5 ways to shop smartly online this Christmas.
I can’t be the only one who gets over excited about Christmas and keeps spotting little extras to add to peoples presents, so I often go completely over my limit without even meaning to or realising it. I am also not one for heading out to the shops any more, I used to love it, the lights, the sounds and smells would really show that Christmas is in the air. But my body just isn’t willing any more so I shop online and get everything delivered either straight to my own door or to the recipient.
But it’s worth remembering a few things when you are busy shopping online this year including:
1. Make sure your connection is secure.
When your off shopping on different websites and head for the payment page check there are a couple of different ways to check your connection is secure, first is that it includes https:// in the web address rather than https://. The second is with a lock image, either by the web-address or in a bottom corner, you can normally then click (or double click) on this icon and view all the safety information for that website.
2. Be wary of selling pages.
I’m not saying don’t use selling pages, I am sure most of us have grabbed a bargain or two from them over the years, but you do need to careful, especially when it comes to money changing hands.
If you are going to pick up an electrical item sure you can ask to see it working and if someone is posting items to you, paying goods via PayPal makes sure your covered should the item not arrive. Just remember you should never pay for goods by friends and family as that offers you no protection what so ever.
3. Shop around.
Whatever you are buying then it is well worth shopping around for the best deal possible. Take for instance if you find a great deal on something which is listed on a number catalogue website, then head over to creditcatalogues and have a look through to see what type of account would suit you best, as well as save you the most in the long run.
4. Coupons and Vouchers are your BFF.
At this time of year all the companies are vying for your business and as such special offers and discounts are everywhere. So remember to not only check well known voucher websites, but to follow your favourite business on social media and sign up to newsletters to be the first to hear about great offers and flash sales.
Sometimes you also find if you put things in your basket and click away from the website, while signed into your account within the next 24 hours the website will send you a reminder you haven’t checked out, along with a nice discount code to tempt you more.
5. Use a credit card.
OK, ok please don’t look at me with your mouth open, there is a very good reason for this. Most credit card companies offer protection on purchases over a certain amount (I know on mine it’s £100), whereas debit cards often don’t.
So if you can’t pay via PayPal, I would 100% suggest allowing yourself this back up, should the worst happen, after all you can always pay the credit card straight off and sometimes you get cashback on purchases as well. So used wisely it can really work in your favour.
So that is five tips from me, but what about, what is your best shopping online smartly tip?
Really helpful post, thank you xx
I always shop through Quidco. And if they don’t have any special offers then I google discount codes before checking out incase I can get money off there and then 🙂
Louise x
Great tips! I know paypal is save but you suprised me with the credit card thingy! I need to try!
It’s good to know isn’t it – you never quite know when something might go wrong so good to be covered. x
Great tips, I like to do a mixture of online shopping and shopping in store but I always make sure I’ve looked around for where i can get the best price first.
Really good tips for Christmas shopping which I really must get on with doing! Good point especially about credit card purchases 🙂
These are such useful tips and a good reminder to me to be more careful. I have tried leaving my stuff in a basket before but have never been lucky enough to get a discount but I will continue to try.
Some great tips – I have to say I try to do as much as possible online these days, I can’t stand all the queues and hustle and bustle of the shops!
Great Tips, I always go over budget, so these may help, although I cant guarantee it!
These are such great tips, it’s so important to be safe online, I think people often are too trusting or have the mindset ‘it won’t happen to me’. I didn’t know the credit card tip! I’ll be using that one more often now, thank you
Great tips. I also use Barclays Bespoke Offers who will usually find a cheaper price for you if you find your item first on a major retailer.
Great advice, for shoppers and from an online shop point of view the safer we can make it for our customers the better.
I do most of my Christmas shopping online but plan so that I order enough to take advantage of free delivery offers. I also go through cashback sites as much as possible.
Those are som great tips
These are some great tips. I’m hoping to save a little money this year.
All great tips. I tend to buy online sometimes but my husband hates it, I think he’s always terrified of hackers and doesn’t think it’s safe.
Great tips!! I love finding a good promotion code!
Some really helpful tips there!
Great tips! I only shop from reputable online stores.I enjoy shopping online as it is convenient and the packages are shipped directly to my house.
Great tips, I don’t shop online without a discount code or voucher. Even if it’s £1 off every little helps. It’s great being a student too as some stores up their discount around Black Friday so I get everything early.
These tips are very helpful, thank you. Online vouchers and coupons are always a necessity when I shop online.
I always shop around to get the best deals. I don’ trust myself with a credit card though
I can understand that, they aren’t for everyone 🙂 x
With many purchases via paypal, you can get Google Protection which is totally free up to like $1,000. I don’t do credit cards!
Check reviews for products and companies you are thinking of buying from to get feedback for any potential problems you might encounter ordering from them .
This is most definitely a great tip, I’ve taken to making sure I check the bad as well as the good (even if the good is a huge number more) just in case. x
Great tips, I do use selling pages to buy and sell though and can’t recommend it highly enough! I’d never but electrical items but toys and games are brilliant!
