Shopping online is a wonderful way to save money. According to the Internet researchers World Wide Worx, there are over 800 retail Websites in South African cyberspace.
Here are some great tips on what to do if you really want to save money.
Set a time to browse
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- Make a shopping list, then use a site such as www.southafrica.info/services/consumer/onlineshop.htm to search for the lowest total price for your entire list.
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- Visit a price comparison site; type what you’re after and start comparing dozens of prices in minutes. For instance, www.retailpricewatch.co.za shows what different stores charge for the same product, thus enabling you to save on your grocery bill.
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- Make sure to calculate whether a deal really is as good as it looks, for example, if a “2-for-1” offer will actually save you money.
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- Good deals can also be found by simply Googling the product’s name.
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- Check if free shipping is provided and make certain if your products will be delivered right to your doorstep or whether you’ll have to collect them at the nearest post office.
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- Before adding something to your shopping cart, such as that nifty looking laptop, have a look at the product and customer reviews to see if others got what they paid for. Testimonials also provide information about a particular product, brand or Website merchant.
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- Keep an eye out for seasonal sales and clearance bargains.
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- Visit sites such as www.ebay.co.za, www.gumtree.co.za or www.olx.co.za, as you can often find good deals on second-hand items that are in mint condition.
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- Subscribe to email newsletters from your favourite stores. They’re free and often contain valuable coupons and other special offers.
Get a discount
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- If you’re a disciplined buyer, you might wish to get the credit cards of various stores because they often offer rewards for signing up or for spending a certain amount.
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- You can save on shopping and eating out through online discount vouchers. Many shops and restaurants offer coupons that you can either redeem online or print to take in person.
Sources
www.forbes.com
www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
www.wikihow.com