Save on your shopping

It's that time of the year, when shopping becomes a priority. In today's blog, we're looking at tips and tools that can save you money. 

1) Cashback sites

It's free to sign up for cashback sites, and they give you money back on any shopping you do online. We like TopCashback. If you click on the link, and sign up through the site, you get a £10 sign up bonus, and we get a bonus too! The highest amounts you can earn are for purchasing insurance, but you can get discounts and bonuses too. TopCashback allows you to add an extension (a bit of code) to your browser (internet search tool) that automatically tracks and applies any available discount codes. If you're not happy using the extension, then you can access your shopping via your Cashback sites. It can take up to 3 months to withdraw the cash though. Alternatives to TopCashback are: Quidco or Rakuten

You can read more here on Martin Lewis's site. It is really worth signing up for his emails, as he regularly finds discounts and deals, as well as the best offers going. 

Tip: you can also order online and collect in store, earning your cashback. 

2) Vouchers and discount codes

Another way to save is to find discount vouchers and codes online. If you are planning on buying something, then search to see if the store has any offers or discounts. You can download vouchers to use in store or online. We've used Wowcher to find savings on days out, and on purchasing online. Using this link will give you a £10 credit after your first purchase. Martin Lewis regularly blags extra discounts, which are usually listed in his regular email, but you can also check online. An alternative is Groupon.

3) Price comparison websites

We've become used to using price comparison websites for purchases like insurance or utilities, but you can also use them to find the best price on items that you want to buy. This is especially useful for big ticket items. You can then either purchase in store or online. Bear in mind that if you want cashback as well, you should use the extension, or go to the site through your cashback site. We tend to use Google Shopping, which is really simple. You search for the item you want to buy, and you'll see who is offering the best site. 

For insurance. utilities etc, then we like Compare the Market (You've got to admit, those meerkats are cute!) It's really helpful that the site saves your info, so you don't have to keep on entering details for products, especially for renewing insurances. Alternatives are Go Compare, and Confused.com

4) Loyalty cards and discounts. 

Increasingly, stores are offering better prices for those who hold their club cards- Nectar Prices; Clubcard prices etc. They are worth having for stores where you shop regularly, because you can save a lot on your shopping, and the discounts don't apply without them. Many retailers will also send you special offers if you sign up for newsletters. 

5) More ways to save

Black Friday will mean sales from many retailers, so check for deals linked to this sale. 

You'll also find lots of tips from Martin Lewis' website.

Caveats

One of our principles is to only recommend sites which we use. This does mean there are others out there that may also be very effective. Or course, we're techies, not financial experts, which is why we also refer you to the experts.

Advertising, which is linked to website visits, provides the funding for many of the options listed. Unless you're using sites like DuckDuckGo or incognito mode, everything you do online is tracked. 

One way of avoiding too many spam emails is to set up a separate email account for all online shopping, and ideally, a separate bank account too, which does help protect your cash. Make sure you are careful when shopping online, and never click on links in emails etc. You can read more tips on staying safe online here.