Shop smarter, not harder: A guide to help you save money online

Waiting in line is so old school. Nowadays, it’s possible to go straight to a retailer’s website — or even their app — and skip the waiting, with the ability to find a product and order it right away. No longer is it necessary to walk through the aisles of stores, scour the shelves, wait in checkout lines, or ask an employee to check on sizes — it’s possible to do all that shopping without getting off the sofa.

Whether you're a seasoned online shopper or just getting started, there are ways to shop online and save money. From coupons to clever shopping tips, keep reading to discover how to shop while saving money.

Compare prices between retailers

Before shopping online, it’s a good practice to compare product prices between different retailers. Simply search online for the product name and style number to find a list of online stores selling the same product. Alternatively, consider using a coupon finder like the PayPal Honey shopping extension to do the heavy lifting and search for and automatically apply available coupons to help you get the best price.

By comparing prices, it’s possible to take advantage of discounts, promotions, and other limited time deals for certain products.

Check the price history

Not sure if you’re getting the best deal? Check the price history. By using price tracking tools or websites when shopping online, it’s possible to see how the price of a product has changed over time and whether the current price is higher or lower than usual.

Tracking the price history can also help you identify patterns in price fluctuations, such as seasonal sales or clearance events, helping to plan purchases and save money in the long run.

Use sales alerts

Setting up sales alerts is a great way to get notified when an item you want goes on sale. There are different ways to set up sales alerts, including:

  • Using price tracking tools or websites
  • Signing up for a retailer's newsletter or following them on social media
  • Using a retailer's dedicated sales alert feature on their website or app

Use coupons

Another helpful way to save money when shopping online is by using coupons, retroactive discounts, deals and offers. From time to time PayPal has deals and offers available on its website.

Many retailers offer coupons or promo codes that can be applied at checkout to get a discount on purchases. By using apps or online tools, such as PayPal Honey, its possible to find coupons or promo codes to help save money.

Some retailers also offer retroactive discounts or price adjustments if the price of a product drops within a certain period after a purchase.

Take advantage of cashback offers

Using a cashback tool or app is one way to maximise savings when you shop online. Cashback tools typically offer a percentage of a purchase back as cash rewards, which can add up over time.

Use different payment methods

Different payment methods can help you manage money while shopping online, too. For instance, by using gift cards or buy now, pay later, it’s possible to stay within a budget and optimise an online shopping experience.

While these options don’t necessarily save money, they could be used to manage cash flow and spread the cost of purchases out over time.

Online shopping FAQ

Learn more about PayPal Honey here and check out more about PayPal’s products and services here.

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