The more things you have to do, the less time you have to do them. So yeah, that sounds like a pretty major Catch-22. On the one hand, it’s almost impossible to find the time and energy to fit everything into our day.
On the other hand, the more effort we spend on finding ways to streamline our lives, the happier we’ll be in the long run. Why spend your hard-earned money on products you don’t love or can’t use? Best Buy Hacks makes the expensive online shopping experience more affordable through tips and awareness of the latest in-store coupon codes, cashback offers, and discount gift cards.
Even if you don’t own anything yet, there are some great online shopping tips out there that can help you save money and make room for new purchases.
From using price comparison websites and tracking prices of similar items when they go on sale to using discounts offered by stores and manufacturers that target frequent shoppers, these 10 tips will make sure you get the most out of your dollar when shopping in general — not just for clothes or electronics but for anything else as well.
Online Shopping Basics
The most important online shopping tip is to be a price comparer. When you’re comparison shopping, don’t just go to Amazon or Walmart.com — go to a few other online stores like Target, Etsy, and eBay.com.
Compare the prices of each item you’re interested in, and see which store has the best deal. If you’re shopping for clothes, be sure to check out a few of your favorite brands at other stores as well.
You’ll be surprised how different the prices can be. While price comparison is important, you also need to do some basic research so you can have a better idea of when and where to buy products. Here are a few basic tips for doing some research before you shop: - Look up the product you’re interested in. This is important because you’ll be able to see what other people are saying about that product on sites like Reddit, Amazon, and even the product’s official website. - See when the item is on sale. Sometimes, the best deals are during sales — but that doesn’t mean you should wait. Check out eBay, Amazon, and your local grocery store (and become a member of some of these stores to get access to their exclusive deals) to see when items are on sale and to get an idea of when the same item may go on sale in your city. - Look up the store you’re shopping at. Not only will this help you know where you can get better deals but it’ll also give you an idea of the store’s reputation and customer service — or lack thereof.
Be a price comparer
When you’re price comparing, you don’t have to stick to Amazon — you can use other price comparison websites too like CamelCamelCamel, Goclever, and ShopSavvy. Get the most out of your money by comparing prices at different stores and manufacturers, and also look at the prices of similar items at other stores to get an idea of when they may go on sale. Here are some things to keep in mind when using a price comparison website:
- Take advantage of coupons and price alerts. Some price comparison websites will automatically update the prices you see when you’re logged into the site with price coupons and price alerts for the items you’re shopping for so you can save even more money. - Do some basic research before you shop. You’ll be able to save even more money by doing some basic research so you can get an idea of when and where to buy items.
Track price fluctuations
If you’re like a lot of people, you probably check the Buy tips price of the item you’re interested in a few days before you intend to make your purchase. While you can’t know for sure when the price will drop, you can make a few small tweaks to help you save even more money.
- Make a list of everything you need to buy and what the cost will be. If you’re not checking the price of an item for a day or more before you buy it, you can make a list that includes everything you need to buy.
- Keep track of the price of the item on a price comparison website. While you can’t know for sure if the price is going to drop, if you keep track of the price on a price comparison website, you can see if it changes at all.
Save your receipts and build up your credit score
As you shop, keep track of your receipts — and make sure you get your receipt signed. If you have a price drop on your item, you can either ask for an adjustment or use that receipt to file a claim with the seller. If you have a price drop but don’t have your item signed, you can protect yourself by keeping track of the sale price and keeping your item with you until you’re ready to pay for it. If you have to file a claim with the seller, do it in writing so you have proof (and don’t keep your item with you because that can give you good reason for filing a claim). The more proof you have that you’re not stealing from the seller, the better your chances of getting a refund. If you’re willing to risk not getting a full refund, you can also use your tracking number to file a claim with the seller’s insurance company.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or ask for discounts
It’s easy to feel like you have to buy all of your items at full price — or that you shouldn’t ask for a discount. While it’s great to have some money leftover at the end of the month, it’s perfectly fine to ask the sales associate or cashier if they have a discount or to give you a gift card. It’s even better to ask for a discount if you have a few different things you’re interested in. If you just need a small amount of money, you can ask for a gift card or even a Starbucks gift card. You can also ask for larger amounts of money by requesting a cash advance. While this might seem like a financing deal, it’s actually just an agreement with the seller that you’ll pay the item back when you’re ready to do so.
Research who sells what and when they have sales
As you shop, keep track of the stores you’re shopping at. You can even create an account with some of these stores so you can get access to their exclusive deals and sales. It’s also a good idea to research the stores you’re shopping at so you can get an idea of whether or not they have any ongoing offers or sales. Some stores will run sales on a regular basis — for example, Amazon has a daily deal every day. Other stores may only run sales on a random day or only run sales for certain items.
Check out ongoing offers before you shop
While price comparison websites are great for helping you find the best deal, you can also use other shopping tips to get the best price on products. For example, before you go shopping, do some research on the stores you’re shopping at. You can find social media accounts, contact information, and photos of the stores on the Internet. Try to find out if they have any special deals that you can take advantage of before you go shopping.
Have a “spend now, save later” mindset when shopping online or in-store
While a lot of these tips may seem like common sense, it’s important to remember them when you’re shopping — especially when you’re buying things online. Make sure you keep track of the price fluctuations of as many items as possible, sign your receipts, and ask for discounts before you make a purchase. When you’re shopping for clothes or electronics, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying something new — especially if the item is on sale. Make sure you remind yourself that these items don’t have to be perfect or have to be the newest thing. Even if the item is from a store that you’ve never shopped at, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it.