Regardless of how often you go shopping and how much you love or hate it, we all love a good deal. Nothing’s worse than learning after the fact that you could have gotten a bigger discount or have received a lower price on an item you just recently purchased. If you’re like me, you’ve likely done most of your shopping online as of late, and it’s pretty great how quick and easy it is, and how fast it shows up at your front door!

Especially during these tough economic times, getting a deal is more critical than ever and we could all use a few tips or reminders to make sure we’re always getting the best deal possible. Check out some shopping advice below that will give you an opportunity to save money each and every time you go shopping.

Shop Online Instead of in Stores

In recent years, studies have shown that about 80% of Americans shop online. This number has undoubtedly gone up with the COVID-19 quarantine in effect, we don’t have much of another choice!

For a long time, the thought was that those who shopped online did so for convenience. But these days, many of the people who are shopping online are doing it so that they can save money. There are so many options and sellers right at your finger tips!

When you shop in stores, it’s not always feasible for you to drive around and compare the prices on items at different stores. But you can price shop for almost anything they want online in a matter of just a few minutes.

Also – I’ve learned that Amazon isn’t necessarily always the cheapest option out there. I know it’s so easy, so consistent but not necessarily the cheapest! A quick google search can help you shop around, and you may be surprised what you can find!

Put Price Comparison Websites to the Test

As just mentioned, one of the big benefits of shopping online as opposed to shopping in stores is that it allows people to price shop more effectively. They can see how much they’ll have to pay for, say, a pair of shoes at six different online stores before deciding which one to order from.

But if you’re really committed to spending, you can also take it a step further than that. There are dozens of price comparison websites out there that do all the online price shopping for you in seconds. Even something as simple as google can be an effective price comparison tool (and a tool to find price comparison websites, ha).

Put one of these price comparison websites to the test the next time you need to buy something. They’ll search the web for the best prices on items and help you find the lowest one.

Look for Promo Codes Before Placing Online Orders

When you’re in the process of placing an online order, most retailers will give you the option to enter a promo code. These retailers often send customers promo codes in an effort to motivate them to come and buy something.

But you don’t necessarily need to receive a promo code direct from a retailer to use one. You can also do a basic Google search to see if you can find any promo codes for a particular retailer. Simply search for the name of the retailer and the words “promo codes.” There are entire websites devoted to compiling promo codes that people can use.

These codes won’t always work. But it never hurts to try. If you’re lucky enough to land on a promo code that works, you could save a significant amount of money while shopping online.

Wait to Buy Things at the Right Times of the Year

Did you know that there are some times of the year that are better for buying certain products than others?

Take TVs, for example. If you’re in the market for one, you may want to wait until late January or early February to do it. New TVs are released at the top of the year, which means that retailers slash the prices on many older models.

You may also want to wait until November to buy a new TV since there are a lot of great Black Friday sales on TVs. The Black Friday Walmart sales almost always feature one or two great deals on TVs.

Google “what is the best time to buy [the product you want],” and chances are, you’ll be able to find out the best time to buy whatever it is you’re looking for.

Follow Your Favorite Stores and Brands on Social Media

Are there a handful of stores that you prefer to shop at? Or are there specific brands that you buy products from all the time?

Make it a point to follow each of them on social media. These days, most stores and brands are providing their social media followers with everything from flash sale announcements to promo codes that will help them save money.

You should be careful about following your favorite stores and brands too closely on social media. They’re often going to try and sell you something at every turn, and the last thing you want to do is end up buying a bunch of stuff you don’t need. Just because it’s a good deal doesn’t mean you should buy i!

But as long as you’re able to resist the urge to shop at your favorite store every time they put up a social media post, you’ll be able to experience tons of savings by following stores and brands on sites like Facebook and Instagram. 

Consider Buying Used Items Instead of Brand-New Ones

In this day and age, it’s never been easier to shop for brand-new items online. So why in the world would you want to shop for used ones instead?

Well, for starters, you can find used items that cost just a fraction of what new ones do. Additionally, you can find used items that are in terrific shape thanks to all the different sites that have been set up to help people sell used things. eBay and Facebook marketplaces are also great examples.

You might be convinced to go with used items over new ones after seeing how readily available they are and how much money they could save you. Sometimes even on Facebook people give stuff away for free!

These Shopping Tips Could Save You a Lot of Money

It doesn’t matter if you’re shopping for clothing, electronics, books, furniture, or something else. By using these shopping tips and doing a lot of your shopping online, you can save money every time you shop.

Take a few of these shopping tips for a test drive today to see how effective they can be. You might be surprised by how much money you end up saving the next time you shop!

Do you love nothing more than finding great deals when you’re shopping? If so, you probably have all kinds of shopping tips and tricks up your sleeves.