* Tips for online shopping

A reader asked what tips I have for doing online holiday shopping.  Which is a great question- especially if many of you have never done it before.  So, here are my few tips and I’d love to hear more from all of you!

• Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed. There is A LOT out there.  And it’s ALL at amazing prices (at least according to every ad you read)!  Try to figure out a plan BEFORE you start diving in to help you stay in the sane category!

• Know what you plan to buy and how much you are willing to spend. If you already know what items you want, it’s easier to keep yourself from going overboard and buying more than you planned.  But I do know this sounds easier than it really is.  Because sometimes you have that person on your list that you don’t have a clue what you want to get them.  For those cases, set yourself a budget that you are willing to spend on that person.  So when you do find a great gift, you aren’t breaking the bank to get it.

• Compare prices. For the items that I know I want to get, I try to have a good idea what that item would cost if I were to buy it at regular retail price (not on sale).  And I try to check around to a couple various online retailers to see how the prices compare there (Amazon is almost always one I check, because sometimes it IS cheaper there, and sometimes I can just buy it with Swag Bucks instead of actual money- which is my favorite).

• Sign up for programs that will give you cash back when you shop! All of them are free to sign up and give you various percentages back depending on the online retailer.  Here’s the ones I know about:

Ebates
Shop at Home
Shopscotch

• Look for free shipping. I hate paying shipping.  Sometimes I feel like I double the cost of my item with shipping!  Many retailers offer free shipping during holiday sales automatically, some require a code.Amazon offers Super Saver Shipping on select items.  This requires you to have $25 of qualifiying purchases in your cart at checkout.  This is a great option, but also hard if you just want that one “lightning deal” item.  There are a couple programs that can get you free two-day  shipping with Amazon Prime.  These are trial programs, so make sure you cancel within the correct time period so you won’t be charged to keep getting Amazon Prime.

Amazon Prime 1-month trial membership
Amazon Prime 2-month trial membership when you sign up with Amazon Mom
Amazon Prime 1-year trial membership when you sign up with Amazon Student

• Tell me what you are looking for! If I know what some of the items that you want are, I’ll keep my eyes open for great deals on these items!

What other tips & tricks do you have for doing holiday shopping online?