Online shopping offers incredible convenience, letting you buy almost anything without ever leaving your couch. That convenience, however, can sometimes lead to overspending. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a new product or a flashy sale, only to see your bank account take a hit. The good news is you don’t have to choose between the ease of online shopping and saving money. A few smart strategies can help you get the best of both worlds. These online shopping hacks are simple yet effective tricks that savvy shoppers use to find the best prices, unlock hidden discounts, and ensure they’re always getting the most value for their money. 

Before You Click Buy: The Prep Work

The best way to save money starts before you even add an item to your cart. A little bit of planning can prevent impulse purchases and ensure you’re getting the best possible deal. The temptation to buy something instantly is strong, but patience is a virtue that pays off—literally.

  • First, always shop with a list. Knowing what you need prevents you from getting sidetracked by things you don’t. 
  • Next, give yourself a cooling-off period. 
    • Use the "abandoned cart" trick. Add items to your shopping cart and then just walk away for a day or two. Many retailers will notice you left items behind and send you a follow-up email with a special discount code, like 10% or 20% off, to encourage you to complete your purchase. 
  • Another key strategy is to go "incognito." 
    • Using your browser's incognito or private mode can sometimes show you a lower price, as the site sees you as a new visitor.

Smart Pre-Shopping Habits

  • Sign up for newsletters: Your favorite brands will often send exclusive discount codes and early sale alerts to their email subscribers. You can even create a separate email address just for these subscriptions to keep your main inbox clean.
  • Clear your cookies: Similar to using incognito mode, clearing your browser's cookies can prevent websites from tracking your interest and potentially raising prices on items you view frequently.
  • Follow brands on social media: Companies often post flash sales and special coupon codes on their Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook pages that you won't find anywhere else.

Finding the Best Deals: Coupon Codes and Cash Back

You should never pay full price for an item online without first searching for a discount. There are powerful tools available that make finding coupons and earning cash back incredibly easy. 

Browser extensions are your best friend here. Services like Honey, Rakuten, and Capital One Shopping can be installed on your web browser for free. They work automatically in the background. When you get to the checkout page of an online store, these extensions will pop up and search the internet for any available coupon codes. They will then automatically test each code and apply the one that gives you the biggest discount. It’s like having a personal assistant dedicated to finding you savings.

On top of coupon codes, many of these services also offer cash back. This means you get a certain percentage of your purchase amount back. For example, if a site offers 5% cash back and you spend $100, you’ll get $5 back. This money accumulates in your account, and the service will send it to you via check or PayPal every few months.

Top Tools for Discounts

  • Coupon Browser Extensions: Install one of these tools to automatically find and apply the best coupon codes at checkout. You’ll never have to manually search for codes again.
  • Cash-Back Websites and Apps: Always start your shopping trip by clicking through a cash-back portal like Rakuten or Ibotta. This simple first step ensures you earn a percentage of your purchase back.
  • Price Comparison Tools: Use websites like Google Shopping or PriceGrabber to compare the price of an item across dozens of different retailers at once. This guarantees you’re buying from the store with the lowest price.

Knowing When to Shop

The price of an item online can change dramatically from one day to the next. Knowing the best times to shop is a pro-level hack that can lead to major savings, especially on bigger purchases. 

For electronics, wait for major sale events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day. These are when you'll find the deepest discounts on laptops, TVs, and other gadgets. For clothing, the best deals are usually found at the end of a season. Buy your winter coat in March or your swimsuit in September when stores are trying to clear out old inventory to make room for new styles.

It’s also smart to be aware of the "deal days" of the week. Many online retailers release their new discounts and coupon codes on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Monday is also a good day to check for deals, as some stores launch sales to kick off the work week. Weekends, on the other hand, are often when prices are at their highest.

Key Shopping Calendar Dates

  • End-of-Season Sales: The best time to buy seasonal items is when the season is ending.
  • Major Holiday Weekends: Look for big sales during three-day weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Presidents' Day.
  • After-Christmas Sales: The days following Christmas are fantastic for finding deals on everything from decorations to electronics.

Beyond the Basics: Advanced Savings Strategies

Once you’ve mastered the basics, there are a few more online shopping hacks you can use to squeeze out even more savings. One is to look for price-matching policies. Some large retailers like Target and Best Buy will match the online price of a competitor. If you find an item for cheaper on another site, you can show them the proof, and they will often sell it to you for the lower price.

Another great hack is to take advantage of rewards programs. Many credit cards offer points or cash back on purchases. Use a card that gives you the highest rewards for online shopping. Just be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges that would cancel out your savings.

Finally, don’t be afraid to stack discounts. Sometimes, a store will let you use a percentage-off coupon on top of an existing sale price. You might also be able to combine a free shipping code with another discount. Always try to layer your savings—sale price, plus a coupon code, plus cash back—to get the absolute lowest price possible.