What is comparison shopping and what does it imply?
Fortunately, in today’s world, we have the opportunity to choose where to buy our groceries, home goods, and everything else. Comparison shopping is also beneficial for your wallet! In these harsh times of the rise of inflation and such, it’s still important to buy what we need but also to save a bit if possible.
In this process of comparison shopping, however, there is one small downside: it’s time-consuming, but as a person who does that regularly, it’s totally worth it. Get the finest bargains online and in stores by following this fantastic guide.
Use the right apps
One of the first golden rules in comparison shopping is to use the appropriate search tools. I suggest doing a Google search first. Thousands of items from several suppliers are available for purchase when you click on the “Shopping” page. To sort the products by price (from the lowest to the most expensive), use the pricing tool. Remember that delivery or shipment may add to the order.
For doing comparison shopping like a pro and getting the most of your favorite items, you can also install extensions for web browsers that check the lowest prices automatically. One of my favorites is Honey.
Besides the almighty Google, you can also use a lot of apps to do comparison shopping. Some of them even reward you for finding savings. I like using ShopSavvy and ScanLife. User-friendly, these apps allow you to plug in the products you are looking for to get the best bargain. Another thing that’s good about these apps is that if you turn on the notifications, they’ll let you know when a certain favorite product goes on sale. Neat, right?
Opt for generic products
There is no surprise that generic brands are always less expensive than the widely known brands. While you may be tempted to say that you want quality, I will stop you right there to tell you that generic brands are not also a bargain, but most of them are kind of the same as the name-brand ones.
Some of the most wanted generic items are paper towels, salt and sugar, rice, flour, and cereals. I’d recommend you carefully inspect the labels to see if there are any differences or just the name.
Always keep an eye on Amazon
Yes, this advice might have been included in the app proposal, but given how helpful it is on its own, I believe it merits mention even on its own. Every time I go to buy something other than groceries (though I am finding that I use it for things too!), I take out my phone and check the pricing on Amazon beforehand. There are times when the price difference amazes me, and for me, honestly, nothing can beat the free Prime shipping.
If you’re an Amazon fan, then you probably know that even the app is user-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about navigating it! The app also makes it simple to quickly check prices in-store to find out whether anything is less expensive there.
When you do comparison shopping don’t neglect the quality of the products
Most people compare prices in an attempt to find the best “deal” and lowest price. The expression “you get what you pay for” may not be unfamiliar to you, but it may be rather accurate when it comes to browsing around for deals. Almost anything that is currently on the market has several less expensive alternatives, but some of them might end up costing you more in the long term.
Always, but always, make sure you compare reviews of other customers of the two products you are debating which one you should buy. I am not joking! Online retailers often mishandle or fail to fulfill orders, so be cautious.
You don’t own a car, and sometimes you find it impossible to carry those shopping bags on your own. No worries! Check out this foldable shopping cart for groceries with wheels and a removable bag available on Amazon for only $49.99.
Double-check the unit price
In the process of doing comparison shopping, make sure you are using the same measurement when you compare the prices from two or three different retailers.
This mostly applies to grocery shopping because, let’s face it, it’s never easy to find the lowest price in the stores. And I think that’s the catch! They have a ton of products available on the shelves; it’s easy to get distracted.
Even though many boxes and packages appear larger in the store, they hold less merchandise because they are packed with air (see Lays). Price alone might not be sufficient to guide your choice. It is recommended to consider cost per ounce, price per unit, or price per ounce. The amount you pay for each item or ounce is displayed here.
Use coupons wisely!
Another valuable hack while you’re doing comparison shopping is using holy coupons. But that doesn’t mean you have to become a tad obsessed with collecting them and hunting them online. Take it easy and coupon wisely; that’s the best way to do it. Then make sure the products you want to buy are going to save you money or not.
If you’re new to this coupon thing, you may be interested in reading Amazing 9 coupon websites that will save you hundreds.
Prioritize only the things that are a must for you
With so many options available just a click away from us, it’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming a shopaholic. But in these harsh times, you don’t want to get there; trust me! It’s crucial to comprehend the main features offered and how they affect the pricing if you’re not shopping for something particular but rather for a more general necessity like a new TV, a new automobile, a new streaming service, and so on.
Let’s take this as an example: when searching for a winter coat, it’s important to see what you consider most valuable to you, such as warmth, materials, style, color, etc., and to use that information to direct your search.
When doing comparison shopping, try to focus on what you need at this moment, no matter if it’s on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or any other discount day. Never settle for less just because it’s “cheaper,” because, in the end, you can end up paying more if you buy something that’s of poor quality. Shop wisely!
In the end, you must stick to your financial goals
If you got to this point of the article, you probably understood the fact that you may stretch your budget and save money on goods by doing comparison shopping. Think about allocating the money you saved toward your financial objectives to get the most out of it. For instance, you can open a savings account and add everything you saved on purchases, or you can add the money to your retirement savings, or you can consider finally going to that particular destination you have dreamed about for years now.
The friendliest advice I can give you is to save your money only for the things that matter and stop overspending. I hope you will use my advice from the article whenever you’re about to start comparison shopping.
Until next time!
Are you looking for more shopping advice? We’ve got you covered! Here at The Price Makers, we’re the masters of wise shopping. That’s why today’s recommendation is 6 Amazing Online Shopping Hacks to Save Hundreds of Dollars.
