Online shopping can be a little tricky. Unfortunately, there are a lot of online business owners who may not be the most ethical because they are just out to make a quick buck. However, when you learn how to be a smart shopper, you may realize just how much you can gain without spending a lot. We’ve got to admit that it’s hard to get a good deal; especially given that prices are going up, the average cost of items are increasing, and there is a general atmosphere of distrust. But you know how things usually go. Those who seek shall find. That is what will happen when you use the right to money-saving techniques to shop online. Here are some ideas that we would like to share with you:
Qualify for Free Shipping Whenever Possible
There are so many opportunities that you can take advantage of to qualify for free shipping, especially with Amazon Prime. You may not even need a recurring subscription to qualify for free shipping.
Pay Attention to First-Time Customer Discounts via Email
You should create a separate email address so that you can receive all the different retail promotions on one address, which will make it easier to manage. To provide financial incentives for customers to shop more, many retailers provide significant discounts for first-time shoppers.
Your Email Could Have Special Discounts for Abandoned Carts
It’s pretty common for people to have abandoned online shopping carts. This is why you want to take advantage of that fact. Retailers will try to provide incentives to customers to empty their cart (with a purchase, of course). These incentives can include providing discount codes to emails with abandoned carts. Be sure to keep track of these discount offers because it can save you quite a bit.
Make Use of Capital One Opportunities
Capital One Shopping has a lot of coupon codes for some of the retail industry’s biggest names including Best Buy, Target, and Costco. Make use of all of them when you shop online because it can save you tons of money. By simply visiting Capital One Shopping online and selecting the “Discover” option to search for different offers, you will find a lot of product-specific deals on items that you would typically shop for, in addition to other offers that you may find particularly attractive. Do your best to acquaint yourself with the website as much as possible so that you can take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer. Keep yourself updated with the latest discounts that Capital One Shopping can give you because there are many. You won’t regret it!
Get Cash-Back Deals from Capital One Shopping
There are some pretty nice cash-back offers that you can get from Capital One Shopping’s website. Some of them can include restaurants and other food/beverage places in your locality. All you have to do is make sure your debit card is linked to your Capital One Shopping account. For each transaction, you receive more attractive incentives to do more shopping.
Shop on Amazon Using Capital One Shopping
The best way you can make use of Capital One Shopping is on Amazon’s website. There you can find great deals when you find identical products that you would typically find on other retailer’s websites, such as Walmart, Target, or The Home Depot.
Other Areas of Your Life to Save Money
Now that you know how to save money when shopping online, there are some other parts of your life that you can work on as well. You can find countless areas where you can save money! This includes:
- Grocery Shopping
- Your Subscriptions
- Utility Bills
- Phone Bill
How to Save Money When Grocery Shopping
Your groceries are a necessity for survival. You need food to live! That is why making sure that you have a good control on this expense can make your life so much easier. First and foremost, make sure to understand what your spending limit is for grocery shopping. Whether you have a weekly budget, or a monthly budget, you want to set a limit for yourself. A good rule of thumb is groceries (amongst other necessities) should cost no more than 50% of your income. There are some tips that can help you reduce how much you spend when grocery shopping.
Keep it Simple
While cooking beautiful dinners can be fun, it can be expensive. That is why keeping it simple is key when it comes to reducing how much you spend on groceries. Plan your meals out for the week ahead of time so that when you go to the grocery store you know what you’re cooking, when you’re cooking it, and how you’re cooking it.
Keep Track of Your Spending
When you are going grocery shopping, have your calculator handy (luckily, phones include these for free!). Every time you add an item to your basket, add the cost to the calculator. This can ensure that you aren’t spending too much, and reduce how much you buy.
Only Pay for Groceries in Cash
Do you find yourself constantly overspending? No problem! To avoid this, take out cash before you go to the grocery store. This physically limits what you can pay for. Many people that struggle to handle structure on their own can benefit from this saving method.
Check Out Shelves Outside of Your Line of Sight
Think about it. Grocery stores show their “premium” products within the customer’s line of vision. That’s why items on the lower shelves and higher shelves will likely be less expensive. Generally, lower shelves will have better prices.
Pick Your Cart Wisely
Grocery stores typically tend to have a bunch of cart options like a small cart, big cart, basket, child cart, a cart that looks like a car, electric cart, etc. That is why you should pick your cart wisely. When you choose a bigger cart, you have the ability to fill it with more items. The smaller the cart then the less that you can buy!
Don’t Just Look at the Price Tag
While the price is important, it is also crucial to keep weight in mind. For example, if 1 oz of one product costs $3 but 1.5 oz of another product costs $3.50 then the more expensive option would be the better deal (even though it is more money!)
