Article written by money supermarket.
Sometimes the price you pay in-store for a product or service can change dramatically if you find the same product online, and in most cases the price in-store can be considerably higher. There’s nothing worse than getting home from a shopping trip thinking you have a bargain, until you realise that you could have saved a lot more had you have waited until you got home. Here are a few examples of things you should buy online to save money:
- DVD’s and Blu Rays
All movies, whether on DVD or Blu Ray format, are generally cheaper if bought online, it’s a fact that I have learned over the years. I’ve always found that searching the sites of film selling giants Amazon and Play, I can always find a movie that little bit cheaper and some considerably so. There are also some websites such as dvdpricesearch that compare prices of all of the big merchants for you; it’s a great way to save time and money.
- Flights and Holidays
In my opinion, the day of buying flights face to face is slowly on the decline, I seem to find considerably cheaper prices by searching online at home. I think the main reason for this is that, travel or holiday agents just do what we do, they search online for the best prices, and unless they have any exclusive deals then they will just be getting the same prices as us. I tend to use some online travel comparison websites that again do the searching for you; however, some work better than others so make sure you do your research.
- Books
I always purchase books online, whether in the standard physical format or in the form of an e-book. Books are just one of those things that always seem to be cheaper, with the likes of Amazon and Borders available online and offering fantastic discounts. There are also many websites that sell niche or rare books online that can be considerably cheaper than going direct to a book seller.
- Auto Insurance
Auto insurance is one of those things that we all hate purchasing, but if you want to drive your vehicle on the road, then by law we have to spend our hard earned cash on it. Getting your auto insurance online can save you a lot of money. Using price comparison sites, you only have to fill in one form as if you’re applying for one quote, you will then be provided with a list of pricing options available to you.
- Cell Phones
Whether you are just buying a handset or if you’re looking for a monthly cell phone price plan, I always seem to find better deals online than I can in-store. Of course in-store you have the ability to try and haggle but I’ve found that the deals I get offered are never as good as those that I can find online. Online you can also search by provider website which is another great way to save money, and it would take you a lot of time to visit each store!
Jason’s note: I shop online a lot. I buy things that most people don’t realize are available online. An interesting counterpoint question: What should you buy in-person to save money?
I do buy most of my new release books in person but I do so locally at a small bookstore. I try to give him as much business that I can and he has been really good to me. Most of the time, he gives me a discount.
For older books, I go to Better World Books online and buy used. I have been amazed at the quality of the books that I have gotten and all of the ones that I get have been under $5 and there is no shipping fee. As a nice tie in to the charity thread, this place is a nonprofit that has raised over $8 million for global literacy. I don’t mean to push a particular business but this is just a good example of how great online shopping can be where one site can fit a person better than a in person store.
What’s the link for BWB?
The addy for Better World Books is http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
have fun and enjoy. the first time I ordered from them it was 3 books to see what it was like. The second time it was 10 to fill in all the missing books I had from over the years.
My to-read pile, right now, is about 4 feet deep. That’s not my list, that’s the books I own that I need to read.
The one thing that I never buy online is clothes. I tried a few time and there are always something wrong with it. It never fit quite right or the material is not what I expected or something else. I guess I am a bit picky.
I haven’t bought clothes online, but I don’t go through clothes often enough to make it a big deal.
I also have to buy clothes and shoes in person…just too many things I need to try on before buying.
I agree that I usually find the best deals on DVD’s and books (which we buy if we love what we read from the library) from Amazon.com or Ebay.
Shoes, I’m willing to try. Zappos has a no-questions-asked return policy, with free shipping. You can order a dozen pairs of shoes, try them all on to see color and size, then send back 11, and they will thank you for the order.
How about cuban coffee? I can buy Pilon espresso blend on Amazon at the same price as store bought, about $0.33/oz. Also from Amazon: camping supplies and polo shirts.
From Ebay: wool slacks. I’ve found a couple of brands that work for me, and it saves time and money to buy online.
I’ve never had Cuban coffee. I’m assuming it’s good?