22 Tips: How To Save Money Shopping Online

Love shopping online? Check out our expert tips to help you save money every time you checkout.

Make your next online shopping haul more affordable than ever with our 22 killer tips for bagging a bargain online. And lucky for you, our team of money savers have done all the leg work!

From using a discount code to price drop alerts and knowing your rights when it comes to refunds – we’ve got all the tips & tricks you need to ensure you’re never overspending online again.

Start saving money online today with our 22 expert tips!

1. Make an online shopping list

One of the biggest culprits of overspending is shopping without a list. You’ll often find that you spend way more when casually browsing online than when you shop for an individual item that you actually need. Avoid buying for the sake of it by making a list and sticking to it. 

Another good tactic is to add items to your basket and leave them for a few hours before buying. In most cases, you’ll find you change your mind once you’ve had some time away from your shopping cart. Also, avoid shopping when you’re bored as this is the prime time for impulsive buying. Do your bank account a favour and shop when you need to. It’ll save you a lot of money in the long run.

2. Compare prices

We all have a list of go-to brands that we tend to revisit time and time again, but brand loyalty is not always the best way to go. Before you buy your next beauty essential or expensive branded purchase, make sure you shop around and compare prices. 

Comparing prices is not just for holidays or insurance either, you’ll often find high-end beauty products cheaper on sites like Lookfantastic and Asos than you would at their own branded retailers. It’s also a good idea to compare the cost of popular kids’ toys and gadgets around Christmas as some places really like to jack up prices.

If you need help comparing costs, you can always download handy price comparison apps like PriceSpy and PriceRunner. These tools allow you to keep an eye on RRPs and price changes at multiple retailers so you can find the most value for money deal.

3. Use a Voucher Code

The first thing you’re going to need to do if you’re after a quick discount is search for a voucher code. You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to grab a saving on your order with a code in hand!

NetVoucherCodes have working & official promo codes for the majority of our retailers at any given time – so you’re more than likely guaranteed to walk away with a nifty saving. Simply search for your retailer or browse through our categories. Why not have a look at our Top 30 codes live on our site right now?

Head over to our search (at the top of this page) to see if we have a live promo code for your favourite stores!

There’s nothing worse than coming across a voucher code online to find that it doesn’t work once you’re at the checkout. At NetVoucherCodes, we have a large team of discount code experts checking our codes every day to ensure they’re working. Don’t believe us? Take a read through our raving Trustpilot reviews to see what our loyal customers think!

Maybe you’re looking for some inspiration? Take a look at our homepage for our latest and exclusive codes or browse through our categories for fashion, home, travel and beauty stores.

And if you’re wanting to stay updated with our latest and best codes, sign up for our free newsletter! A weekly round-up of all our exclusive coupon codes will be sent straight to your inbox.

Or, why not do a google search for “Brand Discount Code” to see what pops up? You might even spot one advertised on the store’s homepage!

TIP: Try an advanced google search eg: “Currys Exclusive discount code” and then in the advanced search options look for results in the last 7 days for the latest exclusive codes. These are generally the codes with the highest discount and run for short periods of time with the more reputable voucher code brands like NetVoucherCodes.

4. Stack your discount codes

Where you can, stack your discount codes for as many savings as possible. Not all retailers allow this but it’s worth a try if you find more than one code. Retailers like Gap and Amazon have been known to accept stacks of codes, just make sure you enter yours strategically at the checkout. 

For example, if you have one code that offers a percentage off your order total and one for a discount in pounds, make sure you apply the percentage code first to save as much as possible on the full amount.

5. First order discount codes

Keep your eyes peeled for first order discount codes when shopping online! You will often see these pop up on the homepage when browsing. These are fantastic for making great savings on your very first order if you’re a new customer. Keep in mind these will require you to sign up for their mailing list so if that’s something you could do without, simply unsubscribe once you’ve collected your discount.

You could even set up a new email address if you don’t wish to receive regular emails from the store. This is also another great tip if you’re an existing customer as you will receive a first-order discount.

