With tax return season well and truly upon us, many will be turning their minds to a little retail therapy.
But rather than battling the crowds, the weather, and the changing rooms, why not do your shopping online?
More of us than ever are doing this, but it can be hard to score a bargain when there are so many temptations on the Internet and the lack of physical transaction can often make you feel as though you’re not spending money.
To help, FEMAIL spoke with a Sydney-based financial advisor and single mum Canna Campbell – who shared her tips and tricks for navigating the world of online shopping.
Canna – who runs the Sugar Mamma YouTube channel – famously saved $36,000 in just thirteen months – outside of her own salary.
FEMAIL spoke with Sydney-based financial advisor and single mum Canna Campbell (pictured) – who shared her tips and tricks for navigating the world of online shopping
Canna (pictured) said you can save valuable money by knowing your brand and staying loyal to that brand – that way you are likely to know sizing and quality
Know your brand and stay loyal
Top of Canna’s list for nabbing a bargain is knowing which brands you like, what size you are in them, and how often they have sales.
‘You’re far less likely to get it wrong or waste money if you stick with tried-and-tested brands,’ Canna told FEMAIL.
This will mean that you won’t have to waste unnecessary money on stamps to post back something that doesn’t fit.
If you stick with your favorite labels, you’re also more likely to know at which points in the year they may have a sale on and you might be able to get that dress you’ve had your eye on for $50 less.
The Sydney financial expert recommends downloading an app, like Shoptagr.
This ‘lets you know when your item goes on sale or similar versions’ and keeping a note on your phone about what size you are in each of your favorite shops.
That way, you can always have a virtual shopping list going, and easily turn it into a dream-fitting reality, with the touch of a button.
If you think you want to buy something, but aren’t sure, Canna recommends getting specific – zoom in to closely check out the fabric of something and look at the catwalk view
Get specific
Canna’s second tip, if you want to save money on online shopping, is to get specific.
Not only does she recommend zooming in to the product so you can see it in microscopic detail, but she also said it’s worth doing your research elsewhere before you commit to buying.
‘Don’t rely on the images on the online shop,’ she explained. ‘Lighting and filters can make it look very different.’
In order to get a clear idea before you drop your hard-earned cash, the financial expert said it can be a good idea to seek out street style imagery before you commit to purchasing.
It can also be beneficial to have a clothing inventory – so that you know instantaneously whether something will slot into your wardrobe or if you have a million other versions of it already.
It can be beneficial to have a clothing inventory – so that you know instantaneously whether something will slot into your wardrobe or if you have a million other versions of it already
Forget sales
It might seem incongruous to say that you should avoid sales when trying to save money.
But all too regularly, sales can actually kid you into thinking you need something when in actual fact you would have happily done without had it not been on sale.
‘If you were not prepared to buy it at full price, why should you buy it now?,’ Canna asked.
Instead, it’s a better idea to think about quality – and look for that over quantity.
Plus, Canna added, it’s far more satisfying to save up for something that you’ll truly value and cherish – instead of a fast-fashion cheap purchase.
Check eBay
Often forgotten by countless people when seeking to cut down their online shopping bills, eBay can be a great place to save a few cents.
‘People so often buy things and change their minds,’ Canna said. ‘You can often pick up current season stock online from eBay, Carousell, The Real Real, and more.’
Not only this, but you can save valuable dollars by opting for something that might not have been worn or worn just once.
Canna (pictured) recommends you Google coupon codes before shopping, which can help you to save up to 40 per cent – and shop on eBay to find a bargain
Google coupon codes before shopping
Last but not least, Canna explained that possibly her ‘best tip’ is to Google coupon codes before you buy. If you are fond of shopping on Amazon and want to save as much as 70%, you can try and search Amazon Promo Code on Google.
‘Google coupon codes for certain websites and there are lists of them available,’ she said.
‘What happens is that lots of them haven’t switched the coupon codes off and so you can still use them, by adding the code in at the checkout.’
Canna explained that a friend of hers has saved up to 40 percent on her shopping bag by doing this.