Top 15 Online Shopping Hacks: Ultimate Tips to Save Money

Want to transform your online shopping into a savings adventure? In this guide, we'll share 15 proven hacks to help you unlock hidden discounts, stack savings, and get the most out of every purchase. From cashback apps to clever timing strategies, these tips will turn you into a shopping pro. Ready to start saving more and spending less? Let’s dive into the ultimate guide to online shopping hacks.

In this post, you'll learn:

• How to find hidden coupon codes and discounts.

• Tips for comparing prices and finding the best deals.

• Strategies to avoid impulse purchases and stick to your budget.

• Clever ways to earn cashback and rewards on your online purchases.

• Insider secrets to get free shipping, even on small orders.

1. Stacking Discounts: The Holy Grail of Savings

Let’s start with the big one, stacking discounts. Imagine you’re about to check out and realize you can apply a coupon or promo code and use a cashback app. Suddenly, that $100 purchase turned into $70, and you feel like a shopping wizard. But how exactly do you stack these discounts?

• Step 1: Find a reliable promo code. Sites like Dealhack have extensive lists of verified promo codes. Always start here.

• Step 2: Check for store-specific discounts. Retailers often run sales or offer discounts for first-time customers or newsletter sign-ups.

• Step 3: Use a cashback app or browser extension. Apps like Rakuten or Honey can offer cashback in addition to your discounts. Pro tip: Always compare cashback offers across different platforms!

• Step 4: Apply any available store credits or gift cards. These can often be combined with other discounts.

2. Timing is Everything: The Art of Waiting

Patience, my friend, is more than just a virtue; it’s a savings strategy. When it comes to online shopping, timing your purchase can make a huge difference.

• Best Times to Shop:

  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the usual suspects, but don’t overlook other major sales events like Prime Day or back-to-school season.

  • End-of-season sales are gold mines for snagging deals on clothing and accessories.

  • Flash sales and daily deals: Look for limited-time offers. Retailers like Amazon and eBay often have daily deals worth checking out.

• Day of the Week Matters:

  • Did you know that shopping on Wednesdays and Thursdays can yield better deals? Retailers often release new discounts mid-week, and you can swoop in before the weekend crowd.

3. Price Tracking Tools: Never Miss a Drop

Ever bought something, only to see the price drop the next day? It’s a heart-sinking feeling, but it doesn’t have to happen to you. Enter price tracking tools, your new best friend.

• CamelCamelCamel: This tool is a game-changer for Amazon shoppers. It tracks price history and alerts you when prices drop.

• Honey’s Droplist: Add items to your Droplist, and Honey will notify you when prices fall. It’s like having a personal shopper who is always looking for deals.

• PriceBlink: This browser extension compares prices across multiple retailers and lets you know if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.

Comparison of Some Popular Price-Tracking Tools:

4. Abandon Your Cart for Extra Savings

This one’s a little sneaky but oh-so-effective. Online retailers hate seeing abandoned carts, so they offer discounts to entice customers.

• How It Works:

  • Add items to your cart and checkout, but stop short of purchasing.

  • Close the tab and wait. Within 24 to 48 hours, you might receive an email offering a discount if you complete your purchase.

• Tips for Success:

  • Please ensure you’re logged in or have entered your email during checkout; otherwise, the retailer cannot contact you.

  • This works incredibly well with smaller or niche retailers eager to close sales.

5. Use Multiple Email Addresses for First-Time Discounts

Retailers love rewarding new customers, often with a hefty discount for your first purchase. But what if you’ve shopped there before? Here’s the hack: use multiple email addresses.

• How to Do It:

  • Sign up with a new email address to receive the first-time buyer discount. Gmail users can add a dot or a plus sign in their email address to create variations that go to the same inbox (e.g., john.doe@gmail.com or john+shopping@gmail.com).

  • Use these variations to score multiple first-time discounts.

• Is It Ethical?

  • While it’s a bit of a grey area, this hack is widely used and accepted by savvy shoppers. Just be sure to keep track of your accounts!

6. Leverage Cashback Websites and Apps

Why settle for a good deal when you can make it even better with cashback? Cashback websites and apps give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash, and when combined with other discounts, the savings can be significant.

• Top Cashback Sites and Apps:

  • Rakuten (formerly Ebates): Offers cashback on purchases from thousands of retailers.

  • Swagbucks: Earn cashback and Swagbucks (SB) points that can be redeemed for gift cards.