6. Abandon your basket

A great way to grab a discount is to abandon your basket right before you’re about to buy. This trick works well when you’re not in a rush to buy and almost always works. Once a retailer realises that you’ve abandoned your basket with items in it, they’ll often start sending you emails with reminders. And, if you wait long enough, they may even send you a discount code to persuade you to buy.

Another tip is to browse around a website for a while before committing to anything. Sometimes, if retailers think you’re likely to stick around, they’ll display a pop-up for a one-off code or welcome discount to use at the checkout.

7. Use online chat to ask for a discount

Another way to save money when shopping online is to take advantage of the chat function. Simply send a message about the item you want to buy and politely ask if there are any discounts available. 

Retailers like M&S and Schuh have been known to provide savings of up to 20% to customers who enquire about discounts using online chats while brands such as Dyson, House of Fraser and Asos have alerted shoppers to other deals they may not have been aware of. Next time you’re shopping online, give live chat haggling a go and see if you can bag yourself some extra savings.

8. Sign up for Newsletters

One of the easiest ways to ensure you’re kept up to date with all the latest offers and discounts from your favourite retailers is to sign up for their newsletter. This is always free to do using your email address. Some stores even offer a discount on your first order when you sign up!

By signing up, you will be kept in the loop with any of their latest deals, upcoming sale offers & dates and much more. Many stores also send you an exclusive discount on your birthday. Sign up for your favourite store’s online newsletter today and keep your eyes on your inbox for some serious savings.

Another top tip is to organise your emails so it doesn’t get too busy with irrelevant stuff! If you notice your inbox is clogged up, use an add-on like ‘Clean.email’ that allows you to instantly unsubscribe from junk emails.

9. Refer a Friend

If you’re a regular shopper at one of your favourite stores, why not share that love with mates for an exclusive discount? Most stores offer you and your friend a discount for referring them. They will usually offer a referral link which your friend will need to use to make their purchase! And once they have, you and them both could save from 5 to 20% off your next order. You may even get a cash discount and loyalty points if you’re a member.

The best part is that most referral schemes don’t have a limit, meaning you can share the love with as many friends as you like. And the more friends you refer, the more discounts you will bag yourself once they make an order.

10. Student discounts

Just because you’re a student, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the things you love! Students can make huge savings online with sites like Student Beans and UNiDays.

If you’re at college or university, sign up for free using your student email address. You’ll spot hundreds of popular online stores from fashion & footwear to travel sites, home stores and even restaurants.

Why not check out what student savings we have live on our site right now? You could be saving up to 25% off at your favourite stores!

11. NHS & Blue Light discounts

Online stores love to give back to our NHS heroes which is why if you work for the NHS, you can enjoy exclusive discounts just for you!

Apps like Blue Light Card are free to download and feature hundreds of special offers and voucher codes. All you have to do is log in using your NHS Email address and verify your account to get started.

12. Shop incognito to avoid prices going up

You probably don’t realise, but online merchants use a sneaky strategy to show customers different prices depending on their location. Using your browsing and spending patterns, stores target you and will value their services/products accordingly.

Have you ever noticed the prices of flights, hotels or package holidays fluctuate the more often you browse? This is called dynamic pricing!

However, it is possible to outwit dynamic pricing and here’s how:

• Switch to Incognito mode
• Clear your browsing history and cookies
• Log out of email & social media accounts
• When you go back to re-check the price repeat the above steps

13. Buy at the right time

When it comes to saving money while shopping online, patience is essential. If you’re not in a rush to buy the item you’re currently after, then why not wait and see if you can grab a discount later in the year? 

You’ll most likely be aware of buying Christmas stuff in the January sales and holiday clothes in autumn but Black Friday is another date you should always consider. 

Pricey purchases like kitchen appliances and electronics are always reduced during the month of November in the run-up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

It’s also a great time to buy discounted Christmas presents with price drops at the majority of online stores.

Before buying clothes online, you should have a look at upcoming events like singles day, payday, pride month and other days of celebration.

Stores love to hold sales and drop codes on these dates, so it’s well worth waiting a couple of days before purchasing your shopping cart to see if you can grab any extra savings.

