Over the past few years, I’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help me save money when I shop and get the best deals. So I thought I’d share them with you. This Black Friday I saved so much money on top of the Black Friday deals that I was literally surprised myself. I’ve gone from literally no control and a shopper addict to budgeting where I only buy what I need and get the best deals. Talk about growth!
Make sure you get money back
I’ve recently made it a rule to only shop through apps that give me money back for my purchases. Of course, this does not apply to groceries or other essential goods such as medicines, health and wellness items. During Black Friday this year I was able to get up to 16% cashback on sites like Shopbop, H&M and DSW. I received a total of $68 cashback – which I think is incredible.
Regularly you can only get up to 10% cashback, which is not bad and definitely better than nothing. To get money back I used Rakuten And Honey . These are apps, but you can also use them in your browser.
Even if you shop in store, don’t worry, you can still get money back. You simply connect your debit or credit card to Rakuten, “add” the store in Rakuten you want cash back from, and you’re shopping. Rakuten automatically tracks your purchases and processes the refund.
hp When you create an account on Rakuten with my link you get $30!
Earn points (and exchange them for cash or gift cards)
I’ve been using honey for years and what I love most about them is that you get points for every dollar you spend when you shop through their browser extension/app. Even if you don’t have a coupon, you’ll be rewarded with points that you can later redeem for gift cards or even cash.
It doesn’t seem like much, but if you use the extension with every online purchase, it adds up. I’ve managed to get $50 gift cards for various retailers like Amazon.
Related: The 10 Best Places to Buy Affordable Jewelry Online
Use coupons and discount codes
If you use honey , search the internet for discount codes that you can use. But if the store you’re shopping at doesn’t have coupons, ask an influencer you’ve met as a brand representative. In most cases, content creators will receive a promo code to share with their audience. I got promo codes up to 50% off for my readers and followers. This way you get a discount while also supporting a content creator – which is always welcome! It helps us show brands how valuable we are, which can result in better rewards for our work.
You can also sign up for the store newsletter. They usually reward you 10-15% just for signing up. And you can get all offers and sales straight to your inbox. Sometimes these discounts are shared exclusively with the mailing list members. Additionally, if you create a free account with them, many retailers will reward you with points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for discounts, free shipping, or even small gifts.
Take advantage of student discounts
If you are a student, you can download apps such as StudentBeans and Tuesdays . If you can’t find the retailer in any of these apps, see if they offer a student program directly on their website. You may need to scroll all the way down or contact customer service and ask!
Both have different merchants on their app, so downloading both could be ideal.
Related Topics: 5 ways to make money as a college student
Get rewarded for your steps and physical activity
I use apps like Sweatcoin and Paceline to get rewarded for my steps and basically for going to the gym.
The difference between the two is that Sweatcoin rewards you for your steps by giving you coins that you can redeem for discounts on physical products and free trials for virtual products. They have deals like 3 months free Apple Music, 50% off your first BarkBox, 7 days free Apple TV+ and more. You can also donate your coins to various causes. So you are basically walking to help different organizations!
Paceline is a bit different as you need to complete a certain number of minutes of physical activity to unlock the offers. For me it’s 150 minutes a week. They have offers like $10 off any task at TaskRabbit, $5 Winky Lux gift card, $5 Target gift card and more. Since the minute goal resets every week, you must redeem your minutes every week or you’ll lose them that week.
hp Use the code “07J9MZ” to log into Paceline.
Download the retailer’s app
Many stores offer discounts if you just download their app and shop there. Nasty Gal gave me 20% off on top of other discounts just for shopping through the app. Also, some retailers offer in-app sales where you can get a discount on certain items in the app only. The best part is that you can delete the apps right after purchase.
Make a budget
This is literally a tip everyone gives. Simply create a budget – set a spending limit on how much you’re willing to spend on a specific item or on your shopping spree, and stick to it. It’s also an amazing way to practice self-control.
Avoid excessive consumption
This is probably the most important tip when it comes to saving money. By only buying what you need or just treating yourself to a few items, you not only save money but also help the planet. Always think twice before buying something you don’t really need. This is especially true for fast fashion shoppers. It’s so easy to buy more than 10 items when each item is literally $20. But be careful what you buy and consider carefully whether you are actually wearing the item more than once.
If you’re buying an outfit for a special occasion, I recommend renting it instead. There’s no point in buying it, wearing it once and then letting it gather dust in the closet. Simply pay for a subscription, rent the item and save closet space and money.