  • TopCashback: Known for offering some of the highest cashback rates.

• How to Maximize Cashback:

  • Double-dip on cashback: Use a cashback credit card and app to maximize your returns.

  • Stack with promo codes: Many cashback sites allow you to apply promo codes, so don’t forget to check if there’s an additional discount available.

7. Score Free Shipping with These Tricks

Shipping costs can quickly add up, but with a few clever hacks, you can often score free shipping without spending extra.

• Use Free Shipping Codes:

  • Many retailers offer free shipping codes, especially during holiday sales or promotional events. Sites like RetailMeNot and Dealhack often list these codes.

• Meet the Minimum Threshold:

  • If the retailer offers free shipping with a minimum purchase amount, consider adding a small, inexpensive item to your cart to meet the threshold. It might be cheaper than paying for shipping outright.

• Sign Up for Loyalty Programs:

  • Many stores offer free shipping as a perk for loyalty program members. Signing up is usually free and comes with other benefits like exclusive discounts.

• Shop with Amazon Prime:

  • If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, consider subscribing to Amazon Prime for free two-day shipping on most items.

8. Use a VPN to Get Regional Discounts

Here’s a hack that not everyone knows about using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can sometimes get you regional discounts. Prices for the same product or service can vary depending on your location, and a VPN allows you to change your IP address to another country.

• How to Use a VPN for Discounts:

  • Step 1: Download a reputable VPN service like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

  • Step 2: Connect to a server in a country where the product or service is likely cheaper. For instance, software subscriptions are often more affordable in countries with lower living costs.

  • Step 3: Visit the retailer’s website and check the price. You may find a better deal just by changing your virtual location.

• Caution:

  • Not all websites allow this, and some may block VPN traffic. However, it’s worth a try, especially for big purchases like flights, software, or subscriptions.

9. Take Advantage of Price Matching

Many retailers offer price-matching policies, which means they’ll match a lower price from a competitor if you can provide proof. This is a powerful tool that can ensure you’re always getting the best deal.

• How to Use Price Matching:

  • Research the best price: Before purchasing, search other retailers to see if someone else offers the item for less.

  • Contact customer service: Contact the retailer and provide proof of the lower price, usually as a screenshot or link.

  • Request a price match: Most retailers are happy to match the price to keep your business; some will even beat the competitor’s price by a small percentage.

• Pro Tip:

  • Some stores even offer post-purchase price matching. If you buy something and the price drops within a specific timeframe, you can request a refund for the difference.

Reference Table for Popular Stores with Price-Matching Policies:

10. Sign Up for Deal Alerts

Finally, let technology do the heavy lifting by signing up for deal alerts. Instead of constantly checking for discounts, let the deals come to you.

• Best Tools for Deal Alerts:

  • Slickdeals: Create alerts for specific products or categories and get notified as soon as a deal is posted.

  • Google Alerts: Set up alerts for your favorite brands or products and receive email notifications when they’re mentioned online.

  • Retailer Newsletters: Sign up for newsletters from your favorite stores. They often include exclusive discounts and early access to sales.

• Pro Tip:

  • Customize your alerts to avoid getting overwhelmed with notifications. Focus on high-value items or categories you frequently shop for.

11. Use Discounted Gift Cards

Imagine getting an additional discount on top of a sale that sounds too good to be true, not with discounted gift cards. Websites like Raise and CardCash offer gift cards at a discount, sometimes up to 20% off the card’s face value.

• How to Use Discounted Gift Cards:

  • Step 1: Purchase a discounted gift card from a trusted site.

  • Step 2: Use the gift card during checkout as you usually would. This works exceptionally well during sales or when stacking discounts.

• Pro Tip:

  • Combine discounted gift cards with store sales and cashback offers for triple-layer savings.

12. Shop Incognito to Avoid Dynamic Pricing

Have you ever noticed that the price of an item seems to go up after you’ve viewed it a few times? This sneaky practice is called dynamic pricing. Retailers use your browsing history and cookies to adjust prices based on demand, location, and even the time of day.

• How to Avoid Dynamic Pricing:

  • Use incognito mode: Shopping in incognito mode (or private browsing) prevents websites from tracking your activity and adjusting prices.

  • Clear your cookies: If you’re not using incognito mode, regularly clear your cookies to avoid being targeted by dynamic pricing.

  • Change your location: As mentioned earlier, using a VPN can help you avoid location-based pricing.

• Bonus Tip:

  • If you see a price hike, try searching for the product on a different device or browser to see if the price differs.