What amazing advice – Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great tips – I need all the help I can get this time of year! Kaz x
Thanks for sharing these useful tips at this expensive time of year.
Great article and tips!
i agree paypal is great. I sold an item on ebay earlier this year and the person who bought it used someone elses identity but paypal honoured the payment to me.
Great tips! Love a good voucher 😀
Jabeen x
All great advice which is invaluable
Great tips , thankyou. This time of year shopping can be stressful, even on line if like me you often have to make your budget stretch to get it all done and I bet most of us have got people who we find very difficult to buy for but I would like to urge everyone to be extra vigilant for potential pitfalls and shopping scams especially when coming across sites you haven’t used before . Be sure to read the terms and condition , free trials where you have to sign up with your card details to get something free for a while and then remember to cancel by a certain date well these can cost you dearly. . I know!, just before Christmas 2013 I signed up for a free beauty trial of some new miracle face cream,which was endorsed bt various famous people, you just had to pay £3 for postage. So I got my cream which antagonised my skin anyway so I had to bin it and thought no more about it until looking at my bank statement half way through january I discovered two payments had been taken out on my card for £180 each time. They had saved and reused my card details that they had got from me to pay for the postage for the so called trial. When I complained they pointed to very tiny print which said terms and conditions, which you were expected to click and then go through the lengthy T&C’s which told you, that you had to return the trial cream to the company within 2 weeks unused or you would be automatically be charged the £180 to pay for them and then they would charge you another £180 2 weeks after that and then ongoing every fortnight until you wrote to them and cancelled the subscription. There was no mention of any of this on the actual order form or description of the trial and when I tried to take it further found out they were exploiting a legal loophole so there was nothing I could do about it.
I think I remember this happened (not to you exactly) but I remember it happening to a lot of people around that time, they were so sneaky in the wording it was evening tripping up some of the most web-savvy people I know! x
I usually use paypal and feel pretty confident when I do it that way.
I really should start shopping more savvy and saving. Great tips, thank you for sharing x
I completely agree about using a credit card. Its a lot safer than a debit card anyway xxx
Great tips here. I always use Paypal when shopping online. Don’t take chances these days.
Good tips, as long as you make sure that you pay off the credit card bill every month so that you don’t get charged any interest!
I have been doing a bit of shopping online the past few weeks. I’m almost done, and I think it’s so much easier than going to all the stores! Really great tips!
These are all great tips. And they’re especially important with so many people shopping online for the holidays now.
Great tips, but I love site like TopCashBack do all your xmas shopping as usual but get cash back. It’s great for the January sales!
I use selling pages quite a lot but most of the time they are ok. There has been the odd dodgy moment though.
Fab tips, thanks
Some fab tips Sarah, I think it’s so important in this day and age to protect our finances x
You have shared some really good sound advise here. Great tips.
These are definitely some good ideas. I’m going to have to start shopping online for gift pretty soon. I’ll take your advice!
I always use a credit card for protection but never thought about paypal offering the same protection, so that’s great to read!
Some good tips and cashback sites are offering some great deals too right now x
I consider myself a deal pro. I can find the lowest price on the internet…or come pretty darn close!
Always use a Credit Card for purchases over £100 as you are protected by the Consumer Credit Act whereby your card issuer is jointly responsible that the item you are buying is fit for purpose.
Great tips. I’m going to put everything on my credit card this year and just pay it off in January, it’s so much safer doing it that way.
I always recommend putting online purchases on your credit card to benefit from their protection but also because if your card is used fraudulently, it’s easier to resolve than if it were on a debit card x
I love using credit cards during the holidays because if I have to return something I don’t need the receipt! It really helps.
I don’t remember the last time I payed for anything full price when shopping online, I always use a coupon code or promotional discount these days!xx
My best online shopping tip is buy early!! Even though you are not going out into the crowds, things still sell out and it’s better to have it all sorted sooner rather than later!
On about credit cards, it’s anything over £100 & under £30k. Details from mse https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases
Making sure you have a secure connection and are using a secure page is very important. If you don’t have a credit card, buying those reloadable visa cards is great for shopping online because they can’t use them to get into your bank account!
These are great tips. I seldom shop online, but this time, I am thinking of doing this.
Good, fresh tips for shopping this season!
thanks for some great tips
Lots of great tips here! I have been shopping around and comparing prices and I have found some great bargains!
Love all of your tips. My Christmas shopping is already done, but I will use them on future purchases.
These are all great tips. I pretty much do all of my shopping onlne. I put it on a credit card and pay it off. I make sure I don’t use my debit card online.
I use credit card for shopping online as well mainly for security reasons. I find shopping so much easier online and a lot less stressful x
Great tips, I always do my online shopping on a credit card (which always gets paid off each month) I need to get in to the habit of using voucher codes more though
Great tips. I have a special card I only use for online purchases after an incident last year