Super tips for frugal online shopping

Online shopping can be a fun and easy way to get what you are looking for at a discounted rate. But are  you doing everything that you can to make sure that you’re getting the best price? Follow the tips below and you’ll be saving money hand over fist.

Shop around – Just because you find an amazing deal for a sweater or pair of shoes on one site doesn’t mean that you can’t find a better deal elsewhere. So if you find a real bargain, bookmark it and then shop around for a bit. Unless, of course, there is a time restriction on your awesome find. If that’s the case, makes sure that you don’t miss out on the deal by shopping around too much.

Free shipping – Even if you find an amazing steal, shipping costs can add up, making that bargain not really a bargain anymore. Stick to stores that offer free shipping where you live. A lot of the time there’s a minimum purchase amount required in order to cash in on the free shipping. This amount can range anywhere from twenty five to a hundred dollars. Make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of ordering more to get your free shipping. This also can make a bargain actually cost you a lot more that you were intending.

Money back guarantees – When purchasing items online, especially clothes, make sure that the company you’re buying from has a money back guarantee and a convenient return policy. Sizes can different from style to style and brand to brand so you want to make sure that if the item you bought doesn’t fit, there won’t be an issue returning it. After all, if you got the perfect little black dress for twenty dollars but it doesn’t fit, then it really wasn’t much of a steal, was it?

Coupon sites -  While individual retail sites may have some great deals, you can usually save even more if you check out the coupon sites available on line. These sites gather all the coupons and sale codes in one easy place so you can browse and also search for a particular coupon. You could even find more than one, meaning more savings.

Off season shopping – You know how brick and mortar stores have big after season sales? Well the same holds true for their online counterparts. Shop off season online and you could end up getting your purchase for next to nothing.

Search engines – If you can’t find any online coupons or sales codes at your regular sites, try hitting your favorite search engine. If you search for your favorite store, odds are you’ll be able to find some online coupons or codes to help you save money.

One offs and second hand items – If you’re looking for a real steal, don’t discount auction sites and second hand online stores. Sometimes you can get exactly what you are looking for, hardly used for a fraction of the regular cost.

Group sites – While most of the major retailers have a website where you can buy their products, and while they may be cheaper than buying in store, even with coupons it may not be your best bet. If you are looking for a particular product, make sure to check out online group sites that offer a variety of items for a discount. These sites often offer a bigger deal than individual retail sites.

Online shopping is a convenient way to get what you need (and want) without having to hit a lot of different stores. And with all the different ways to save some cash online, it’s also better for your bank account. Do you shop a lot on line? What are some of your frugal online shopping tips? Are you excited for the 2011 black friday?

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