Online shopping can be an effective and thrifty way to shop, but if you’re not careful, you won’t get the most out of your buck. If you plan to shop online, keep on reading for the 5 money-saving tips only savvy online shoppers know so you’ll avoid buyer’s remorse.
1. Procrastinate.
If you wish to get the most out of your money, procrastinate. That means you won’t buy right away but wait for prices to drop before you shop. Generally, prices before holidays are artificially inflated to make Black Friday discounts seem more dramatic. Think of shop for soft goods, like scarves and sweaters, four to six business days before Christmas, when store managers start to think about shifting to new seasonal merchandise. Also, it can be great to shop for seasonal clothes when the season will come to its end so everything will be on sale. Remember, good and cozy things come to those who wait.
2. Compare prices or track them automatically.
You don’t want to buy that expensive dress or coat to find it for half the price at a different site a week later. There are a lot of comparison websites you can check that automatically scans more than 4,000 retailers as you shop and lists competitors’ prices. If you do this regularly, you’ll be able to save about 17 percent on purchases. A more efficient trick is to check for dresses and fashion pieces within your budget range so you’ll avoid overspending. Also, think of an e-mail notification when the item you like drops to that amount or less.
3. Hide your web cookies.
Whenever you’re shopping online, companies track online cookies to target shoppers with relevant ads. However, browsing histories also reveal buyers’ budgets that can be visible to some online stores. If you’ve visited luxury sites, your search results may include merchandise that’s priced four times higher than it is at savings-oriented ones. So, stick to budget-friendly sites to bump into prices 25 percent lower.
4. Use social media to reach local businesses.
Social media can also be great to shop wise. If you and some friends want to make the same purchase, tweet at your favorite local and try to negotiate a group discount. You can easily reach them on social media where they can even give you some online discounts, coupons, and other freebies that can be great. Also, you may think of asking them if they offer great deals if you’re going to shop online.
5. Look online before visiting the store.
Even if you opt to shop in store rather than online, first check sites with user reviews and ratings to determine which products have the most positive feedback. If the highest-rated items are cheaper online, ask the store to match the website’s price. By taking these things into consideration, you’ll be a savvy shopper that gets the most out of your shopping budget.