Want to maximize your savings when shopping online? Follow these 5 steps

Don’t miss the chance to keep more money in your pocket when shopping online.

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Key points

• If you prefer to shop online, you’re not alone.
• There are steps you can take to maximize discounts and earn more rewards when you place an order online.
• Don’t forget to compare prices, use a cashback app, and look for discount codes.

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In today’s busy world, it can be convenient to shop online. There is no need to sit in traffic or face crowds of people and long lines at the store. Instead, you can buy whatever you want fast and it will arrive at your doorstep.

If you want to save money, it pays to find ways to maximize your savings potential when ordering online. Do you want to keep more money in your pocket without giving up your online shopping habit? Follow these steps to save more money and earn rewards.

1. Compare prices

Before placing an order online, you may want to compare prices at similar retailers. You may find a lower price elsewhere. Browser extensions like Capital One Shopping make it easy to compare prices before buying. If you’re making an expensive purchase, this is an easy way to save a significant amount of money.

2. Time your purchase to get a better deal

If you have an upcoming purchase that isn’t timely, it may pay off to wait to shop. If possible, time your purchase to take advantage of a sale. If you can shop during Black Friday or Prime Day, you can keep more money in your bank account and still get what you need.

3. Use a cashback app or browser extension to earn cashback

Before loading your cart, don’t forget to check if you can earn money through a browser extension or using cash back apps. These apps offer partnerships with many popular retailers, so it’s a great way to get rewarded for making the purchases you’re already planning to make.

Next, you need to check if the retailer you are shopping with has promotional codes available. Coupon apps can help you get extra discounts when shopping online. Since all you’ll have to do is copy and paste a code before checking out, it’s a simple way to save money.

5. Pay with a rewards credit card

Finally, don’t forget to pay with a rewards credit card. You can earn rewards when shopping by using a card that earns rewards points or miles or cash back. Over time, your earnings will accumulate. Before entering your payment information, consider which card will offer the most rewards.

How I Saved $40 and Earned $8 in Rewards on a Recent Purchase

Recently, I used the above methods to save money and earn rewards.

I purchased a $200 item and used a 20% promo code offered by the retailer. This allowed me to get the same product for a reduced price of $160 – which is a bargain!

I also used the Rakuten browser extension to earn $6.40 cash back. Finally, I used a rewards credit card to pay for my order and earned $1.60 in rewards.

By following these steps, I got $40 off and earned $8 in rewards. I consider it a win for my wallet.

Shopping online doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you prefer to shop in pajamas, that’s okay. If you’re aiming for personal financial goals, keep your budget in mind to avoid going into debt for your purchases.

Going through the checklist above can also be helpful to ensure you don’t miss out on valuable discounts and rewards. Make a game out of it by taking the right steps to maximize discounts and rewards instead of blaming yourself for spending money.