*This is a collaborative post.
The cost-of-living crisis is making it more important than ever to ensure every penny counts. As the festive season approaches you may be starting to compile your Christmas list. You may even be worrying about how you’re going to afford the myriad of gifts expected of you. In this post I’ve put together some tips on how to find the best online deals to help you stay in the black this year.
Browse deal sharing websites
Deal sharing websites like LatestDeals compile bargains submitted by some of their 2 million members. Bargain hunters scour the internet sourcing the very best online deals across a wide variety of categories and submit them to the site. From books and fashion to toys and technology there are plenty of great offers to be found. You can even rate deals and contribute to the site to earn points. These can then be converted to Amazon vouchers allowing you to save even more. You can browse the site for inspiration or, if you know what you’re looking for, you can type it into the search bar and see if you can grab a bargain.
Use voucher codes
Whenever you’re making a purchase online it’s worth checking to see if you can find a voucher code. You can then factor the discount into the price. Generally, you’ll receive a voucher code for signing up to retailers email newsletters but you can also try typing the retailers name and the term ‘voucher code’ or ‘discount code’ into your favourite search engine. You can even use browser extensions like Honey* that will automatically find and apply voucher codes for you to help you get the best online deals.
Abandon your basket
If you have no luck finding a voucher code or think there may be further discount available, you could try creating an account with the retailer you want to purchase from. You can then add the products you want to your basket and leave the site. Not only will this give you the chance to reflect on whether you really want the item, you may receive an abandoned basket email with a discount code inside.
See if you can get cashback
If you regularly shop online and aren’t using cashback sites, you’re missing a trick. Whenever you’re making a purchase online go to your chosen cashback site and search for the retailer’s name to see if there’s cashback available. If there is all you need to do is click through to the retailer from their page on the cashback site and complete the purchase as normal. This is so the cashback site can track your purchase and issue the cashback to your account.
The two major cashback sits are TopCashback* and Quidco*. I usually check cashback rates on both before deciding which to purchase through. Since I began using them I’ve earned over £660 on TopCashback and almost £350 on Quidco. It’s worth noting that occasionally you’ll be able to find retailers that allow you to use voucher codes in conjunction with cashback. However, many will invalidate your cashback if you use a voucher code. So, it’s often best to work out which would provide you with the biggest discount to ensure you get the best deal.
Interested in other ways to reduce your outgoings? Why not take a look at the save money section of my blog.