How to Save Money Shopping Online: 20 Proven Tips
Americans spend an average of $5,400 per year on online shopping. With the right strategies, you can cut that by 20% to 35% without sacrificing the products you want. These 20 tips are battle-tested, data-backed, and sorted from easiest to most advanced.
Tips 1-5: Browser Extensions and Automation
The highest-impact savings strategies are the ones that require the least effort. Browser extensions automate the tedious work of finding coupon codes, comparing prices, and tracking cashback. Install these once and save money on every purchase going forward.
Install a Coupon Code Extension
Browser extensions like Honey, Coupert, and Capital One Shopping automatically test coupon codes at checkout. You do not have to search for codes or copy-paste them manually. The extension detects when you are on a checkout page, runs through its database of available codes, and applies the one that saves you the most money. In real-world testing, these extensions find valid codes about 40% of the time, with average savings of $7 to $12 per successful code.
Use a Price Comparison Extension
Capital One Shopping and similar tools automatically check whether the product you are viewing is available cheaper at another retailer. When you browse a product on Amazon, the extension scans prices at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and dozens of other retailers, including shipping costs. In our testing, it found a lower price about 28% of the time, with an average savings of $12.40 per price match. This is particularly effective for electronics, household supplies, and commodity products sold by multiple retailers.
Enable Price Drop Alerts
Most coupon extensions include a price tracking feature. Honey calls it Droplist, Capital One Shopping calls it Watchlist, and standalone tools like Karma and CamelCamelCamel offer dedicated price tracking. Add products you are interested in but do not need immediately, set a target price, and wait. Prices on popular products fluctuate 15% to 30% over any given month, and patience regularly pays off. For purchases over $100, this strategy alone can save you $20 to $50 per item.
Use CamelCamelCamel for Amazon Price History
Before buying anything on Amazon, check its price history on CamelCamelCamel. This free tool shows you the complete price history of any Amazon product, revealing whether the current price is genuinely a deal or just the normal price with a inflated "list price" crossed out. Amazon products routinely show discounts of "40% off" when the actual historical low is only 5% below the current price. CamelCamelCamel's browser extension (The Camelizer) embeds this data directly into Amazon product pages.
Stack Multiple Extensions
You can and should run multiple browser extensions simultaneously. They serve different purposes and rarely conflict. A recommended setup: Rakuten for cashback activation, Honey or Coupert for automatic coupon codes, Capital One Shopping for price comparison, and CamelCamelCamel for Amazon price history. Each extension addresses a different aspect of saving, and together they create a comprehensive savings net that catches deals you would otherwise miss.
Tips 6-10: Cashback and Rewards Stacking
Cashback is the most reliable form of savings because it works on every purchase, not just ones where a coupon code exists. The key is stacking multiple cashback sources on a single purchase.
Always Activate Cashback Before Shopping
Rakuten, TopCashback, and similar platforms offer 1% to 15% cashback at thousands of retailers. The catch: you must activate your cashback session before visiting the retailer. Install the Rakuten browser extension and it will automatically remind you when cashback is available. Rakuten's average active member earns $240 per year in cashback. TopCashback often offers even higher rates but has fewer partnered stores. For maximum coverage, have accounts on both platforms and use whichever offers the better rate for each purchase.
Use a Cashback Credit Card
A cashback credit card adds another 1.5% to 5% on top of portal cashback and coupon savings. Cards like the Citi Double Cash (2% on everything), Chase Freedom Flex (5% on rotating categories), and the Apple Card (3% at Apple, 2% via Apple Pay) provide consistent returns. This stacks with Rakuten cashback, meaning a purchase at a store offering 8% Rakuten cashback + 2% credit card rewards = 10% total cashback before any coupon codes.
Buy Gift Cards at a Discount
Sites like Raise, CardCash, and GiftCardGranny sell discounted gift cards for major retailers. You can typically buy gift cards for 3% to 15% below face value. Buy a $100 Target gift card for $92, then use that gift card on a purchase where you are also earning Rakuten cashback and using a coupon code. This adds yet another layer of savings that stacks with everything else. For stores you shop at regularly (grocery stores, gas stations, Amazon), buying discounted gift cards in bulk is essentially guaranteed savings.
Shop Through Your Credit Card's Portal
Many credit card issuers operate their own shopping portals with bonus rewards. Chase has Shop Through Chase, Amex has Amex Offers, and Citi has Citi Bonus Cash Center. These portals often offer 2x to 10x bonus points at select retailers, and they stack with the standard card rewards. Check your card issuer's portal before every major purchase. During holiday seasons, these portals frequently run boosted reward promotions that can double or triple your normal earning rate.
Maximize Store Loyalty Programs
Nearly every major retailer has a free loyalty program. Target Circle, Walmart Rewards, Sephora Beauty Insider, Best Buy My Best Buy, and hundreds of others offer points, exclusive discounts, and member-only pricing. These stack with every other savings strategy on this list. Signing up takes two minutes and the programs are free. You are literally leaving money on the table if you shop at a store without joining their loyalty program first. Many programs also send birthday discounts (10% to 20% off) and early access to sales.
Tips 11-15: Timing and Price Intelligence
When you buy is often more important than where you buy. Retailers follow predictable pricing cycles, and strategic timing can save you 20% to 50% on major purchases.
Know the Retail Calendar
Every product category has an optimal buying window. Electronics are cheapest during Black Friday (November), Prime Day (July), and back-to-school season (August). Furniture and mattresses hit their lowest prices during Presidents' Day (February), Memorial Day (May), and Labor Day (September). Winter clothing is cheapest in February and March, summer clothing in September and October. Appliances drop during Black Friday and in January when new models arrive. Planning your purchases around these cycles can save 20% to 40% compared to buying at random times.
