How - and where - do people find all these great deals online? What websites do they go to, what secrets do they know, what strategies do they use? And what kind of security precautions do you need to take when shopping online?
Diana Ratliff, author of "The Insider's Guide to Shopping Online", offers links and resources to answer those questions - explore!
~ Happy shopping
Must-Have-Money-Saving-How-To-Shopping-Guide
Save time, save money, save hassle, shop safe!
- NEW Online Shopping Guide
- Click here to get details on the full version of my book, "The Insider's Guide to Shopping Online", with special bonus offers and limited-time savings!
More than 86 ways to save money, save time, and save hassle when shopping online - while maintaining credit card security and email privacy.
I've been buying (and selling, from multiple websites) online since 1999, and my friends kept asking how I found free shipping or 20% off or cash back (or free shipping AND 20% off AND cash back, on the same order!)
I couldn't find a single book that divulged everything I know - so I wrote it!
Black Friday Shopping Survival Tips
(Good advice for lots of other stressful shopping situations, too...)
Black Friday Survival Tips
by Diana Ratliff
Copyright 2006 All rights reserved.
What are you doing this Friday? Will you be braving crowded parking lots, desperate shoppers and grumpy cashiers in hopes of scoring huge savings on holiday gifts? Or smugly sipping tea at home, chanting "It's just not worth it" under your breath while secretly wishing you could get those savings, too?
There ARE ways to minimize the holiday shopping hassle and still save money this weekend. While it's no longer the busiest shopping day of the year (that honor goes to the Saturday before Christmas), retailers roll out some of their biggest holiday promotions on Friday.
- Create a shopping plan. Check Black Friday ads as soon as they are leaked. There are a number of websites that list these such as BlackFriday.info or GottaDeal.com. Write down a shopping list, and resolve to stick to it!
- Shop online. If the store has a website, shop online - Black Friday deals are often available beginning at midnight.
You can be done before the stores even open!
- Try price matching. Many stores will sell items for the same price that a competitor is advertising even if it is marked at a higher price at their store. So if Store B's price is higher than Store A, and Store B offers price matching, avoid the crowds at Store A altogether! Simply bring the competing store's ad to Store B and ask them to match the price.
- Shop alone. You'll get in and out more quickly and will be less tempted to buy your overtired kid (or spouse) that glitzy gizmo they spotted or that high-cost, high-calorie designer drink.
- Bring cash, or maybe a debit card. When it's gone, you've got to stop buying, right? Just avoid the ATM machine! If you plan to use credit cards, use bank cards rather than store cards (lower interest) and use them sparingly. Most people PLAN to pay off holiday credit card bills in 3 months, but it usually TAKES 6 to 10 months. Yikes!
- Adopt an attitude. Remind yourself that you're in charge, that you're not going to fall for clever sales tactics or media pressure, and that it's a waste of money to buy something you don't need.
- Remember why. After all, Christmas isn't about guilt, and the biggest spender isn't the winner. You can't put a monetary value on "I love you" or "Thank you", so don't even try. Make your holiday big on meaning rather than on spending.
by Diana Ratliff
Copyright 2006 All rights reserved.
What are you doing this Friday? Will you be braving crowded parking lots, desperate shoppers and grumpy cashiers in hopes of scoring huge savings on holiday gifts? Or smugly sipping tea at home, chanting "It's just not worth it" under your breath while secretly wishing you could get those savings, too?
There ARE ways to minimize the holiday shopping hassle and still save money this weekend. While it's no longer the busiest shopping day of the year (that honor goes to the Saturday before Christmas), retailers roll out some of their biggest holiday promotions on Friday.
- Create a shopping plan. Check Black Friday ads as soon as they are leaked. There are a number of websites that list these such as BlackFriday.info or GottaDeal.com. Write down a shopping list, and resolve to stick to it!
- Shop online. If the store has a website, shop online - Black Friday deals are often available beginning at midnight.
You can be done before the stores even open!
