Want to know a little secret of mine? I used to be an extreme couponer. Well, I guess "used to be" is a little open because at heart, I'm still that money-saving bandit. I slacked off not long after Elijah was born, but I've been dabbling around in picking up one of my best habits again.

I have an obsession with saving money. I feel like I can't buy things if they're not on sale or if I don't have a coupon. No matter what I'm buying, I always scour the web for the best deals before making a decision. Because of this, I've found some of the best ways to save money online. 

If there's been a way to save money when shopping, you better believe this girl *pointing at self* has tried it. There's nothing like the thrill of watching your total drop after all your coupons are added up. These online shopping hacks are sure to save you some serious change!

9 Hacks to Save Money Online

Paribus

Paribus is an amazing feature that takes very little effort from the consumer. If you buy something online, Paribus makes note of it and watches the price for you. If the price drops within a certain time-frame of purchase, Paribus contacts the company and works out a refund for the difference on your behalf!

At first, I didn't even know it was possible to request a refund on a previous purchase. But Paribus nails it with doing all the "heavy lifting" for you. Seriously, this program is like getting free money.

Swagbucks

I've been using Swagbucks for years and have gotten a few hundred dollars in gift cards and Paypal Cash from them. Just by shopping through Swagbucks links, you can easily earn cash back on your online purchases! They even give you more discount options like searching local deals and coupon codes!

Swagbucks is way more than just earning cash back by spending, they also offer options to earn points through completing surveys, watching videos and playing games too! More free money!

Raise.com

Raise is a website that allows you to sell/purchase unwanted gift cards at a discounted price (up to 30% off). Simply look for e-gift cards for the store you're shopping at and purchase the one that fits your needs. The best part is that you're saving money because you purchased the card at a discount, but you can also stack a discount code or coupon for maximum savings!

If you're looking for an easy way to save money online, you won't regret shopping with Raise first. Not only can you buy gift cards at a discounted rate, but you can trade in those gift cards that you won't be using for cash! Don't pass up the opportunity to make a little money!

CamelCamelCamel 

I'd probably admit that 75% off my online shopping happens on Amazon. If you're like me, you'll want to follow this online shopping hack too! CamelCamelCamel is a free Amazon price tracker. All you have to do is add the product you want to track and wait for an email from the site to tell you the price has dropped!

If you think you're getting a good deal on something, use the brand's Price History Charts to track the last 18 months of sales for that product. Knowing the trends helps you to make better shopping decisions. We absolutely love Amazon Prime and I can't recommend getting an account enough!

Honey

Hate browsing the web trying to find the best coupons? Meet Honey. Honey is a browser add-on that makes using coupons simple. Once you download the add-on to your favorite browser, simply shop as normal and then Honey will automatically add the best coupons to your cart for you!

Sometimes sites like this can be a little glitchy. I definitely suggest still doing a little browsing to make sure that the program is giving you the best deal. You may find a better coupon out there. So remember, while these can be time savers, always do a little research to make sure you're not missing out on better deals.

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Pick up in store

I love the convenience of shopping online, but I really hate paying for shipping. I always do my best to get around that part. Whether it's stacking coupons or adding a few filler items to reach my goal, I hardly ever think it okay to pay for shipping.

These days, a lot of stores offer free store pickup. If free shipping isn't an option, calculate the savings of picking up the item in the store. Stores like Walmart even offer a deeper discount on some items if you pick them up in store!

Stack Coupons

There's definitely an art to finding the best deals online and hacking your way to great savings. If you're feeling lucky, try your hand at stacking coupons. Sites like Khols, Macy's, Target, and Victoria's Secret allow you to stack different types of coupons. Take advantage of this.

Stacking coupons can be tricky, so you do need to pay attention to the coupon type and the fine print. Try a variety of coupons like a sitewide coupon (like $_ off a $_ purchase or _% off an entire order), category-specific coupons (like _% off Shoes), plus a coupon for free shipping.

Use a credit card for points

I ONLY recommend this option if you have serious self-control. We have a couple credit cards that we use for point purposes only and I love getting cash back on purchases that I already make. The key here is to NEVER carry a balance. Only use your card if you can pay it off each month

Carrying a balance on a credit card can rack up some serious interest charges, not to mention outrageous late fees. Be sure that you stay on top of things, you don't want your rewards to go towards paying these fees and you don't want the fees to be more than your savings.

Ebates or Shop at Home

These three websites are the top of their kind. To put it simply, they reward you a percentage of cash back when using their links to visit websites. It's at no additional cost to you and is the service is absolutely free, which is another money-saving bonus.

I don't have a favorite of these three because I always use the site that offers me the largest cashback percentage. I suggest you do the same. I know that 2 and 3 percent cashback seems minimal, but every little bit counts, right? Those little pennies add up and you'd be surprised at how fast!

Looking for your Online Shopping Hacks Printable Checklist?

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Be sure that you print out this checklist to maximize your savings every single time you shop online! 

For MAX savings:

There's an order to online shopping that I absolutely suggest. By following it, you will get the best bang for your buck and save the most money possible when online shopping. Depending on where you shop, it might not always work, but do your best to follow. Each step serves a purpose, to save money online.

THE ORDER:  Browse around for the best deals, buy gift cards from Raise, shop through a site like Swagbucks, Ebates, or Shop At Home, add any coupons or use Honey, check for shipping deals (free shipping when you spend $_ or free store pickup), use your email attached to your Paribus account, use a credit card.

Do you have any other money-saving hacks when shopping online? What's your best money saving tip? Tell us in the comments below!