14. Get Price Drop Alerts

If you have your eye on something expensive and are waiting for the best time to buy it, you may want to download a price tracker tool to make things easier.

Websites like Price Drops UK allow you to set price drop alerts on thousands of products from brands like Currys, Argos and Smyths! 

Google also has a price alert tracking feature that you can add to your Gmail account. Receive a notification whenever the cost of your product drops and grab the item at its lowest price! This is ideal if you’re not in a hurry or can’t find a voucher code to make an instant saving.

15. Shop in the sales & outlets

Most retailers provide sales and clearance outlets on their websites and if they don’t, it’s well worth waiting until one pops up. If there’s no dedicated sale section on the website you’re shopping at, make sure you wait and check back for a discount.

Sales events usually take place during the end of each season as well as busy times of the year such as Black Friday and the run-up to Christmas.

If you aren’t bothered about having the latest pieces, you can also shop in clearance sections or showroom outlets. Here, you’ll find end-of-line pieces that have been reduced to clear.

Stay in the know about the latest sales by signing up for newsletters or by visiting us here at NetVoucherCodes.

16. Stock up when items are on sale

If you manage to grab a discount on an item you buy regularly, make sure you stock up while you can. Of course, there’s no point buying more than one item just for the sake of it, but if it’s something you can’t live without, then why not take advantage of the price drop? 

The only thing to consider is the use-by date, especially on beauty products. If it’s going to take you a year to use each product, then it may be worth just buying one at a time.

17. Ask for a refund if the price drops

There is nothing worse than buying something online, and then realising shortly after the price has dropped. If you fall victim to this, there is nothing wrong with asking for a refund. Some companies, like Amazon, will refund you the difference if you notify them early. Keep in mind that some credit card companies also offer price protection – check with your provider to see if you qualify.

18. Meet delivery requirements for free delivery or Click & Collect

Delivery fees can be expensive and bump up the cost of your order. To avoid paying these unnecessary costs, opt for the free delivery option like Click & Collect.

Alternatively, you can check to see if the store offers free delivery over a specific amount. If so, try and meet the order requirements to save on delivery. Double up if it’s something you use often or treat yourself to some inexpensive bits you might need.

19. Use a loyalty or rewards card

If you shop at the same store regularly, it’s well worth signing up for the loyalty scheme or rewards programme. Look for a loyalty scheme before you shop and sign-up to collect rewards. Many retailers provide members with points for money off future spending as well as free gifts and discounts on selected products. 

Save or spend your rewards and enjoy regular treats throughout the year. Some loyalty programmes even provide birthday treats and hierarchy systems that allow you to accumulate bigger and better rewards with every purchase!

20. Subscribe & Save

Subscribe & Save is a fantastic way to save time and money when shopping online at Amazon! If you find yourself often ordering the same things like toiletries, baby essentials or even food items, select Subscribe & Save at the checkout on your next order and enjoy repeat deliveries as and when you need them!

Thousands of items are eligible – all you have to do is select the quantity and schedule a delivery day and time. There are no costs and you can cancel your subscription at any time. You will even save 10% off on 1-4 subscriptions and 15% off 5+ subscriptions.

21. Follow your favourite brands on Social Media

If you regularly use social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, make sure you’re following all your favourite brands & stores!

Companies are always sharing exclusive deals, sales and codes on their social channels that you won’t find elsewhere. 

They even host huge competitions with big prizes up for grabs. However, beware of fraudsters posing as larger companies online, especially on the likes of Facebook & Instagram – in this case, look for the blue tick.

22. Buy second hand

Buying second-hand is not only a handy way to save money, but it’s also great for the environment. You’ll find loads of second-hand items on online marketplaces like eBay, Depop and Vinted as well as pre-loved items from local sellers on Facebook groups.

Many of your favourite online retailers also provide second-hand sections on their websites. These are especially popular with mobile phones and electronic sites. Shop for refurbished iPhones, laptops and tablets from brands like O2, musicMagpie and Laptops Direct and save money on your second-hand devices.