How to Save Money Online

It's no secret that the Internet has changed our way of life: Users enjoy faster methods of communication and greater access to information than ever before. What many people don't realize is that the Internet also offers many opportunities for saving money. As online shopping has become more and more popular, businesses have been pressured into not only maintaining an online presence, but also competing for a thriving global consumer base. Online deals and specials are powerful persuasion for potential customers, and are therefore used by many retailers. If you know where to look, you can find many ways to save money online, such as traditional coupons that you can print out and carry with you, and online coupons that use links or coupon codes to save you money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Print and save: Traditional coupons online. Many of us still get coupons from the local grocery stores in our mailbox once a week, or find coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. However, there is a big difference between clipping coupons in the traditional way, and finding printable coupons online: By clipping coupons from a newspaper or flyer, you have a limited number of products to choose from. When using printable online coupons, however, you have access to every coupon on the Internet - making it much easier to find discounts on the products YOU want to buy.
   
   There are a variety of different ways to find traditional coupons online. One of the most popular ways is to search coupon sites. Remember those Val-Pak coupon mailings you used to receive in the mail? Val-Pak coupons are now available online, at ValPak. There are many other similar sites online, some of which may offer newsletter subscriptions to help you stay up to date on the current coupons and promotions. Another way to find traditional coupons online is to find your favorites stores' websites, and join their mailing lists.
   
   In addition to informing you about new products and other company news, store newsletters frequently include coupons - bait to get you in the store, but a good opportunity to save money if used wisely. For instance, Barnes & Noble often emails printable coupons to members and prior customers; these coupons come with enough regularity that you can sometimes save your purchases until you get a coupon, and then save on a purchase you would have made anyway. Likewise, Noodles & Company subscribers receive coupons for free entrées several times a year, on occasions such as birthdays and Mother's Day.
2. Click and save: Linked coupons, promotions, and coupon codes. Just as brick-and-mortar stores draw customers with printable online coupons, online stores also use linked coupons, promotions, and coupon codes to draw potential customers to their websites. There are two different types of coupons and promotions for online stores: linked coupons and coupon codes. With a linked coupon, you simply click on the link, and it takes you to the online store via a special URL; then when you check out, your savings will be automatically applied to your shopping cart. A coupon code is a special code you will need to write down and enter when you finish your shopping, either in the shopping cart, or during the checkout process.
   
   Because e-commerce businesses depend on online coupons and promotions to drive sales, linked coupons and coupon codes are fairly easy to find. If you do a lot of shopping online, or are looking for a variety of ways to save money online, there are many websites dedicated to listing current online coupons and coupon codes. By joining these sites' newsletters, you can be sure to always stay on top of the latest deals and specials being offered by online retailers. However, if you are looking for online coupons or coupon codes for a specific store or product, you may have to do a more specialized search. If you have a favorite online coupon site, you might start by looking there - most sites offer a search feature to help you find exactly what you're looking for. Another method is to use a search engine such as Google, typing "coupon code" along with the store or product as your search terms.
3. Revenue-sharing websites. Another way to save money online involves using revenue-sharing websites. These sites serve as portals to other shopping websites. When users make a purchase at one of the listed sites, the revenue-sharing sites make a commission off of each sale and share the commission with users. In this way, you can earn refunds by making ordinary purchases from online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, and many other websites. Typical refund amounts are 1-5 percent. These refunds are in addition to any other coupons or sales in effect for a given retailer. If you are interested in trying one of these revenue-sharing websites, visit MrsOwl or FatWallet. These sites are very easy to use. All you have to do before making an online purchase is visit one of these sites first, and then click on the link to the desired retailer. Make your purchase as usual from the retailer, and the revenue-sharing site will calculate your refund and apply it to your account. You will be refunded by check or PayPal when your balance reaches a certain level.

Tips & Warnings

• Conventional wisdom tells us that the best way to save money is to shop around. Saving money online isn't any different - it is simply easier and faster to shop around when you're navigating the Internet, rather than driving around or calling up the stores. However, if you lose patience and just go ahead and make your purchase, you could be missing out on a great deal or special. Whether you are shopping at a brick-and-mortar store or an online store, using online coupons can help you save a lot of money!