You Know? A higher percentage of women shop online (53.4%) compared to men (46.6%).
Read Online Reviews
Online reviews can be a fantastic way for you to determine if the traders are worth doing business with or not.
It is a very bad idea to sign up for a retailer’s newsletter or buy products from them without first reading their reviews.
A dealer’s reviews will give you insight into what doing business with them is like and help you to quickly determine if their products are worth spending money on.
Make sure that if you do plan on reading reviews, you read ones posted on Google Review and Trustpilot, which are two of the internet’s leading feedback providers.
Use Cybersecurity Programs
Shopping around online can be made safer with the installation of cybersecurity programs that provide privacy when purchasing products over the internet.
When cutting back on expenses is something that needs to be done, you also need to take action to ensure that your financial information remains secure.
Cybercriminals are everywhere on the internet today, and if you do not limit your exposure to them or protect yourself, you could end up falling victim to fraud.
It can easily be avoided – all you need to do is download an antivirus application, as well as a firewall.
You should also set robust passwords for your accounts so it is hard for criminals to hack them.
Use Secure Payment Methods
Last but not least, you must make sure that you find retailers with secure payment options.
If it has not been followed, it might lead to your personal or financial information being taken, stolen, and used in cybercrime.
Going back to finding reliable vendors, you won’t usually have to worry about vulnerable payment methods if you shop with those whose reviews are positive across the board.
If you have any concerns about the payment methods a dealer has on offer, get in touch with them and ask if they have any alternative methods available.
Shopping online doesn’t have to be expensive; you can use coupons, discounts, and sales to save yourself money.
Use the guidance given here to ensure you don’t overspend and also take steps to protect yourself from cybercrime.
