This week we’ve been exploring ways to simplify your life when it comes to shopping. We’ve focused a lot on picking your savings battles, but today we’re gonna look at a strategy that saves me a lot of time, as well as money.
I love online shopping. This past Black Friday, I did a bunch of my shopping online – same great deals as in the stores without the stupid-long lines and the crazy people fighting over the last iPad mini. (Have you seen women going completely nutso over the boots on Black Friday? No. Thank. You.)
I have 2 little kids, and pushing a stroller, wrangling a hyper 5-year-old and trying on clothes just isn’t all that fun. So I love shopping online. Plus, I can do it late at night, once they’re in bed. Then I don’t have to worry about my 5 year old asking to go to the toy department when I’m tired, or needing an emergency trip to the bathroom when I’m in the dressing room wearing only my skivvies.
I also save money by starting every online shopping “trip” I can by using one of two programs: Ebates or Swagbucks. Both programs offer cash back on purchases at many online retailers. Ebates sends you a check every few months. You have to wait a little longer, but you get actual money back. Swagbucks gives you, well, swagbucks about 30 days after your purchase. So you get your “money” faster, and you redeem it for gift certificates. (My faves are Amazon and Target.)
I check which of the 2 programs is offering the best cash back deal at the store I’m visiting, and just click the link from that particular program to start my shopping session. That way I earn a little money back on things I’m purchasing anyway.
One caveat: I only shop at Amazon (which has a really good return policy and an excellent reputation for quality), and stores where I can return online merchandise to a physical store. (I’m not gonna blow my cash back savings by paying for return shipping.) This way, I’m even comfortable buying clothes online, since I can return them without a hassle. I can try them on in the comfort of my own home, at my convenience, without having to drag the kids all over the place.
One grocery chain out here even lets you buy groceries online and delivers it to your door, produce and all. It was wildly convenient when I did it, but I found I spent WAY more than I would have by price matching at WalMart. But if your time is a much tighter commodity than your budget, go for it!
Have you tried shopping online? Leave a comment below!
