5 Ways I Save Money Online

It's not always easy to save money.

It just isn't.

It's frustrating and can take way more effort than simply saving your coins for a rainy day.

Although I still do that.

It's actually been a while since I've carried the coins into the grocery store and clogged up the ole Coinstar machine. So. I'm definitely overdue there.

But I figured I'd share a few ways I've been saving money this year.

And yes, there are affiliate and referral links throughout this post. They help me earn a little bit of extra money towards the things I didn't expect to need. Please use them to enroll or look into any of these recommendations that might be interesting or brand new to you.

Instacart

Instacart has been a lifesaver for me of late. And, yes, though it may seem unlikely, it has also helped me to save some money on my groceries.

Instacart is a way to do your grocery shopping online.

The options are plentiful, and there are a number of stores to choose from.

For example, I tend to use Food Lion because I have my MVP card and get automatic store discounts, but since I'm currently on my round of Whole30, today I went shopping at Whole Foods and never left the house. I love Instacart because it helps me to stop any impulse buys I toss into my virtual cart just because. Whether I see coupons for them, or I find them at a reduced price, I take my time and review my cart at the end of the shop to be sure what I want and need and don't really need in there at all. There's no running back to another aisle or handing it over sheepishly to the cashier. Just a click of the "x" and it's gone.

Boom. Money saved and not spent.

Also? You can order from Total Wine, people. Total. Wine.

I kid, I'm not even drinking these days (Whole30, remember? They say that there's an easy way to know that someone is on a Whole30. Know what it is? They TELL you. Repeatedly.).

But there's also access to the big warehouse stores like Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club. Imagine getting what you need in bulk and not having to face the crowds?

Boom. An introvert's best plan!

Ibotta

With Ibotta you'll never have to cut a coupon again.

All you need to do is download the app, pick your favorite store, and click to add certain coupons to your account.

Yep. That's seriously it.

Obviously you need to actually make the purchases to have the money reimbursed to you - but it's so much easier than actual coupons. And yes, that's even with the money going out first. Because it's exciting to get the money back right after.

I shop at Food Lion and use the app there. You can also use it at Target, which works great with the Target app formerly known as Cartwheel, because you can sometimes find multiple ways to save on the same products.

My latest way to use it is the guaranteed $1 I receive for each Uber ride I take.  And I tend to use it quite often, so this automatically covers the extra I spend on the driver's tip - or at least part of it.

Rakuten

I know - most people find that Rakuten gives them minimal money back when they make online purchases, and I agree, it can be difficult to find yourself earning a lot when using this site. That said, some money is better than no money at all - right? The last time I cashed in I added extra money to my redemption by choosing an Old Navy gift card instead of choosing a direct payment via PayPal. So - if you're going to be doing a lot of online shopping this holiday season? Or if you tend to do so in general? Consider using Ebates to do it. It's one extra step in your shopping experience AND they offer you coupon codes which might save you a few extra dollars, besides the money you'll earn back.

Honey

Honey is a Chrome extension that you can use to help you find the best possible deals when shopping online. It's a great resource for coupon codes, and will often do the scanning of them FOR you, which is fantastic. True - Honey cannot be combined with a site like Ebates - but you can use Honey for the code and then decide if the percentage they're giving you in cash back is better than what Ebates has to offer. I also love using Honey on Amazon, because they provide you with access to recent pricing of the item you're eyeing, and give you an idea of how much the price has varied over the last few weeks. Talk about perspective - imagine going to purchase something and noticing it has just jumped up in price? Do you need it right away or is it worth it to wait until it drops a bit? Either way, having the information on-hand has been a great resource for me.

Wikibuy

Wikibuy is another extension I have on my Chrome browser that I use to price check and find new coupon codes. Admittedly, I don't tend to use it as much as I do Honey, but I do like that it pops up and tells me when something I'm looking at was recently seen available elsewhere for less. Whether or not I make the purchase - having the information at my fingertips helps me make the best decision for my household.

So - there you have it! A few of my favorite ways to save money online. Admittedly, my favorite? Ibotta. I'm saving the big bucks over there, friends - so definitely head on over and check it out.

And if I'm missing anything, feel free to let me know what you think I should be checking into. I'm always open to finding new ways to save the dough - especially at this time of the year.

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