Check Out the Options for Grocery Stores
Usually a town will have a few different options when it comes to grocery shopping. Not every grocery store offers the same prices. You can compare prices online and/or in-store. Finding the spot with the lowest prices can make a world of difference.
Shop on a Full Stomach
It’s very easy to spend money when you are hungry. The munchies can lead you to want a variety of foods, and can make it hard to follow your budget. Make sure to eat before you shop even if it is just a small snack like a granola bar and some fruit.
How to Save Money on Subscriptions
Subscriptions are extremely popular whether they be for a streaming service, monthly subscription box, gym membership, etc. However, these small monthly fees can quickly add up and feel unmanageable. Luckily, there are ways that you can better handle your subscriptions to be the most cost effective. First, you can try the old-fashioned method.
Old-Fashioned Method
This is the way that your parents probably handled their subscriptions (back when they were only for magazines!). You can review your credit/debit card statement to identify your active subscriptions. From there, you can find which ones you want to cancel. However, if you don’t want to take the time, there are more current methods you can try like apps on your phone.
How to Save Money on Utility Bills
Many Americans deal with costly utility bills. In fact, in 2019 the average family spent over $1000 on utilities every year, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Fortunately, there are ways that you can save on your utilities:
- Change Your Lightbulbs
- Change Your Air Filters
- Keep Your Appliances Up to Date
- Clear Your Air Vents
- Keep Track of Your Thermostat
- Turn Off Your Electronics
- Seal Air Leaks on Windows and Doors
- Use Government Assistance
Change Your Lightbulbs
Sounds simple right? Well, it is! Make sure you are using energy-efficient lightbulbs like LED bulbs or compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These bulbs are not only better for the environment but also use less energy!
Change Your Air Filters
Both air conditioners and furnaces have a filter that keeps pollutants like dirt, dust, and more out of the air that is in your home. These filters have an important role which is why they should be changed between 60 to 90 days (according to Better Home Guides). If you find that you have a clogged filter then your HVAC may run up your bill, so make sure to change them!
Keep Your Appliances Up to Date
Keeping your appliances updated has a variety of benefits like reducing your utility costs, reducing your greenhouse gas emission, and more. Technology is constantly advancing so appliances are becoming better and better at using less energy and water, which can save money by a lot.
Clear Your Air Vents
When there are blockages in your air vents, your air conditioner and/or furnace will need to work over time to pump the air. That is why making sure your vents are clear and the openings are not blocked by furniture can reduce the cost of your utilities.
Keep Track of Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat accordingly is super important when it comes to lowering your utility bills. If the weather is cold outside, then the heat will cost more (and vice versa). That is why either staying on top of your thermostat or using a programmable thermostat can help you save money.
Turn Off Your Electronics
Keep your lights off when you can and turn off any electronics you aren’t using. It can even help to unplug electronics like your T.V., computer, chargers, etc. Keeping these plugged in could potentially use the same amount of energy as if they were actively in use!
Seal Air Leaks on Windows and Doors
Many people may not even realize they have air leaks! However, these leaks can lead to you wasting your conditioned air since it is literally leaking out of your home. Make sure the caulk and weatherstripping is intact to avoid this issue!
Government Assistance
The government is aware that people struggle with utility bills. That is why they have created assistance options like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This program can help families with energy costs by providing assistance with home energy bills. This program also helps during energy crises, with home weatherization, and with minor energy-related home repairs.
How to Save Money on Your Phone Bill
Your phone bill can be pretty pricey. That is why finding effective ways to reduce your bill can save you more money than you may realize. Some of the best ways that you can improve the cost of your phone bill are:
- Choose Autopay
- Don’t Upgrade Your Phone
Choose Autopay
Carriers encourage responsible consumers. They can do this in a variety of ways but one popular way is providing discounts to individuals that choose to enroll in autopay. Autopay will automatically take the funds from your bank account to pay your bill. These discounts vary by carrier but are usually under $10.
Don’t Upgrade Your Phone
It can be very tempting to keep up with the joneses. When new phone models become available, many people want to upgrade their phone. However, it is important not to spend the extra money! You can save by using your phone for it’s lifespan and upgrading when it is necessary, not when you want to.
Overall
There are plenty of aspects in life that you can work on reducing the cost for, whether shopping online, improving your grocery spending, or lowering your bills. Not every way to save money works for every individual. That is why you need to find what works for you when trying to save as much as you can. Take your time, educate yourself, and you will be able to see just how much money you can save when you make these lifestyle changes.
