I love shopping online. In fact, for anything other than our perishable groceries, I am much more likely to look online before even thinking about visiting a store. Amazon and Ebay seem to be my favorites, but I’ve been known to go off on a different path if I can find a great deal (remember my gnomes?). Here are the best tricks I’ve picked up so far…
My Best Online Shopping Tricks
- Figure out your target price based on what others have paid or what you are willing to pay. I search around online for product reviews and then find reviews that mention specific prices.
- Search multiple sites to find the best deal available.
- Google for coupon codes.
I usually can do all of the above in less than 30 minutes. So unless the deal I’m getting is 60% or more off of what I expected or the coupon code will be expiring super soon, I try to bench the whole process for at least a few days while I think it over. I also ask myself a few questions:
- Do I really want this or just liked the thrill of getting a good deal?
- Have I wanted this for more than a week?
- Do I need this right now or soon?
- Will this make me happy more than something else we are saving for?
If I can answer those questions to myself properly, then I pull the trigger. Otherwise, whatever it is that I wanted is put onto my Amazon wish list for me to check on year round, lol. If at any point I lose interest, I delete it and am happy I didn’t waste the cash. 
Rather Be Shopping Giveaway
In the spirit of finding great deals, let me introduce you to the chance of winning free money! 
Rather-Be-Shopping is kindly hosting a SINGLE WINNER $500 Giveaway from today, February 7th, 2013 until February 28th, 2013! Take a look below and feel free to jump on in! I personally am rooting for one of my readers to win, so “vote early and vote often” or something like that, lol. 
Don’t forget about cash back sites. I’m an ebates member and always start my online shopping there. They give different % rebates for tons of online stores and new members get a sign on bonus. It’s totally free. Folks can sign up here (my referral link): http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=pIXt5YI7Aa57akkMr3L4UQ%3D%3D
I forgot to say thanks for the giveaway and love your site!
Great tips! Thanks for participating in this Crystal!
I love the cooling-off period you implement. Great way to get through the “I need this Now!” mentality that we sometimes get our heads into.
I am at a point in life where I am just replacing worn out items. I usually won’t buy online unless I can get at least 30-50% off retail including sales tax. I never need it instantly so it works most of the time.
I haven’t used the Amazon wish list, but this sounds like a fun tool I used to be into instant gratification, but now I tend to wait and think and lots of times, I just don’t need whatever I thought I needed.
A nice set of suggestions there. I’d add being flexible about the exact item you are getting; if you are shopping for books (one of my favorite online purchases), being willing to take either a paperback or hardcover can end up saving you a great deal of money. Similar flexibility in other areas can help save a great deal of money.
Fantastic giveaway by the way, it’s quite an impressive price. Good luck to everyone (including me, if I can be a bit greedy).
[...] in the Fun Stuff has a $500 cash giveaway running. Who doesn’t need that? This one closes February [...]