Savvy shoppers know the best bargains are on the web, but discounts and deals vary enormously. Here are great new ways to get the best price...
Want to save money on your shopping?
Savvy shoppers know the best bargains are on the web, but discounts and deals vary enormously. Don’t fret – we’ve discovered great new ways for you to get the best price around and save money on all your shopping…
From designer clothes and luxury holidays to your usual medications and the newest tech equipment, if you want to bag a serious bargain then these are the tips and websites you need to know about. Why waste time and energy scouring the shops for a good deal, when these websites and apps will do the hard work for you? We’ve even got great tips for how to get a better deal on your favourite discount sites like eBay and Amazon.
No matter what it is you’re looking for, chances are you’ll be able to find your service or product cheaper if you shop smart online. These clever tips are especially useful for gift shopping, when you need to buy lots of presents in a short amount of time!
So, are you ready to find the best discount deals and save money? Of course you are! The only question is what will you do with all your leftover pennies…
First up is the amazing Invisiblehand. This is a nifty free app and also a website that searches for the cheapest price for any item that you’re looking for online, including flights, hotels or electronics.
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It works with Firefox, Chrome and Safari web browsers, and when you Google an item, it automatically pings up the lowest price currently available. With nearly 700 retailers and almost 589 airlines, you’re guaranteed to bag a bargain. When you’re not shopping, it stays out of sight. Simple! Download it from Getinvisiblehand.com.
Keep reading for seven more insider tips for how to save money…
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Bid clever on eBay
One of the best ways to get a great deal on Ebay is to look out for items being sold by people living near you who are unwilling to post them. Items that are 'collection only' usually receive fewer bids and so often go for a lower price.
Goofbid.com lets you search for local items according to how far (from five to 60 miles) you are willing to travel to collect them. It will also search listings for spelling mistakes or typos, which are less likely to attract many buyers.
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Demand the best deal
Use the shopping website Flubit.com to buy anything on Amazon cheaper than the price advertised. You type in the name of the item you want to buy and paste the Amazon link to it. Flubit then goes directly to suppliers and demands a better price on your behalf, which it offers you within 48 hours. It does so via a contact book of small suppliers and wholesalers.
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Enjoy luxury on a budget
If you love the finer things in life but don't really have the budget, designer sales websites are for you. Sites such as Theoutnet.com, Vente-privee.com and Secretsales.com hold flash sales where you can get up to 70% off top names such as Marc Jacobs and Lulu Guinness.
For second-hand designer gear, visit Chicandseek.com or Hardlyeverwornit.com.
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Think mega
Don't get misled by price comparison sites. These sites rely on virtual robots (shopbots) that scour the Internet on your behalf. The downside is that each shopbot searches different retailers, so to be sure you're definitely getting the cheapest price, you need to search with several sites.
Megashopbot.com, which is part of the website Moneysavingexpert.com, allows you to see results from several sites.
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Check out Amazon’s flash sales
Every Monday to Wednesday, hidden away under Today's Deals, in the top left bar, Amazon.co.uk runs 'lightning deals', where items are available only for a few hours or even minutes at heavily discounted prices.
Alternatively, try Amazon Warehouse Deals, where returned items in saleable condition are offered a reduced prices. You'll find everything here - from TVs to office supplies to jewellery.
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Look out for price matches
Use the Internet to save money in store by using price beater policies. For example Currys and PC World offer a service where, if you can find an item cheaper at Johnlewis.com (famously never knowingly undersold), or websites Argos.co.uk, Staples.co.uk or Tesco.com , they'll match it and take off 10%. It's worth keeping an eye out for companies such as Mothercare who do the same.
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Save money on meds
Chemistdirect.co.uk is an online pharmacy that promises to beat other chemist prices on more 20,000 health and beauty products, makes uses of the NHS electronic prescriptions service and delivers NHS prescriptions free by registered post. Started in 2007, the company is a member of the National Pharmacy Association.
