How to Save Money While Shopping in Your Pajamas
When budgets are tight you have to get creative. Here are 10 ways to save money on everyday purchases while shopping in your pajamas.
You’ve been there. You make a list and walk into the store.
Two hours later, you walk out with so many GREAT DEALS but you spent twice as much as you had planned.
OOPS.
The best ways that I have found to keep my spending in check have been to use cash when we are out and about and to do most of our shopping online.
Shopping online has actually saved us quite a bit of money. It’s convenient because I don’t have to shop with four kids in tow. It saves my sanity. It also allows me to compare prices easily. Plus I’m saving gas money.
It’s been a win-win for our family.
Tips to Save Money Shopping Online
1. Amazon Prime.
Amazon is our favorite online place to shop. With Amazon Prime you get free two-day shipping on select items. You can even search specifically for items with the Amazon Prime shipping. We watch movies and television shows for free with Amazon Prime. Use the Subscribe & Save to save money on diapers, wipes, toilet paper, and other staples.
2. ePantry.
Have you heard of ePantry? It’s been great for toiletries, kitchen supplies, personal care items, and cleaning supplies. I love their glass spray bottles from the Grove Collection. The Vanilla Sandalwood candle from their Grove Collection is also my favorite. We also buy Zarbee’s brand, Dr Bronner’s toothpaste, and 7th Generation feminine care items.
3. eBates.
Anytime I’m about to make a purchase online I check eBates first to see if they can save me money. With eBates it’s more like a rebate. With each purchase, you make a percentage back. The percentage varies with each store. Once you reach the minimum they send you their “Big Fat Check“. It’s always a great surprise.
4. Vitacost.
Vitacost is a great one-stop-shop for toiletries, gluten-free foods, health foods, personal care items. We buy D Drops, Floridix, and laundry detergent all from Vitacost.
5. Swagbucks.
Do you search online for anything? Does anyone NOT search online? While going to Google is usually the easiest, if you search through Swagbucks, you can earn Swagbucks. I cash out my Swagbucks for Amazon gift cards and sometimes Paypal credit. It’s AWESOME!!
6. Put the item in your cart and leave it.
Have you ever put an item in your cart and debated on whether or not to finish your purchase? Me too! The great thing about this is that sometimes you get an email reminding you that you left an item in your cart. Sometimes this email also CONTAINS A COUPON CODE. Did you know that?! I’ve done it before and finished my purchase using the coupon code. Not every store does this, but it’s worth a check.
7. Sign up for their email list.
Most companies treasure their email list. Once you are a part of their elite club, they send you emails with coupon codes for free shipping and percentage off deals. Sometimes it’s a subscriber special that is an extra percentage off sale items. Those are the BEST.
8. Search for coupon codes.
Use Swagbucks to search for coupon codes. Search “[store name] coupon codes” and it should bring up options. Not all the codes will work. It might take a couple of tries or it may be that they have all expired. It’s worth a try though.
9. Referral programs like Stitch Fix.
I LOVE shopping for clothes with Stitch Fix and my personal stylist. For every person who signs up through your link and receives their first box, you get a credit. ePantry, eBates, Swagbucks, Vitacost, and thredUp all have referral programs like this. If you’re going to make purchases at these places then you probably love them anyway. Tell all your friends how much you love them and use the credit for future purchases.
10. Comparison shop.
Just because something looks like a great price doesn’t mean that it is. You still have check multiple sources if you really want to save money. Look for hidden fees and shipping costs in addition to the actual cost of the product. Shipping costs sometimes kill the deal for us.
What are the ways you save money when shopping online? Did I miss anything?
Ok, so I know most of your readers probably aren’t in China, but if anyone is planning on going in the future, China has a great online shopping website called Taobao.
It’s a lot like Amazon, except if your mouse hovers over the product picture, it’ll let you comparison shop right there in the website! It’ll do the comparison shopping for you! It’s awesome.
Maybe enough customers could suggest Amazon do that! 😉 I love shopping online, even in another language!