So much of our purchasing is done online now that making sure we aren’t spending unnecessarily on the internet is paramount to the health of our bank balances. Whilst simple tricks like paying with cash make sure that we keep frivolous purchases at bay in real life, there are a set of new tricks that we have to learn when it comes to online spending. These are some small and simple practices that will easily fit into your everyday life, but when combined will make a big difference to your online outgoings.
Don’t Get Drawn in By Deals
For many of us getting our food delivered saves valuable time that we could be using for something more fun than trudging around a supermarket. The convenience is great, but it can end up costing more money than a grocery shop done in person. The unavoidable obstacle is that reduced items that are short-dated are simply not available online, which leads to bargain hunters having to miss out on the usual treasure troves of close to sell-by items. However, those same bargain hunters might be making a doubly bad choice by trawling through all of the offers that are available online instead. Supermarket websites are cleverly designed to show you offers like buy three get one free, or small percentage discounts first. Very rarely do you need four multipacks of crisps or 10% off a moisturiser that you’ve never used before, but because we perceive a saving, we buy them. Instead of searching through the deals first, make a list and stick to it. If some of the items on your list happen to be discounted then that’s great, but if they aren’t you won’t be suckered into buying unnecessary products that you don’t really need.
Automatically Add Vouchers
As well as being on the lookout for helpful promotions, you can also make the most of browser extensions that do the hard work for you. Honey is an example of an extension that searches for vouchers when you head to the checkout. Although it doesn’t work on every single website, the selection of sites that it does work on is huge. Just allow Honey, or another voucher finder, to search through a selection of voucher codes and it will automatically select the one that will save you the most money.
Look Out For Bonuses & Promotions
If you enjoy playing online games then looking out for promotions can be an effective way of saving some money. Websites such as Unibet casino have a tab dedicated to promotions that can be used to play their casino games. Depending on what’s currently on offer, you could have your deposit matched or make use of some free spins. Little tips like this mean that your original play money budget could stretch further. Those who enjoy playing other sorts of games should always look out for sales before committing to the purchase of a large game, it’s often possible to save more than 50% on the price of big titles. As well as this, consider registering as a beta tester for the developers of your favourite games. You’ll get access to titles you love before anyone else and you’ll get to play for free.
Take Your Loyalty Cards Online
Most of us have at least a couple of loyalty cards in our purse or wallet, but did you know that most loyalty cards are available to use online as well? Some of the most popular cards in the Netherlands are easy to use online and will save you the same discounts as you’d get when shopping in-store. It’s a simple way to save money, or accrue points at your favourite stores.
