10 Tips to saving money online!
More and more consumers are turning to the Internet to do their shopping. They do it because shopping from home is convenient, and to find great deals. Here are a few money saving-ideas when you're shopping online:
1. Be Patient
There is a continuous cycle of online bargains—old promotions expire, new deals come out. If you can't find what you're looking for right away, be patient and check back often. Many times stores give consumers a heads up on upcoming promotions, either on their website or by way of email. With consistent effort, it won't be long before you find what you're looking for at a discounted price.
2. Shop Around—Check Various Websites
There are hundreds of online retailers that offer the same products at different prices. Take some time and research who has the best deal. A good place to start is Froogle, an online shopping service by Google that provides a list of retailers and prices for any given product. For example, I typed "black shoes" into the Froogle search engine and instantly had a list of 268,890 different products with price comparisons on each one. Some other sites you may want to look at are Pricegrabber.com, Shopzilla and eBay.
3. Take Shipping Costs into Consideration
Sometimes you may find a product online at a great price, but then discover the retailer charges a considerable amount for shipping and handling. When you're comparing prices consider shipping costs. It may be more beneficial to pay more for the product if the company charges less for shipping. Watch for promotions where companies will offer half-off or free shipping.
4. Register with an Online Coupon Service
Online coupon services are websites that scour the web for online coupons, promotional codes and links to discounts. They create huge databases of online coupons that offer hundreds of dollars in savings. Some of the top coupon websites are Keycode.com, MyCoupons.com, CouponCraze.com and Dealcatcher.com. You can register with these websites, registration is FREE, and they will occasionally send you an email or newsletter with the latest deals.
5. Create An Alternative eMail Address
Often times when you sign up for an online coupon service you're required to provide an email address. Depending on the service and their privacy policy, this address may be given to other businesses to send you promotional material. It's a good idea to set up a new email account so your personal account doesn't get bogged down with advertisements. There are a number of different sites that offer free email 
6. Don't Get Hung up on a Certain Brand Name
As consumers, we sometimes get tunnel vision, we focus on one brand name and fail to see other similar products that may be just as good or better, and cost less money. Keep an open mind as you shop. Look at all the options before making your final decision.
7. Ask for Help
One of the concerns people have about shopping online is getting the right product. There is nothing worse than getting an accessory product delivered to your home just to find out that it doesn't fit, or isn't compatible. Most shopping sites have an email address, phone number or online
8. Read Product Reviews
One of the biggest advantages to shopping online is the ability to access information instantly. Before making a purchase, especially a big one, it is a good idea to research the product. There are a number of professional review sites including Pricegrabber.com, TopTenReviews.com and Consumersearch.com. You can also look for reviews written by consumers to get a buyer's perspective. It takes just a few minutes to read about the products and it's time well spent.
9. Consider Rebates
Sometimes manufacturers offer rebates after items are purchased. In a society where now is always better than later, it's easy to overlook rebates to receive an instant discount. Consider rebates, many times the money you get back is more than you will save otherwise.
10. Plan
If you're shopping for a certain date like Christmas, a birthday or anniversary, plan ahead. It usually takes a few extra days to shop online because the product has to be shipped to your home. Furthermore, if you're pressed for time, you're more likely to give up a good deal just so you can get the product in time.
It's predicted that online shopping will continue to grow as today's younger generations become tomorrow's prevalent consumers and as people become more comfortable shopping online. As Internet shopping grows, so will the discounts. So start your online bargain shopping today and discover what savings the Internet has in store for you.
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