Easy Cash4ads»
If you’re on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
Credit Cards
Banks
Brokers
Crypto
Mortgages
Insurances
Loans
Small Business
Knowledge
by Natasha Gabrielle | Published on Nov. 10, 2022
Image source: Getty Images
Don't miss out on the chance to keep more money in your pocket when shopping online.
Check out our pick for Best Cash Back Card of 2022
In today’s busy world, it can be convenient to shop online. There’s no need to sit in traffic or deal with crowds of people and long lines at the store. Instead, you can buy what you want quickly, and it’ll arrive at your doorstep.
If you’re into saving money, finding ways to maximize your savings potential when placing orders online is beneficial. Do you want to keep more money in your pocket without giving up your online shopping habit? Follow these steps to save more money and earn rewards.
Before placing an order online, you may want to compare prices at similar retailers. You may find a lower price elsewhere. Browser extensions like Capital One Shopping make it easy to compare prices before you buy. If you’re making an expensive purchase, this is one easy way to save a significant amount of money.
Discover: This credit card has a rare $300 welcome bonus
More: These 0% intro APR credit cards made our best-of list
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR for 15 months
Discover: This credit card has a rare $300 welcome bonus
More: These 0% intro APR credit cards made our best-of list
Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR for 15 months
If you have a purchase coming up that isn’t timely, it may pay to wait to shop. If possible, time your purchase to take advantage of a sale. If you can shop during Black Friday or Prime Day, you can keep more money in your bank account and still get what you need.
Before loading up your cart, don’t forget to check to see if you can earn cash back through a browser extension or by using cash back apps. These apps feature partnerships with many popular retailers, so it’s a great way to get rewarded for doing the shopping you already plan to do.
Next, you should check if the retailer you’re shopping with has promo codes available. Coupon apps can help you score extra discounts when shopping online. Since all you’ll have to do is copy and paste a code before checking out, it’s a simple way to save money.
Finally, don’t forget to pay with a rewards credit card. You can earn rewards when shopping by using a card that earns rewards points or miles or cash back. Over time, your earnings will add up. Before entering your payment details, consider which card will offer the most rewards.
Recently, I used the above methods to save money and earn rewards.
I purchased a $200 item and used a 20% off promo code that the retailer offered. Doing this allowed me to get the same product for a discounted price of $160 — which is a great deal!
I also used the Rakuten browser extension to earn $6.40 in cash back. Finally, I used a rewards credit card to pay for my order and earned $1.60 in rewards.
By taking these steps, I got a $40 discount and earned $8 back in rewards. I consider that a win for my wallet.
Shopping online doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you prefer to shop in your pajamas, that’s okay. If you’re working towards personal finance goals, keep your budget in mind to avoid going into debt on your shopping.
Going through the above checklist can also be worthwhile to ensure you’re not missing out on valuable discounts and rewards. Make a game out of it by taking the proper steps to maximize discounts and rewards instead of beating yourself up for spending money.
If you're using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our expert loves this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until 2024, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our expert even uses it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Read our free review
Natasha specializes in credit card and rewards content. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Related Articles
Best Budget Apps
Best Cash Back Apps
The Ascent’s Definitive Credit Score Guide
Best Debt Payoff Apps
Best Budget Apps
Best Cash Back Apps
The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide
Best Debt Payoff Apps
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Copyright © 2018 – 2022 The Ascent. All rights reserved.