Shop on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Studies from multiple retail analytics firms show that online prices are often lowest on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Many retailers launch new sales mid-week and adjust prices based on traffic patterns. Weekend shoppers tend to pay 2% to 5% more on average because retailers know weekend browsers are more likely to be in a buying mindset. While this is not a hard rule for every product, it is a consistent enough pattern to consider delaying non-urgent purchases to mid-week.
Abandon Your Cart (Strategically)
This is one of the most effective tricks in online shopping. Add items to your cart, proceed to checkout, enter your email address, and then leave the site without completing the purchase. Approximately 30% to 40% of retailers will send you a follow-up email within 24 to 48 hours with a 10% to 20% discount code to complete your purchase. Some retailers (like Adidas, Wayfair, and Casper) are particularly aggressive with abandoned cart offers. This works best when you are logged into an account or have already entered your email.
Wait 24 Hours Before Any Non-Essential Purchase
Impulse buying accounts for an estimated 40% of online spending. Implementing a 24-hour waiting rule for any purchase over $30 eliminates most impulse buys. During that 24 hours, you can also set up price alerts, search for coupon codes, and check cashback rates. The combination of reduced impulse spending and better deal preparation typically saves people 15% to 25% on their total annual online spending. This single behavioral change often saves more money than all the tools and extensions combined.
Use Incognito Mode to Check for Dynamic Pricing
Some retailers use dynamic pricing based on your browsing history, location, and device. If you have viewed a product multiple times, the retailer may show you a higher price because your browsing behavior signals high purchase intent. Opening the same product page in an incognito or private browsing window removes these tracking signals and sometimes reveals a lower base price. Airlines, hotels, and some fashion retailers are the most common users of dynamic pricing. In testing, we found price differences of 3% to 12% on airline tickets and 2% to 8% on hotel bookings.
Tips 16-20: Advanced Strategies
These techniques require slightly more effort but can unlock significant additional savings for dedicated savers.
Claim Student, Military, and Professional Discounts
If you qualify, student discounts are some of the most generous available. Apple offers 10% to 20% off through their Education Store. Amazon Prime Student costs 50% less than regular Prime. Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, and Microsoft all offer 10% to 30% student discounts through UNiDAYS or their own verification systems. Military discounts (verified through ID.me) are available at hundreds of retailers with typical savings of 10% to 15%. Healthcare worker, teacher, and first responder discounts are also increasingly common. These discounts stack with sales and sometimes with coupon codes.
Request Price Matching
Many major retailers offer price matching policies. Target matches prices from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and other competitors. Best Buy matches prices from 28 specific online retailers. Walmart matches their own online prices in-store. If you find a lower price at a competitor, contact the retailer's customer service (live chat is usually fastest) and request a price match. Success rates are high at retailers with formal price matching policies, and even at retailers without formal policies, a polite request sometimes works. This is especially effective for electronics where price differences between retailers can be $20 to $100.
Sign Up for Email Lists (Then Filter Them)
Most retailers offer a 10% to 20% welcome discount when you sign up for their email list. Create a dedicated email address for shopping newsletters (a Gmail or Outlook address you check weekly), and sign up for email lists at every store you plan to shop at. Collect the welcome discount, then stay subscribed for exclusive sale notifications and subscriber-only coupon codes. Retailers frequently send email-exclusive offers that are not available on coupon sites. Set up email filters to organize these messages so your primary inbox stays clean.
Use Coupon Stacking When Allowed
Coupon stacking means using multiple coupons or discounts on a single purchase. Some retailers allow stacking a percentage-off coupon with a free shipping code and a loyalty reward. Others allow stacking a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon. The rules vary by retailer, but stores known for generous stacking policies include Kohl's, Target (with Target Circle offers), Bath & Body Works, CVS, and Bed Bath & Beyond successor sites. Always attempt to stack: the worst that happens is the system rejects the additional code, and you still get the first discount.
Negotiate Prices on High-Ticket Items
Negotiation is not limited to car dealerships. For purchases over $500, contacting a retailer's customer service to request a better price, a bundle discount, or added perks (free shipping, extended warranty, accessories) has a surprisingly high success rate. Electronics, furniture, and appliance retailers are the most receptive to negotiation. Even Amazon sellers on the Marketplace will sometimes offer a discount if you message them directly. Live chat and phone support are more effective than email for price negotiation. Frame your request as "I noticed your competitor has this for $X" or "I am a loyal customer and was wondering if there are any promotions available."
Total Annual Savings Summary
Estimated Annual Savings by Strategy
Not every tip will apply to every shopper, and savings compound differently depending on your spending patterns. A conservative estimate for someone who implements even half of these strategies is $1,200 to $2,500 in annual savings. Heavy online shoppers who implement all 20 tips can realistically save $3,000 to $5,000 per year.
The key takeaway: The easiest wins come from browser extensions and cashback platforms (install once, save automatically). The biggest wins come from behavioral changes (waiting 24 hours, timing purchases, and abandoning carts). Combine both approaches and you will save thousands without changing what you buy, only how and when you buy it.
Start Saving with AliensCoupons
We scan thousands of retailers for the best coupon codes, cashback offers, and price drops. Updated hourly.
Browse All DealsAbout AliensCoupons: We are part of the Alien Network, bringing you space-age savings on everything you buy. Follow us on @SpunkArt13 for daily deal alerts, and visit SpunkArt.com for more from our network.