There are so many ways to save online it can get a bit overwhelming. Below I break it into four steps to minimize frustration and maximize the available online shopping discounts.
1. Compare prices. Start the buying process by getting an idea of what a “good” price is for the item you want. Check out PriceSpider.com (click on an item to see its price over the past 6 months or sign up for an email alert when prices drop), DealAlerter.com (similar to PriceSpider, powered by PriceGrabber.com), and Nextag (general price comparison from various retailers)
2. Search for coupon codes. Quickly check for coupon codes at RetailMeNot.com, SlickDeals.net, and FatWallet.com. It’s also a good idea to search Google for “product + coupon codes” or “product + promo code.” If there aren’t ANY coupon codes, sign up for the email list of the retailer you are going to buy from. Newbies often get a welcome discount.
3. Make sure to get an automatic rebate. There are three major sites that give shoppers an automatic cash rebate for shopping “through” their sites: eBates.com, Cashbaq.com and Extrabux.com. Each one requires you register on their site and they all have different deals with each retailer. So the percentage cash back you get can vary from 1% to 50%. Before you buy, log-in at one of the rebate sites and click through to the retailer from their site. They track your purchase and later send you a check. Note, the delay can be as long as 3 months.
4. Check for a free shipping code. FreeShipping.org is my favorite place to check for free shipping codes. Also check ShipGooder.com to compare which shipping method is cheapest.
