How I Stop Wasting Money Online: My Ultimate Shopping Strategy!

Just this year, I’ve been spending thousands of unnecessary dollars due to my lack of planning.A few months ago, I got ready to pay my credit card bill and suddenly felt anxious in my stomach.

It wasn’t a single purchase of something expensive that caused me to go broke. No, the thought of my dozens of unordered purchases made me feel physically ill.

I’ve been researching and experimenting with various ways to save money while still being able to enjoy online shopping. Below are some of the methods and tools I use to help me stick to the planned spending without missing a chance to make a purchase at a great price.

1. I Always Check SearchMyDeals Before Checkout

If there were a single thing I told everyone who asks for advice on how to save money while shopping online, it would be this: Check out SearchMyDeals before you do your purchase. In the past, I would waste hours upon hours looking for any promo codes on Google, only to end up on a sketchy website with no working offers.

But ever since I discovered SearchMyDeals, I use it as my source for finding working discount coupons and cashback offers. Whether it’s clothes, furniture, or even food, a simple 30-second search on SearchMyDeals can help you find a working coupon that can save you hundreds of rubles annually.

Pro tip: On SearchMyDeals, you can also find bank card offers and promo codes you won’t find on the retail websites.

2. I Set a 48-Hour Rule for Myself Before Buying Anything on a Website

When we shop online, the buying process is very simple, and sometimes, we can fall victim to making an unnecessary purchase.

To avoid this from happening, I’ve set a 48-hour rule for myself. If I want to buy something that I don’t desperately need, I add it to my cart and close the tab.

After 48 hours, if I still want the item, I can pay for it without having second thoughts. Chances are, after two days, you’ll realize that you didn’t truly need the purchase after all.

3. I Leave Items in My Cart to Get Secret Coupons

Most of us have at some point abandoned a purchase on a retail website only to get an email with coupons later begging you to finish the transaction.

Here’s what you can do to get these secret coupons:

1. Log in to your account so that the website registers your email address.

2. Add all the desired items to your cart.

3. Complete the checkout process until you reach the payment method.

4. Close the tab and wait for the website to send you an email.

5. Within 2 to 4 days, you should get an email with a special discount code for abandoning your cart. Use it to pay for your purchase.

4. I Always Open an Incognito Window for Expensive Purchases

If you’re making an expensive purchase, always research the item in an Incognito/Private browsing mode. Some travel agencies, flight ticket websites, and hotel booking systems use dynamic pricing, which means that the price will change based on how long you research the purchase.

To avoid this, always browse the website in Incognito mode. If you’re planning to buy the item after you’ve browsed in Incognito, remember to clear cookies and history before paying for your purchase.

5. I Combine All My Favorite Ways to Save Extra Cash

You can save even more money when you combine two or more of the aforementioned methods. When you’re buying something online, I recommend using the following checklist:

• Look for items on sale.

• Pay using the bank card or UPI with cashback benefits.

• Combine any other offers you have, such as a loyalty program discount.

• Apply a promo code if you have one.

• Finally, use your reward points or store points to pay for the item.

For example, if the store is having a 20% off sale and you have a promo code for an additional 15% off, using both of them will give you a 35% discount. You can use a 5% bank cashback to pay for the remaining amount. When you put these all together, you’ll get a pretty hefty discount!

Conclusion

If you know how to save money while shopping online, you can avoid spending your hard-earned cash on things you barely need. By implementing the methods and tools above, you’ll be able to stick to your budget without depriving yourself of the things you love.