Website Spotlight: Saving Money Shopping Online

 

From braving Black Friday lines to browsing online flash deals, consumers are constantly looking for ways to save and stretch their holiday shopping dollars. Now – thanks to technology – there are more ways than ever for people to find a deal and maximize their budget. So for those who are looking to make the most of this season’s shopping, here are 3 holiday hacks to save time and money:

 

·         Reward yourself when you shop. You already know you’re going to shop, so why not earn rewards from the experience? By joining an ecommerce loyalty site – such as MyPoints.com – consumers can earn points every time they make a purchase. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards, cash or travel miles – so you can accumulate miles for your summer vacation just by doing your holiday shopping. Plus, MyPoints features daily deals from hundreds of online retailers, so you are sure to find cost-effective gifts every time you log in.

 

·         Give “guilt-free” gift cards. Gift cards have been ranked the #1 most requested holiday gift for 9 years in a row (NRF). But for gift-givers, it’s often difficult to pinpoint the best retailer for the recipient. Luckily Swappable, a digital gift card app, takes the worry out of gift-card giving and puts the power in recipients’ hands.

 

With Swappable, users can trade or “swap” the gift card received for that of another merchant; so gift givers no longer have to agonize between TJ Maxx and Target – they can simply give the gift card and let the recipient do the rest.

 

The best part: since Swappable is digital, gift cards reach the recipients instantly via text or email. That means you can send a gift card minutes before arriving at your office holiday party, or at 11:59 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

 

·         Have the deals come to you. Instead of constantly couponing and monitoring for deals, there is an easier way. List+, a browser extension, allows users to add items they’re interested in to their “watch list” as they shop online. Once an item is added, List+ will automatically monitor that item and alert you when it goes on sale. That way, you always find the best deal and don’t have to waste time scouring the Internet for discounts.