5 Simple Tricks to Save Money Shopping Online

This year my husband and I have decided to do nearly all of our shopping online.  We have three very good reasons for this:  1. We don’t have childcare in the evenings and so can’t go shopping together.  2. It’s just so darn convenient.  3. We can be a tad lazy sometimes and wait until the last minute!

Just because I wait until the last minute, however, doesn’t mean that I still don’t want to save money.  Over the years I have learned a few tricks that help me save when shopping online, and I want to share them with you!

5 Simple Tricks to Save Money Shopping Online

1. Always Use Ebates

Ebates is a site that provides you with cash back on every purchase you make online. For example, if you were planning on purchasing a toy on Amazon, you would simply go to Ebates first. Once there, you type in “Amazon.com” into the search bar. Ebates will then take you to Amazon, and you will receive a percentage of cash back for your purchase. Easy! I have a tutorial HERE on how to sign up for Ebates as well as tips for making the most of the program. I earned $50 cash back just last month, so I promise this is a legitimate site that can help you save a ton of money!

2. Take Advantage of Amazon Prime

I absolutely love my Amazon Prime. My husband and I had a joint Amazon Prime account before we were even married! We get free shipping, free kindle downloads, free movies and television shows, and much more. Take a look at my in-depth cost analysis HERE to see if Amazon Prime is right for you. Also, if you can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime through this link–just in time for the holidays!

3. Look at Retail Me Not First

Before you make any online purchase, be sure to take a look at the website Retail Me Not. It has tons of promotional codes for discounts and free shipping. For example, right now there are coupon codes to save at Barnes and Noble, Kohl’s, Hotels.com, Land’s End, and more.  And, here’s where it can get really fun.  Let’s say you find a great coupon for a gift a Kohl’s.  You can go through Ebates to get to Kohl’s and then use the coupon code that you got on Retail Me Not.  You save money and earn money at the same time!

4. Earn Gift Cards Through Amazon Trade-In

Amazon has a great program called Amazon Trade-In that allows you to earn gift cards by mailing in your used books, movies, and electronics.  First, you will enter the names or ISBN numbers of the items that you wish to sell.  Now, the trade-in program is only looking for certain popular items, so it may not take every item that you would like to sell.  I have had the best luck with fairly new textbooks, classic literature, and DVDs.  Friends have traded their old cell phones or video games in and loved the prices that they were offered.  Then, Amazon will offer you a price for the item.  If you choose to accept that price, you will put that item in your trade-in cart.  You can then enter the names of other items you wish to sell.  Finally, Amazon will pay for the shipping of the items.  Once they receive them, you will have a gift card balance in your Amazon account.  Just in time for the holidays!  Click HERE to get started.

5. Earn Gift Cards Through Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a site through which you can earn gift cards by doing online tasks such as searching, watching videos, and shopping.  Each task earns you “swagbucks” that you can redeem for gift cards once you’ve reached a certain threshold.  For example, a $5 Amazon gift card is 500 swagbucks.  They also have gift cards for Starbucks, Target, Walmart, and more.  As you are getting started, you may want to take a look at my Best Tips for Getting the Most out of Swagbucks.   If money is really tight for you right now, Swagbucks can be a great way to supplement your Christmas budget.

As you are finishing your Christmas shopping this year, be sure to use these simple tricks to help you save money when shopping online.  Staying within your budget and not going into debt for Christmas can hep you celebrate the season with a light heart and joyful spirit.

How do you save money shopping online?

(This post contains affiliate links.  Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

(Linked to Small Victories Sunday, Share the Wealth,  Frugal Friday, Thrifty Thursday.)