Online shopping is a huge industry and has completely changed the way consumers shop. In 2016 alone, Canadians spent $19.2 billion dollars on internet purchases and it’s expected that number will hit $39 billion by 2019. With online shopping making such an impact on the way people shop, there’s no question that, like always, people are searching for ways to save money. One of the best parts about online shopping is the ability to shop around, all by the click of your mouse, on the comfort of your couch. So we found some tools that can help you save money while you shop online.
Ways to save on Amazon
Amazon is obviously one of the best spots to shop because it sells almost everything and usually for reasonable prices. However, searching through all the different vendors and sellers can make it hard to know for sure if you’ve found the cheapest price on the site. Plus, you may notice that oftentimes prices can fluctuate, making it hard to know if you have found the best deal.
Camel Camel Camel helps you track the prices of the items you’re looking to purchase on Amazon. All you do is enter the URL of the Amazon product you want to buy, or you can search by keywords, and then the website tracks Amazon prices and will send you a notification when prices drop on the item. It also lets you view the price history of the product so you can identify whether or not it’s fluctuated in the past. Price Jump is another tool that helps you save on Amazon. Basically the service allows you to compare Amazon prices to other sites on the internet to ensure you are getting the best price. You can download the app of Price Jump or use it on your desktop.
Lastly, Amazon Warehouse Deals are one of the internet’s best kept secrets for shopping on Amazon. Essentially it’s where you can get fantastic discounts on Amazon items that were returned or have some shipping box damage. However, don’t worry, Amazon checks each product and gives them a grade before reselling them so you ensure you’re not getting something you wish you would’ve just bought new.
Coupons
If you’ve ever seen an episode of extreme couponing you’ll know how valuable couponing can be to shopping. However, the USA definitely has the ability to cash in on these a lot easier than Canadians give that they have less restrictions on coupons there. But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t discounts and coupons out there available to those in Canada.
RetailMeNot is an awesome resource for coupon junkies or those looking to save money. Before you checkout on any website, double check RetailMeNot as you might find a coupon that can be applied to your order. Many big retailers often offer some sort of discount or deal you may not know about! Groupon or LivingSocial are also great options for saving money on items or experiences. Both services are similar in what they offer, which is a ton of different items and experiences in your city for a discounted rate. Lastly, Honey is a great Chrome plugin that allows you to click on the Honey button in your browser when you’re checking out and the widget will automatically apply any coupon codes to your shopping cart. The plugin also alerts you when the best time to buy a product on Amazon is from price history and will alert you when products you want are on sale.
Rebates
Rebates can be a great way to earn cash back while shopping online, and who doesn’t love earning cash back from their shopping? Ebates is one of the most popular cash back websites around. There are a variety of stores on the platform and you can earn up to 20% back at some of them.
Another app that works similar to rebates is Ibotta, this app for Android or iOS is super simple to use. All you do is download the app and you’ll unlock cash rewards as you complete simple tasks. Afterwards you can go shopping for the items you unlocked through the app. When you’re done, scan the receipt with the app and get cash sent to your Ibotta account which will pay you out via Paypal or Venmo.
A few other tips to help you save money as you shop online are:
- Plan purchases around season trends. Meaning, wait to buy an item until the season is over or in off season. For example, if you know you need a new patio furniture set, wait until the end of summer when they go on sale.
- Sign-up for loyalty programs which will help you save as you shop!
- Check out any additional discounts the website will offer you for completing different things. For example, the most popular one is signing up for the newsletter, many websites will offer you discounts for doing this!
- Opt to pick-up your online purchase in store versus paying for delivery. This works great if you live near a store and can save you a ton on shipping!
Online shopping is quick, convenient and has changed the way we shop. However, using some of the above tips and tools can help optimize the online shopping experience even more, while still helping you save money!
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