13. Join Facebook Groups and Online Forums

Communities of deal hunters are all over the internet, and joining these groups can give you access to insider tips, exclusive deals, and the camaraderie of fellow savers.

• Best Places to Join:

  • Facebook Groups: Search for groups dedicated to deals, coupons, and discount codes. Examples include “Couponing 101” or “Deals & Steals.”

  • Reddit: Subreddits like r/Frugal or r/deals are treasure troves of savings tips.

  • Slickdeals Forums: Engage with other savvy shoppers, share deals, and learn about discounts you might not find on your own.

• Benefits of Joining:

  • Real-time alerts: Members often share deals as soon as they find them so that you can act fast.

  • Tips and tricks: Learn from others who are just as passionate about saving as you are.

  • Exclusive discounts: Some groups offer exclusive discounts or codes that aren’t available anywhere else.

14. Watch for Price Adjustments After Purchase

Even after you’ve made a purchase, there’s still a chance to save money. Many retailers offer price adjustments if the price drops shortly after you’ve bought something.

• How to Get a Price Adjustment:

  • Monitor your purchase: Keep an eye on the item you bought for at least a week after purchase.

  • Contact customer service: If the price drops, contact the retailer’s customer service to request a refund for the difference.

  • Be aware of the policy: Different retailers have different policies on how long they’ll honor price adjustments. Some offer this service for up to 30 days.

• Top Retailers Offering Price Adjustments:

  • Target: Offers a 14-day price adjustment policy.

  • Nordstrom: If the price of an item drops within 14 days, they’ll refund the difference.

  • Best Buy: If you find a lower price within 15 days, they’ll match it.

15. Opt for Subscription Services Only When It Makes Sense

Subscription services can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, they offer convenience and savings on products you regularly use. On the other hand, they can become a money pit if you’re not careful.

• How to Make Subscriptions Work for You:

  • Evaluate your usage: Only subscribe to products you use frequently and consistently.

  • Look for flexible subscriptions: Choose services that allow you to skip deliveries or cancel anytime without penalty.

  • Take advantage of free trials: Many subscription services offer free trials, which are an excellent way to see if the service is worth the cost.

• Top Subscription Services to Consider:

  • Amazon Subscribe & Save: Save up to 15% on recurring orders.

  • Grove Collaborative: Eco-friendly household products delivered to your door with discounts on bulk orders.

  • Chewy Autoship: Pet supplies at a discount with the option to skip or cancel anytime.

Summary of Top Online Shopping Hacks

Conclusion

Online shopping is more than just a convenience; it's an opportunity to be a savvy spender. By mastering these top hacks, you can turn every shopping session into a savings bonanza. Whether stacking discounts, leveraging cashback or using tools to track price drops, the key is approaching each purchase with strategy and patience. Remember, the best deals are often just a few clicks away, and with the proper knowledge, you can make the most out of every dollar.

Now that you're armed with these expert tips and tricks, you're ready to shop smarter and save more. Happy shopping, and may your cart always be full of savings!

FAQ

What are the best tools for stacking discounts?

Coupon sites like Dealhack, cashback apps like Rakuten, and browser extensions like Honey are the best tools for stacking discounts.

How can I time my purchases to get the best deals?

Timing your purchases around significant sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and end-of-season sales is crucial.

What is dynamic pricing, and how can I avoid it?

Dynamic pricing is a strategy where retailers adjust prices based on browsing history and demand.

How do price-tracking tools work?

Price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel and Honey’s Droplist monitor product prices over time.

Can I get a discount by abandoning my cart?

Yes! Many retailers send discount codes via email to encourage customers to complete their purchases after abandoning their carts.

Are cashback apps worth using?

Absolutely. Cashback apps like Rakuten and Swagbucks give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash.

How can I get free shipping without a subscription service?

You can often get free shipping by using promo codes, meeting a retailer’s minimum purchase threshold, or signing up for a store’s loyalty program.

What’s the benefit of using a VPN for online shopping?

A VPN allows you to change your IP address to another country, which can help you access region-specific discounts and avoid dynamic pricing.

How does price matching work?

Price matching allows you to get a retailer to match a lower price from a competitor. To use this, find a lower price elsewhere, provide proof to the retailer, and request a price match.

What should I consider before signing up for a subscription service?

Before signing up for a subscription service, evaluate how often you’ll use the product, whether the service offers flexibility, and if a free trial is available.