- Try price matching. Many stores will sell items for the same price that a competitor is advertising even if it is marked at a higher price at their store. So if Store B's price is higher than Store A, and Store B offers price matching, avoid the crowds at Store A altogether! Simply bring the competing store's ad to Store B and ask them to match the price.
- Shop alone. You'll get in and out more quickly and will be less tempted to buy your overtired kid (or spouse) that glitzy gizmo they spotted or that high-cost, high-calorie designer drink.
- Bring cash, or maybe a debit card. When it's gone, you've got to stop buying, right? Just avoid the ATM machine! If you plan to use credit cards, use bank cards rather than store cards (lower interest) and use them sparingly. Most people PLAN to pay off holiday credit card bills in 3 months, but it usually TAKES 6 to 10 months. Yikes!
- Adopt an attitude. Remind yourself that you're in charge, that you're not going to fall for clever sales tactics or media pressure, and that it's a waste of money to buy something you don't need.
- Remember why. After all, Christmas isn't about guilt, and the biggest spender isn't the winner. You can't put a monetary value on "I love you" or "Thank you", so don't even try. Make your holiday big on meaning rather than on spending.
Favorite Bargain-Hunting, Money-Saving Shopping Websites
Just a few of the sites I've discovered while shopping online, and doing research for my book...
- Ebates
- Did you know you can get up to 25% BACK every time you shop, at nearly 800 great websites? That's right... join Ebates and they'll pay you a percentage of your purchases in CASH.
Heck, I don't just buy for ME through this service. I had to order some computer equipment for work so did it through my own Ebates link.
And do me a favor... when you join up, type in my email address (biztips at gmail dot com). We'll BOTH make $5.00 as a referral bonus! - MyBargainBuddy
- AWESOME bargain website. Certainly one of the most professionally done, with actual photos of great deals on the home page. A forum, newsletter (be sure to sign up for bargain alerts), blog, lots of coupon codes, freebie links... LOVE this site!
- MyCoupons Shopping Boards
- MyCoupons.com is another great site, but my favorite section is the Shopping Boards. A variety of topics, it's easy to post and to navigate, members are responsive to requests to help you find something... very well run.
I use the "Internet Shopping Deals" sub-forum as my home page during holiday shopping season!
Shop Safe, Surf Safe - Here's What You Need to Know
- Better Business Bureau Online
- Want to find out more about a particular online merchant? Need to know if there have been any complaints - and if so, how they were resolved? The Better Business Bureau is a good place to look.
- FTC's Online Shopping Center
- The Federal Trade Commission offers a wealth of info on shopping safely online. Just about everything you'd want to know is here - articles about phishing, online auctions, various payment scams... much of the info is available in Spanish, too.
- How to Spot an Email Hoax
- A good checklist of questions to ask yourself before forwarding that email about the alien baby born to a virgin in Ecuador or the obscure-but-critical file your computer is somehow missing...
Describe Your Best Deal! Or Best Online Shopping Tip!
Have you ever scored a really great discount? Did you discover some secret strategy that helped you save a bundle at that online e-tailer? Tell us how you did it!
Go on, brag a bit...
Show the World You LOVE to Shop Online
Certified Shop-a-Holic? Love an excuse to brag about your latest deal? These products are conversation-starters!
See a design you like? Click on it - you can often find that same design on other items of apparel, as well as on accessories like mugs or bags or posters.
You know you want one... great gifts, too!
See a design you like? Click on it - you can often find that same design on other items of apparel, as well as on accessories like mugs or bags or posters.
You know you want one... great gifts, too!
Born to Shop Sticker (Bumper) for Shoppers
Ain't THAT the truth!
Great gag gift for just about anybody.
Price: 5.49
Shop-a-holic Women's T-Shirt
A straightforward admission of your shopping addiction - but doggoned cute!
Price: 22.49
Shopping Addict Sweatshirt
What can I say, I love the colors AND the message on this one. You can't wear pink ALL the time, y'know.
Price: 26.99
