Shopping online can be very frugal when done carefully. Normally I am a big supporter of buying things used whenever possible, but of course there are times when that isn’t possible or appropriate to do.
When buying things new, shopping online is usually the way to go for me. This is because I can take the time to shop carefully and take advantage of all of the incentives that online retailer throw in to get you to shop.
Here are my tips for online holiday shopping.
Do your research and price compare
As I mentioned before, research is very important. You want to make sure that you know exactly what you want and which store has the best deal. Price comparison websites such as pricegrabber.com can help. Many times, you can get last’s year’s model or design for a big discount.
Use coupon codes and deal links
Many people don’t know this, but two people sitting side by side on their computers shopping at the same online store may get two different prices depending on how they got to the store and whether or not they found any coupon codes. Always look for the deals and codes for your particular store or item. Clicking on certain links may get you to a section of your website that has a secret sale or a discount. One website that makes it easy to do this is FreeCoupons.com. You can search by store brand, category or just see what coupons and links are new.
Check out that clearance rack
Yes, online stores do have clearance racks. You won’t have to sift through wrinkled clothes or opened CDs, but the discounts are the same. Clearance items (also called close outs) are usually in limited quantities, so you may not get exactly the size or color, but there are some great deals here. If there isn’t a clearance link on the website, do a search within the site itself.
Check back again tomorrow when I give some more tips on shopping online include weekend shopping tips.
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
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Eight Frugal Things to Do for Christmas
Trendy Home Made Christmas Gifts
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