10 Ways to Save Money Online: What Actually Works and What Doesn’t
Published Feb 21, 2024 and updated
Most online shopping advice falls into one of two categories: genuinely useful tips that save money, and old myths that refuse to disappear. If your goal is to save money online, it helps to know the difference.
Some strategies consistently reduce what you pay. Others only work occasionally. A few are hardly worth your time at all.
The Tip That Works Better Than It Should
Try Abandoning a Guest Checkout
Many retailers use automated marketing systems to follow up with shoppers who begin the checkout process but leave before completing their purchase. In some cases, guest shoppers or first-time visitors are more likely to receive a follow-up offer than existing customers.
How to try it
Browse as a guest, add items to your basket, begin checkout, and enter your email address. Before placing the order, leave the site and wait.
What to expect
Some retailers may send a discount code, free shipping offer, or purchase reminder within a few hours or days. Others won't send anything at all. Results vary by retailer, but the tactic costs nothing to test.
Tips That Work, With Caveats
Browser Extensions Are Best for Price Tracking
Coupon extensions can still uncover occasional savings, but their biggest value today is tracking price changes and helping shoppers identify genuine discounts.
Many shopping extensions operate through affiliate partnerships, which means featured offers may be influenced by commercial relationships as well as savings opportunities. For larger purchases, price-history data is often more useful than automated coupon testing.
Use Price-History Tools for Major Purchases
A discount only matters if the price is genuinely lower than normal.
Tools such as Keepa can show how a product's price has changed over time, making it easier to spot meaningful discounts and avoid being impressed by routine price fluctuations. They're particularly useful during large sales events, when advertised discounts don't always represent a product's lowest recent price.
Major Sales Events Can Save Money If You Plan Ahead
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Prime Day, and similar events regularly offer legitimate discounts, especially on electronics, appliances, and household goods.
The catch is that not every item goes on sale, and many headline offers apply to a limited number of products.
Before a sale begins:
- Choose specific products in advance.
- Know their typical selling price.
- Decide on the highest price you're willing to pay.
Shopping with a plan saves money. Browsing for deals often has the opposite effect.
Student, Military, and Senior Discounts Are Easy Wins
Many retailers provide special pricing through verification services such as ID.me.
If you qualify, these discounts are among the simplest ways to reduce costs and can often be combined with other promotions.
Cashback Stacking Still Works
Combining a cashback portal, rewards card, and retailer promotion can produce substantial savings.
However, read the terms carefully. Some cashback programmes exclude purchases that use unauthorised coupon codes. Before checking out, confirm that your chosen promotion won't invalidate your cashback reward.
Tips That Are Useful but Often Overstated
Comparing Prices Across Retailers
Price comparison is not exciting advice, but it remains one of the most reliable ways to save money online.
A quick search across several retailers can uncover lower prices, cheaper shipping, bundle offers, or more generous return policies. The larger the purchase, the more worthwhile the extra minute becomes.
Retailer Email Lists Usually Pay Off Once
The welcome discount is often worth claiming.
After that, most retailer emails become a stream of promotions, flash sales, and marketing messages. Consider using a dedicated shopping email address if you want the discount without the inbox clutter.
Loyalty Programs Only Work If You Use Them
Major retail memberships have expanded beyond shipping perks to include discounts, rewards, cashback offers, and partner benefits.
That said, their value depends entirely on where and how often you shop. Instead of joining every programme you encounter, focus on the retailers you use regularly. One active membership is usually worth more than a dozen unused accounts.
Always Check the Return Policy
Return policies vary far more than many shoppers realise.
Some retailers have shortened return windows or introduced return shipping charges and restocking fees, making it important to review the policy before buying.
Before completing a purchase, check:
- The return window.
- Whether return shipping is free.
- Any restocking fees.
- Available in-store return options.
A slightly higher purchase price can be worthwhile if it comes with a significantly more customer-friendly return policy.
What to Skip
Incognito Mode
A persistent myth claims that retailers raise prices when you repeatedly view the same product.
There is little evidence that major retailers routinely increase prices simply because you've looked at an item multiple times. Pricing is generally influenced by demand, inventory levels, competition, and promotions rather than your browsing history.
Countdown Timers and "Only 2 Left" Messages
These messages are designed to create urgency.
Sometimes they reflect genuine inventory data. Often they are marketing tools intended to speed up purchasing decisions.
If a deal feels rushed, take a moment to compare prices elsewhere or come back later. Genuine bargains usually remain bargains after a few minutes of verification.
- Check Price History – Verify that the discount is genuinely lower than the item's normal selling price.
- Compare Retailers – Look at two or three competing stores for better pricing or cheaper shipping.
- Check Eligibility Discounts – See whether student, military, senior, or professional discounts apply.
- Review Cashback Rules – Confirm that cashback remains valid when combined with promotions or coupon codes.
- Read the Return Policy – Watch for return shipping costs, shorter return windows, and restocking fees.
- Ignore Artificial Urgency – Don't let countdown clocks or scarcity messages pressure you into an impulse purchase.
The most effective online shopping strategy is surprisingly simple: know the normal price, compare your options, and buy only when the numbers genuinely make sense. Most meaningful savings come from patience and research, not shopping hacks.