21 Best Online Shopping Hacks To Save Money And Time - Secrets Retailers Don’t Want You to Know

When shopping online, shipping costs can easily turn a good deal into an expensive purchase. One of the easiest ways to save money is to choose products with free shipping.

Many retailers offer free shipping during sales or for members of loyalty programs. Platforms like Amazon and Flipkart offer free shipping for Prime members. At the same time, other brands like Nykaa and Myntra have a minimum purchase requirement to get free shipping benefits.

To take full advantage, try to meet the store's free shipping requirements or wait for special promotions. Another option is to check if the retailer offers in-store pickup. This is a free alternative that saves on delivery costs and gets your order faster.

If you're a first-time shopper at a particular store, make sure to take advantage of new user or first order discount code. Many brands offer special discounts to attract new customers, such as a discount on your first purchase or free shipping.

To maximize savings, visit different brands and see what new user offers they provide. While searching for offers, be aware that some of these discounts might have minimum purchase requirements or applicable on certain products. So, always check the terms and conditions before placing an order.

Before confirming your purchase, make it a habit to compare product prices across multiple sites. Retailers often price the same product differently due to promotions, discounts, and other factors. By comparing prices, you can ensure you're getting the best deal available.

Using price-comparing tools can help you compare prices quickly. They can even help you track historical price trends. Also consider shopping for sites that offer free shipping, discount, or other perks.

For example, let's say you are shopping for Dot & Key Sunscreen. The price of Dot & Key sunscreen is Rs.445 for 50g on their official site. While the price of the same product on Nykaa is Rs.383 and on Myntra it's Rs.382 for 50g.

As you can see there is a huge gap between the prices of products on different platforms. So, sometimes checking price of your products on different platforms can be helpful.

And if you don't know how to use those tools to track product prices, just search your product on Google and you will see the same product with different price ranges on different platforms.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to save money while shopping online is to use coupons. Many retailers release promo codes and digital coupons that offer discounts, free shipping, or other perks. Websites like RetailMeNot, SavingAround provide a vast collection of coupon codes for various stores. You can apply these codes easily at checkout.

Additionally, you can take advantage of browser extensions to automatically scan the web for active coupon codes. This makes it easy for you to search for discounts and ensures that you never miss an opportunity to save.

Always check for discount codes before making a purchase and try to combine this code with other offers. Because in India, most of the stores don't allow using multiple codes on single purchase.

One of the most powerful ways to boost savings is to stack coupons. Not many online stores allow you to use more than one discount code at a time, but there are few. But you can easily combine discount codes with bank or payment offers.

To use more than one code, you need to check the retailer's policy to see if you can apply more than one code. Also, look for opportunities to combine storewide discounts with category-specific or product-specific coupons.

Sometimes you can even combine coupons with cashback offers or reward points to maximize your savings.

Using multiple coupons may need a bit of effort, but its worth it when you save money. Always remember to apply the highest-value coupon first, followed by smaller ones. This will ensure that you get the most out of each code.

Using coupons is a necessity but always finding coupons and deals is not easy. One of the easiest ways to stay ahead of sales and snag extra savings is by signing up for newsletters.

By subscribing to the brand's newsletters you will gain access to exclusive offers, sales, and sometimes even birthday discounts. Many retailers send personalized deals based on your browsing and purchase history. This will help you save on items you are already interested in.

Just be mindful of promotional emails flooding your inbox. Set up a separate email account to organize your deals without clutter.

Many brands offer exclusive deals, discounts, and promotions when you shop through their mobile app. Some brands provide app-only coupon codes or early access to sales, which you won’t find on their website.

Additionally, apps have features like push notifications. This will alert you to limited-time offers or flash sales, to make sure that you don’t miss out on great deals.

Certain apps also reward users with loyalty points or cashback when shopping through their mobile platform. Make sure to enable notifications to stay updated on app-exclusive promotions. By shopping through mobile apps, you can unlock extra savings and convenience.

Online stores often vary product prices or delivery charges based on location. That's why checking product prices for different pin codes can help you cut the shipping prices.

This strategy is useful for large online marketplaces like Amazon or Flipkart. Because on these platforms pricing can change depending on regional demand, availability, or shipping logistics.

To take advantage of this, enter different postal codes at checkout or during the product search process. This will help you check if the item is cheaper in another area.

You can also try using nearby pin codes or those from regions with less demand to discover low-priced products. Some products might also have minimum shipping charges in certain locations, which can reduce the total cost.

Cashback offers are a great way to earn money while you shop online. Many platforms provide a percentage of your total purchase back in the form of cashback. You can redeem these rewards in the form of gift cards, PayPal credits, or direct bank deposits.

In addition to cashback sites, some credit cards also offer cashback rewards. You can unlock these credit card cashback rewards for online groceries, electronics, fashion, or beauty products. Using your cashback credit card with an online cashback site can double your rewards.

Cashback offers are mostly available for large purchases. But you can utilize credit card cashback offers for your everyday buys.

Installing browser extensions like Saving Alert can help you save money when shopping online. These extensions scan the web for active promo codes as you browse. These extensions will automatically apply the best code at checkout with a single click.

For example, Honey tests multiple coupon codes to the one with the highest discounts. Many extensions also show the brands that offer cashback and other offers.

Using browser extensions simplifies the saving process for you by ensuring that you will get the best deal every time you shop online.

