Online shopping has become part of everyday life, offering convenience, variety, and often better prices than the high street. Yet with just a few smart strategies, you can go beyond convenience and actively save money while shopping online.

From comparing prices to making use of cashback sites and discount codes, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without cutting corners.

This guide shares practical tips on how to save money shopping online and enjoy the best deals without falling into overspending traps. 

Plus, lots of top tips of how I save money every month when shopping online, from picking the right day to shop, to which cashback website is my favourite.

Compare Prices Before You Buy

One of the easiest ways to save is to compare prices across different retailers before you hit checkout. Not all online shops list the same item at the same price, so it pays to do your research.

You can:

• Search directly on multiple retail websites.

• Use price comparison tools that automatically gather prices from various stores.

• Factor in delivery fees, return policies, and customer service quality alongside the headline price.

By taking a few minutes to check, you can avoid paying more than necessary and spot hidden charges.

How I shop online to save money: Once I've found an item I want to purchase, I always pop the name of the item and brand into Google Search to check their Shopping tab to see if I can find it cheaper.  I also check eBay listings and Amazon listings to ensure I'm getting the best price.

Sign Up for Newsletters and Exclusive Discounts

Retailers reward loyalty, and one of the best ways to save money online is by subscribing to their newsletters. Many offer:

• Welcome discounts for new subscribers.

• Exclusive discount codes shared only via email.

• Early access to sales, giving you first choice before items sell out.

If you don’t want promotional emails cluttering your main inbox, set up a dedicated email address just for deals. You’ll stay organised and never miss out on savings.

Use Cashback Sites and Apps

Cashback is one of the most underrated online shopping hacks. By clicking through cashback websites before making your purchase, you can earn back a percentage of what you spend. Over time, this can add up to a substantial amount.

Popular cashback platforms often cover everything from clothing and groceries to insurance and travel bookings. Some even offer bonuses when you refer friends or reach certain spending thresholds. Since you’re buying the same items anyway, cashback is essentially free money.

How I use cashback:  TopCashback is my favourite cashback website.  I use their browser extension which lets me know if there is a cashback deal at the website I am shopping on.  If not, I'll check if Quidco, my second favourtite cashback app, has a deal. 

To make sure you don't miss out on cashback, read my huge LIST OF UK CASHBACK SITES article to find all the cashback sites I've ever used! 

There are lots and your favourites may be different to mine.  You may even get some free money if you use one of my referral links :) 

Apply Coupon Codes at Checkout

Never complete an online purchase without quickly searching for a discount code. Many retailers run regular promotions with percentage discounts, free shipping, or gifts with purchase.

You can find codes by:

• Checking coupon websites.

• Following brands on social media.

• Signing up for loyalty programmes.

Even if the discount is small, applying it consistently across all your online shopping adds up to big savings over the year.

Shop at the Right Time

Timing can be everything when shopping online. Annual events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and January sales are obvious money-savers, but even regular weekends often bring price drops. 

Plan ahead for seasonal items such as Christmas gifts or garden furniture. Buying off-season can mean heavy discounts — for example, picking up summer clothes in autumn or winter coats in spring.

How I save money with this hack: Even choosing to shop on the right day of the week can help you save money. I regularly shop online at Holland and Barrett and they consistently have the biggest discount codes on their website at the weekends, rather than weekdays.  Just waiting a few days to place and order I need can often save an extra 5-10% off my order.

Do you love shopping at Holland and Barrett too? Use my refer a friend link by clicking here to grab a 25% discount code at Holland and Barrett.

Choose Free Delivery or Store Pickup

Delivery costs can sneak up on you and reduce any savings you’ve made. Look out for free shipping offers, or meet the free delivery threshold by combining purchases into one order.

Another option is click-and-collect. Many retailers let you order online and pick up at a local branch for free, which saves both delivery charges and waiting time.

Another tip that I use when shopping online to save on postage costs: I try to always search for free returns too when ordering clothing and shoes when I'm not sure if they'll fit. 

Or, I'll at least order as much as possible from a store that is in my local town, so I can return for free to the store.  Otherwise, the returns costs can stack up, even if the original delivery cost was free. 

Use Browser Extensions to Find Savings Automatically

If you’re serious about saving, install browser extensions that automatically search for discounts while you shop. Some will:

• Apply coupon codes at checkout.

• Alert you when a product has dropped in price.

• Show cashback offers directly in your browser.

This saves you time manually hunting for deals and ensures you never miss out on easy savings.

My favourite browser extension to use is TopCashback so I never miss out on a cashback deal when shopping online. 

Make Use of Loyalty and Reward Schemes

Retailers, supermarkets, and even delivery services run loyalty programmes that can help you save money online. Collecting points and redeeming rewards can give you discounts on future purchases, freebies, or even cashback.

Supermarket loyalty cards, in particular, often unlock online-only offers that can make your grocery shop significantly cheaper. 

My personal favourites is Tesco Clubcard - I use the credit card to buy everything and pay in full at the end of the month or using the app after purchase, just to get the Clubcard points so we can have free meals at Pizza Express!

I also use the Nectar card for shopping online at Sainsburys and Argos.  As well as the Boots card, and the Holland and Barrett Rewards for Life, which eventually give me enough points so I can buy many products for free!

Avoid Impulse Spending

One of the biggest risks of shopping online is impulse buying. It’s easy to add items to your basket that you don’t need. To save money:

• Create a shopping list and stick to it.

• Use the "save for later" option and revisit after 24 hours — often the urge to buy will pass.

• Remove stored card details from your account to avoid one-click purchases.

By being intentional with your spending, you’ll cut unnecessary costs and make better use of your budget.

Read Reviews Before You Buy

Spending money on poor-quality products is a fast track to wasting money. Always read customer reviews to check the reliability of the product and the service. This helps you avoid returns, replacements, or having to buy again from somewhere else.

Reviews can also highlight whether a product runs small or large, saving you from paying for return shipping.

Combine Multiple Savings

The smartest online shoppers stack different savings methods together. For example, you might:

• Click through a cashback site.

• Apply a coupon code at checkout.

• Pay using a credit card that earns reward points.

Combining these small savings can significantly reduce the final cost of your purchase.

Final Word

Learning how to save money shopping online is all about being strategic. By comparing prices, using cashback, signing up for loyalty programmes, and resisting impulse buys, you can keep more money in your pocket without sacrificing the convenience of online shopping.

The best online shopping hacks are simple to implement and can save you hundreds of pounds each year. Make them part of your routine, and you’ll never look at your digital shopping basket the same way again.