In many ways, online shopping can be an automatic money saver. Instead of grabbing whatever you see as you walk down the aisles, you can search for specific items and buy only those. It’s also far easier to compare prices without having to go from one shop to the next.

However, there are ways to save money shopping online and make it even more budget friendly. By following the following tips, you’ll find yourself getting more for less.

  1. Leave it in the cart for a couple of days

One of the most effective ways of saving money while online shopping is by leaving your cart full for a couple of days. Obviously, you cannot do this in an actual shop. Leaving items in your cart saves you money for a couple of reasons:

  • you have time to reconsider impulse buys. Instead of getting something because you feel like it now, you realise you don’t need it at all
  • retailers want to close deals. They’ll do what it takes to make you buy those products in your cart, including sending you special offers you would not otherwise get.

Usually, you don’t need to click buy right away. Waiting won’t harm you at all, so why not give it a try?

  1. Mask your location (and other details)

You’d be forgiven for thinking that all customers see the exact same prices on retail websites. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A range of details, which they can get from your IP address, browsing data, and even what operating system you’re using, plays a part in how they price your products.

To circumvent this, you can use a VPN. A VPN masks your location and encrypts your data, meaning that the retailer has no access to it and will give you a standard price. You can compare prices by setting your VPN to appear as if you are in different cities or countries.

VPNs have many other benefits. Most importantly, they improve your security a good deal, making it more difficult for hackers to steal your identity and other important information. They also help you circumvent geo-restrictions, giving you access to catalogues of other countries on streaming websites, or sports events that are not being shown on local channels.

  1. Negotiate

Because you’re not there in person, it might feel like you have no sway over the sales people or managers. However, the truth is that you have all the more influence. By chatting with customer service, you can negotiate better deals and added extras.

For example, if you have a voucher that has expired, you can try and get them to extend it, by implying that you’re on the verge of buying a product. They’ll want to close the sale, and often won’t mind giving you a little bit of leeway to do so.

If you’re awkward about haggling (like most of us are), this is far easier than doing it in person. You don’t have to show your face or talk over the phone. Simply try typing some approaches and see what happens.