How to Save Money Shopping Online

The internet isn't just a great way to shop without leaving your home, it's also a great way to save money without the tedious, old-fashioned task of clipping coupons. With a little smart shopping and a few extra resources, the internet's vast stretches can save your budget and even give you a little extra room to "splurge" after you've got all of the essentials covered.

Online Coupon Sites

This might be the most popular way to save money when shopping on the internet. Coupon sites, like Valpak (Valpak works only for US residents, there are other websites for other countries), are all over the internet and they rely on user contributions to display a list of coupon codes for each online shopping website out there. These coupon codes range from small savings, like free shipping on your order, to bigger deals that will save you between 15 percent and 50 percent on orders at certain websites.

It's as easy as copying and pasting the special code into the website's "promotional code" box when you begin the checkout process. You'll see your savings automatically, and it will probably elicit a sigh of accomplishment. There's no greater feeling than finding a "secret" coupon code that saves you big bucks in an online purchase.

Buy Your Basics Online

You can actually buy everything from your deodorant to your toothpaste and other necessities online. You can even find products online that have been discontinued from store shelves -- and you can buy them in bulk!

These websites are officially affiliated with the Rite Aid chain of convenience stores, but the online prices are far below what you would pay in the retail store. The good news is, first-time buyers can save 20 percent on their first order as well as score free shipping. And every purchase earns a 5 percent cash back reward that can be redeemed quarterly. If you go through lots of toiletries, these websites can offset your costs dramatically. Consistent purchases can end up landing you $20 or more in cash back rewards, and at these prices, that's good enough for a month's worth of free shampoo, toothpaste, and even vitamins.

Sign Up for Auto-Refill Services

Online storefronts like Soap.com are not alone in offering "automatic refill" subscriptions for the products you buy regularly throughout the year. Nutritional stores like GNC also offer this convenient service, and subscribing can land you free shipping and even regular discounts on products.

When you sign up for an automatic refill process, you give the site permission to charge your debit or credit card automatically at the same time every month. The products you've elected to buy each month are then automatically shipped to your home address without you intervening at all. You'll receive an email notification that the products are on their way as well as tracking information -- and that's all you'll need!

Because this service is brand new, many companies are encouraging customers to sign up by offering free shopping on automatic refill orders. You won't have to scour the internet for coupon codes anymore, just by signing up. Additionally, many companies offer up to a 15 percent discount on automatically-refilled orders, which can saver you further amounts from the already-discounted prices you'll find online. And, let's face it, everyone needs a regular refill of toothpaste, or shampoo, or their daily multivitamin. It really is a no-brainer to sign up and get started.

The ways to save money online are as numerous as the websites that populate the internet, but these are a few great ways to save on basic items that will allow you to spend more money on "fun" things, like clothes, vacations, and dining. Of course, those luxuries can also be found at great savings online -- but that's for another time.