10 Ways to Save Money Shopping Online

We are expecting a baby in late July and I’ll be taking some time off to welcome him to the world. I am grateful to friends and fellow bloggers who are helping out with guest posts.  This article is by Joanna Dreifus of MyMomShops.

I am a self-proclaimed fanatic online shopper (I buy almost everything my family needs online, from clothing to books to groceries). I’ve learned some good dollar-saving tricks for online shopping (besides the most obvious one, which is setting a budget for yourself).

Here are my top 10 tips:

Tip #1:  Skip the Mall. Buy Online.

The vast majority of my purchases are made online. Why? Because if I spot an item (particularly clothing or toys) that I like in a store, there is an excellent chance that I’ll find a better deal online. I jot down the name and style and anything else to help me remember, and then search online (often I do a Google search and then click on the “shopping” results).

I’ve saved money on everything from designer shoes (Zappos.com) to toys (Melissa & Doug toys from Gummy Lump).  Plus, you’ll be able to hone in more easily on what you really need/want to buy, instead of being tempted by everything within sight.

Tip #2: Search Online for Coupon Codes

Before I click and buy, I always stop by RetailMeNot.com and CouponChief.com to see if I can find a discount or free shipping code. If those fail, sometimes I go to Google’s blogsearch and search for “(store name) discount or coupon” because many blogs (mine included) sometimes pass along coupon codes. Click here and bookmark it so you’ll always see the coupon codes we’ve offered at MyMomShops.

Tip #3:  Ask for Discounts.

OK, so you haven’t found a discount code. Ask for one — it never hurts. Particularly at small e-boutiques or at Etsy storefronts, you never know if they might give you a discount.

Tip #4:  Shop at Amazon.com and join Amazon.com Prime.

I can’t tell you how much money I’ve saved by paying the yearly $79 Amazon Prime fee. Amazon Prime members get free two-day shipping on a huge array of items (in my experience, nearly all books, CDs, DVDs, and now many toys, too). So you don’t ever need the $25 minimum for free shipping, and you don’t need to order things weeks in advance.

Forgot that a friend’s birthday is 3 days away? No problem. Use your Amazon Prime membership to send a $20 gift (no shipping fee) that will arrive in just 48 hours. The $79 fee will quickly pay for itself.

Oh, and bookmark Amazon’s baby outlet and toy outlet.

Tip #5:  Shop at eBay for last season’s trends.

Do your kids really care that their clothing is from Fall ’09 instead of Fall ’10?  Of course not.  eBay is a fantastic place to score deals on kids’ clothing of all brands.  It works great for bigger chain brands like Gymboree or Janie & Jack. I’ve ordered some of R’s favorite clothing from past Gymboree seasons in bigger sizes thanks to eBay.  And it’s much cheaper than it was the first time around.

Tip #6:  Visit the “Deals of the Day” sites.

There’s a new crop of sites that offer one or two baby/kids items each day, heavily discounted. You have to check them regularly to see what they’re selling and then act fast, but it’s worth it. Some of the ones I frequent myself are BabySteals.com, MiniSocial.com, and MamaBargains.com.

Tip #7:  Check Facebook and Twitter for deals at sites you like.

Lots of shops have their own Facebook and Twitter pages now where they post exclusive deals, sales, and coupon codes. You wouldn’t see these otherwise, even if you subscribe to their newsletter. So check your favorite site’s hompage to see if they link to Facebook or Twitter, and then follow them. Also follow MyMomShops (me) on Twitter where I pass along scores of coupon codes and deals that I don’t otherwise have time to post in full at the blog itself.

Tip #8:  DON’T buy in bulk.

I’ve been burned by this. I find a deal on a great toy and then I buy ten of them, thinking I’ll stock up for birthday gifts. Trouble is, there always ends up being some reason why the gift is not really the right gift for the kid whose birthday is coming up.

Better to buy smaller amounts so you don’t feel pressured to make gifts “fit.” The exception would be for baby gifts. If you find an awesome, non-personalized baby gift for peanuts, scoop up lots of it…in both pink and blue.

Tip #9:  Go cheap on gift wrap and cards.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m a paperphile and love nothing more than gorgeous luxury gift-wrap and cards. But I can’t afford to use them all the time.  Instead, I stock up on discount gift wrap, tissue paper, and cards at Jack’s 99 Cent Store or at The Current Catalog.  I use gift labels (much cheaper than individual cards) or even make my own using plain white labels that the kids decorate.

Tip #10:  Read MyMomShops.

Of course, I had to add this. I’ve always been proud that MyMomShops is not a “snobby” blog. I post beautiful things, but sometimes they just happen to come from Target or Kohls. If you love shopping but are watching every dollar, I think you’ll like what I post.

Happy Shopping!

Joanna Dreifus is the author of MyMomShops, a blog that features top picks for kids’ clothing, toys, gifts, decor and more. She lives in New York City with her two children, ages 4 and 7. She is a fanatic online shopper, but also a frugalista.

Photo credits: keyboard, clothing, present.

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