A lesser-known trick for online shopping is to leave products in your shopping cart without completing the purchase. Many brands send emails to emails to encourage users to finish their transactions. This mail often contains a discount code of up to 10% off or a free shipping offer.

The process is simple, you just need to add your favorites to the cart and leave. Then, wait a day or two without checking out. In most cases, you'll receive an email reminding you to complete your purchase.

This process might not work every time, still it's an easy way to score discounts. Just be patient and watch your inbox for offers!

One of the best times to shop online is during festive sales like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Diwali, Christmas, or New Year’s. Brands offer massive discounts during these periods, giving discounts on everything from electronics to fashion.

It’s common to see discounts ranging from 10% to 70%, along with additional perks like free shipping, or bundle deals.

To make the most of these sales, plan by listing the products you want and create wishlists. Many stores allow early access for subscribers, so signing up for newsletters can help you get first dibs on the best deals.

Also, keep an eye on flash sales or limited-time offers, which often provide discounts for a short period.

Shopping with digital wallets or credit cards can offer extra savings. Digital wallets and credit cards can help you get exclusive deals, cashback offers, and reward points.

Many banks and e-wallets like Paytm, Google Pay, or Apple Pay partner with brands to encourage you to shop through their platforms, and in return, you will get discount offers.

Similarly, credit cards often offer cashback, discounts, or interest-free EMI options on big purchases. Some credit cards also offer price protection or extended warranties, making it a smart choice for larger purchases.

Being loyal to specific brands can limit your options and prevent you from finding better deals. Often, lesser-known or emerging brands offer similar or even high-quality products at a fraction of the price.

Stop being brand loyal and start exploring alternative brands to maximize your savings. Many new or smaller brands offer competitive prices, bundle deals, and even better warranties.

Price isn’t the only benefit. By shopping across different brands, you can take advantage of various seasonal offers, introductory discounts, and new user offers that your go-to brands might not offer.

This simple mindset shift can lead to substantial savings while still getting the quality you expect.

If you really love a specific brand and looking for discounts without shifting to other brands, you should consider shopping from retailers.

Shopping from popular retailers like Amazon, Nykaa, Myntra, or Flipkart will minimize your product price as compared to shopping from a specific brand's website. Along with price drops, these retailers also guarantee safe transactions and reliable return policies.

These platforms regularly offer deep discounts, flash sales, and special promotions, which can help you get extra discounts on your favorites. Additionally, they often have price-matching policies and user reviews, making it easy for you to make a buying decision.

Large retailers also frequently offer membership perks. For example, Amazon Prime members get free shipping, early access to deals, and exclusive discounts. Nykaa rewards users with loyalty points that you can redeem for future purchases.

Staying connected with your favorite brands on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter can unlock exclusive deals, flash sales, and giveaways. Many brands use social media to share special discount codes with their followers, announce flash sales, or provide early access to upcoming sales.

Some brands even offer social media-only contests and giveaways, allowing users to win free products or gift cards.

Additionally, here you will also get a sneak peek of upcoming product launches or limited edition products. Following these accounts also lets you engage directly with the brand. This increases your chances of getting personalized offers and discounts.

When making large purchases, selecting No-Interest EMI (Equated Monthly Installments) is helpful. This will help you manage payments without paying extra. Many online retailers and credit card providers offer zero-interest EMIs.

This option is mainly useful for high-ticket items like electronics, home appliances, or furniture. Some brands even offer no-cost EMI during specific sales to help their users save money.

Before choosing this option, always check the terms and conditions to ensure that there is no hidden fees or processing charges applied.

Before making a purchase, always look at product reviews from other customers. Reviews will help you know the reliability and quality of products.

Nowadays, almost every brand has a user reviews section for their users. Platforms like Amazon, Ajio, Nykaa, etc. have strong review systems, with ratings, detailed comments, photos, and videos from real users.

By analyzing product reviews, you can make an informed decision and avoid potential disappointments. This will help you save both money and time.

Before finalizing any online purchase, it’s essential to check the brand’s return policy. A clear, flexible return or exchange policy gives you peace of mind. Return policy ensures that if the product doesn’t meet your expectations, you won’t be stuck with it.

It's also important to consider that some retailers offer free returns or exchanges. While others may charge return shipping fees.

By reviewing the return policy beforehand, you avoid unwanted surprises and make smarter purchasing decisions.

Buying thrifted products is a fantastic way to save money while also supporting sustainability. You can shop for pre-owned items like clothes, electronics, furniture, and even accessories at a fraction of the original price.

Websites and apps like OLX, eBay, etc. offer a wide range of secondhand goods that are lightly used or sometimes even brand new with tags. Thrift shopping can help you get unique or vintage items that are no longer available in stores.

Before buying be sure to check product descriptions and photos to ensure product quality. Also, buy from sellers with good reviews.

To avoid overspending and impulse purchases, it’s important to make a budget for your online shopping. Setting a clear budget helps you prioritize your needs. And you can ensure your spending limit.

Try to allocate a specific amount for each category, for clothing, electronics, or groceries, and stick to it while shopping. Many retailers offer discounts and deals that can tempt you into buying unnecessary items, so having a budget acts as a safeguard.

By using these online shopping hacks, you can save both money and time while getting the best deals available. The above strategies can help you save and can make a significant difference in your overall spending.

Now that you have learned these money-saving tips, start using them the next time you shop online. Don’t forget to share your experiences and how much you’ve saved by using these strategies.