How to save money when buying online

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One of the best things about having a bank card, other than easy access to your transaction account, is the ability to buy things online. Digital purchases have so quickly overtaken physical ones in Australia that Roy Morgan recently found that 40 per cent of the population buy at least one product over the internet every month. That’s more than 7.6 million people!

Why so popular? Perhaps it’s the sheer range of choice, maybe it’s the accessibility – or it could be the fact that you can often get better deals online than in physical stores. But we know that isn’t enough for some thrifty Aussies, so here are just a few ways you can save money when buying online.

Avoid the lemons

The best way to save money is to make a good purchase the first time, so you don’t have to make a second one. But with marketing being as effective as it is these days, how can you tell whether you’re about to buy a lemon? It’s simple: read the reviews!

Lots of websites will have user reviews on them. If you find that a certain product is getting slammed by other users, it might be worth giving it a miss. A recent Nielsen survey found that 59 per cent of people either somewhat trusted or completely trusted opinions written online – that trust could end up ensuring you avoid a bad buy.

Seek out the vouchers

Plenty of online retailers offer vouchers – some even give you one just for entering the site! You can get them for free delivery, combo deals or even just something as simple as a certain percentage off. And even if you don’t get one thrown at you as soon as you come in, you might be able to seek them out online with your favourite search engine. It’s always worth a try, and you might end up saving a lot of money.

Compare compare compare

There are entire websites out there dedicated to ensuring you aren’t paying more for the same product. But beware! Paying less for the same thing can sometimes end up with longer delivery times, less professional courier companies or just a worse service overall. You might find a cheaper product isn’t quite what you expected, even if it looks similar. The key, like all things in life, is doing your due diligence!

So there you have it, just a few ways to make the most of your credit card online! For more tips, tricks or even full blown financial planning, make sure you get in touch with the lending professionals at Border Bank today!