How to Hack Online Shopping
Online shopping is becoming more and more common as we resist going out to physical shops for the safety of getting items delivered to our door. In first-quarter reports, Amazon’s profits rose by a whopping 26.4%, which is absolute proof of the massive swing towards online retail that has happened in the last few months. Now, you might wonder what this has to do with you, especially if you don’t own an online retail account and cannot benefit directly from this shift in the market! However, it does mean that avenues of buying online have become more popular and well-known, meaning you could save money by being just a little savvier in your online purchases. By following the tips below, you can surf and shop with more confidence, knowing you’ll always get the best value for your hard-earned dollars.
Buying in Bulk
Where is the online equivalent to stores like Costco? Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on essential goods, or on particular items if you find yourself needing a large quantity of something specific. This can become especially useful if you are redecorating (you may need a bulk-load of tiles, for example), or otherwise undertaking large DIY tasks and activities – even planning a wedding or a big 
birthday party. Now, many online retailers are known for buying products in bulk from Chinese websites and then selling these on to individual customers at a marked-up price. If you need a large number of items, it’s definitely worth skipping out the middleman and investigating going straight to the source! Check out the best 10 china wholesale websites and search for your product to see if you can get it in the correct quantities – you might be pleasantly surprised at the price difference when you go wholesale online! Don’t forget to use your food saver to keep those bulk items fresh longer.
Finding Independent Suppliers
This is the opposite of going wholesale, and it is the best way to find interesting and unusual items that you would never be able to find on the high street. In the current economic climate, it’s important to support small businesses – so next time you crave a bit of shopping therapy, try to steer away from big retailers or high-street stores online, and be a bit more adventurous in your search. The site Good On You is a great way to discover some stylish, eco-friendly fashion brands, so you can browse with moral superiority whilst you fulfill your shopping needs! If you’re already a fan of thrift shops or charity stores, you’ll know the delight that comes from finding something special and unusual hidden at the back of a rack. Well, online shopping doesn’t mean you have to lose that feeling – there are definitely some fantastic online vintage stores that offer a slightly different experience from marketplaces such as Amazon, allowing you to indulge yourself.
Conclusion
By thinking a moment longer about your online shopping habits, you can easily find ways to expand your horizons outside your usual stores. This will help you to find better prices and less generic items, making the products you buy just as unique and special as you are!
10 Comments
heather
I love me some Amazon shopping! I haven’t bought anything in bulk yet but I will check that out thanks for sharing.
Kate Sarsfield
I do a bulk ‘click & collect’ once a month and I’ve definitely saved a lot of money. No more impulse buys!
Rosie
Hmm, I am having a hard time with online shopping. Its sounds easy, but I find it exhausting! There are so many things sitting in online carts, that I’m not sure about, so then don’t buy – good way to save money, though!!
Crystal K
Being stuck at home has allowed me to broaden my online shopping horizons beyond Amazon, WalMart, and ebay. I have found some gems – Westaurantstore is great for buying food in bulk and ThredUp is awesome for online thrifting!
Connie: The Head Peanut
Good to know. I’ll have to go check out Westaurantstore. (Cracks me up. That’s exactly how Alice use to say restaurant)
Didn’t ThredUp use to be only kids clothes? I’m gonna go check there too.
Tamra Phelps
I like how easy it is to shop online. I definitely like Amazon’s coupons and their subscriptions to items that let you get them at a much cheaper price. But I do like going to the actual store for some things, like I actually like grocery shopping…but if Amazon finds a way to actually bring the food into my kitchen and put it in the cabinets for me, then I’m going for that, lol.
Connie: The Head Peanut
Wouldn’t that be the perfect shopping experience? Put everything away….. maybe clean out the fridge for me too? Once a month?
Dorothy Boucher
I don’t mind shopping online, I do prefer shopping in person. Although I have been finding more and more
deals through online and I am always looking for better deals.
@tisonlyme143
Connie: The Head Peanut
I like on line shopping because I have all the pop ups that show me coupons. I like that. Otherwise (especially) clothes are harder to do on line. I like to feel the fabric. Course since I live in yoga pants now I guess I don’t have to feel those.
Rosie
I never thought about all this, I put in online orders a couple times a month, not in bulk, though, except for toilet paper!! Sounds like we’ll be doing a lot of online ordering going forward, need to check out these ideas!