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When someone asks me what Southern Savers is, I often focus on the grocery store/couponing side of things. That’s where it all started and it’s still where we spend a lot of our energy! But my passion is to help you save money not just on groceries, but in other places as well. So it’s always fun to step out of grocery mode and explain the ins and outs of online deals.
Hands down, saving money online means stacking sales, coupons, and rewards together. This can be done in some way at almost any store you shop at, if you’re willing to do a little leg work! Here are my top tips for how to save money online in 2024.
How to Save Money Online in 2024
Cash back
For the highest rewards, you need to make sure that you are signed up to earn cash back on every purchase. This isn’t related to a special credit card, nor does it cost you anything. Go to both Rakuten and TopCashBack and register for a free account. Now anytime you want to shop online, you should go to one of these sites first and search for the stores where you’re shopping. In the end, you’ll earn cash back on your entire purchase! This can be anywhere from 3% to 50% back—the amount will vary based on the store.
Coupon codes
While you earn a percentage back, you can still use coupons and shop clearance deals! Generally just Googling the store name and the words “coupon code” will bring up a number of sites that have current offers. When you are looking for coupon codes, it never hurts to find 2-3 different codes to try. Some may not work, and then other sites may allow you to use multiple codes (Victoria Secret, Crocs, etc.).
Check with the business or store on social media or their website
If a site has customer service online chat, try chatting and asking for a discount code. It truly never hurts to ask! If they have an Instagram profile or Facebook page, you can send them a direct message. If you go to their website and sign up for e-mails, you may get a coupon code (and then you can unsubscribe from the emails if you don’t want to keep getting them!).
Clearance & sales
Always start your shopping in the sale section. This is a rule both online and in local stores. Your coupon code will usually work on sale and regular priced items, so you might as well start on the sale deals.
Not every sale is real though. I like to use the side CamelCamelCamel to see what a products price has been for the lst 3+ years on Amazon. Even if you aren’t shopping Amazon, if you ever question a deal this site lets you see what the price on Amazon has been and compare that to the deal you are looking at on any site! You can also use Google Shopping to compare prices.
Free shipping
No one likes to pay for shipping, so shopping on days when a site is offering free shipping on any order is great. If you can’t find a free shipping offer, then consider whether you can wait for one. Sign up for the stores’ email alerts on sales so you will know the next time they run a great promotion.
Another way to get free shipping is to make sure you always have it with programs like Amazon Prime. Even if you’re not a Prime member, did you know that if you place an order over $35 to qualify for free shipping, everything you order in the next 24 hours automatically ships for free as well?
One other tip: if “Pick Up in Local Store” is an option, select it! This is a great way to run by and grab your items the next time you are out and cut out shipping all together.
Rewards cards
You can take your rewards to the next level be earning cash back and then earning more rewards with a special credit or debit card. I’m not in any way promoting debt to save money here, though. If you are prone to carry a balance, then this extra reward will save you nothing. But if you can pay off a balance each month, then look into getting a card that rewards you with points or even cash back. I travel a lot teaching coupon workshops, so I decided getting a Marriott card was a good way to earn free hotel nights.
Use Google Image Search for Look-a-Likes
Before you spend a ton of money on a name brand item play around with Google Image search and see what you can find that is very similar. From the Google Search page click the little camera in the far right of the search box and paste the url of the image you want to search.
See tons of similar looking items in the results with direct links to check them out. The image above is a $2500 Anthropologie Hutch that I found similar products for starting at $250! That’s a massive savings. It will even return used listings on sites like craigslist.
Special shopping days
There are better times to shop for big ticket items than just a random Tuesday of the month. Typically we see more coupon codes and sales on weekends and 3-day weekends are even better!!
Find larger deals on furniture, beds and other large household items on patriotic holidays (Presidents day, July 4th etc.). Plus don’t forget about Prime Day (always in mid-July), Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Remember your budget
In the end, no matter how great of a deal you’ve found, please remember that even a $1 deal has a cost. If you don’t need it, or don’t have the money for it, then don’t buy it! Budgets aren’t fun to make, but they do have a great purpose. When you have reached your budget then it’s time to stop.
