8 Online Shopping Hacks To Maximize Your Savings

Why are so many people shopping online nowadays versus in person at traditional brick and mortar stores?

Some do it for convenience, as it’s nice to be able to buy things without getting off of your couch. Some do it for safety, as they’d rather not shop in big crowds. Others, meanwhile, like to shop online because they feel it leads to the most savings.

Can you save the most money if you use the Internet to shop? Usually, the answer is yes. But to maximize those savings, you’ll want to employ these easy-to-follow hacks:

1. Try the abandoned cart trick.

Have you ever put something in your online shopping cart but never completed the purchase? You probably have, as you changed your mind or simply got distracted and forgot it was even there.

How could this work in your favor? Because some online retailers can see that you abandoned your cart, and to get the sale, they’ll send you a discount via email or text.

Will you get discount offers every time you abandon an online shopping cart? No, but if there’s something you really want to buy, put it in your cart and leave it there for a while. You may get a message later on that can lead to easy savings.

2. Sign up for email lists or text alerts.

If you don’t find them too irritating, emails and text alerts from retailers often offer deals that you may not see as a “normal” customer.

You can usually get discounts as soon as you sign up, as the retailers are often willing to drop a 10 or 20 percent off deal to hook you as a buyer. Plus, if you ever find the messages overwhelming, you can always unsubscribe.

3. Use cards to earn rewards.

Provided you can qualify for them, and you don’t have debt issues, shopping with rewards credit cards can lead to cash back or points you can redeem later on.

4. Take advantage of free shipping.

If you’re making several online purchases through different retailers, those shipping costs can add up. In some cases, you can avoid shipping costs by buying a certain amount, having a store credit card, or signing up for a mailing list. In short, keep your eyes open for your different shipping options, as you may not have to pay if you play it smart.

5. Use apps or browser extensions.

There are so many easy-to-use apps and browser extensions that make saving online simple. For instance, Honey can scan for digital coupons whenever you check out to ensure you don’t miss any discounts. It can even tell you when an item’s price drops, so you can snag it when it’s super cheap.

Capital One Shopping (formerly Wikibuy) is another example of a money-saving app. It can help you comparison shop, find cash-back deals, alert you to price drops, and much more.

6. Try buying between Tuesday and Thursday.

When is online shopping traffic usually at its lowest? Between Tuesday and Thursday. What do retailers do to change this? They offer deals on those days, which is why you should keep an eye out to see if you can snag some diamonds in the rough.

7. Follow your favorite brands on social media.

A simple follow can lead to special discount codes from time to time.

8. Follow popular influencers.

Social media influencers sometimes have posts where they offer special deals. Do they get a kickback for this? Perhaps, but as long as you don’t mind padding their pockets, you can do the same via some easy savings.