5-minute guide to online bargains

For shopping options, it's hard to beat the Web. But it can seem overwhelming when you're trying to find the best deal. These 20 tips can improve your chances of success
Do your research

A good deal rarely falls into your lap. You have to look for it. And there's no better place to hunt for bargains than the Web.

The key word is "hunt." According to the experts, it's best to continually check prices. Don't wait until the last minute.

Start with shopping sites such as MSN Shopping and price-comparison search engines like Shopping.com and MySimon to get an idea of what a product is selling for. Using Microsoft's Live Search can also net you savings with its cashback program. (For more, see "The Web's best shoppers.")

Then let sites like Dealnews, MyBargainBuddy and Slickdeals do some of the research for you. They scan the Web for sale and clearance items and pair them with coupon codes, rebates and other discounts.

A good deal rarely falls into your lap. You have to look for it. And there's no better place to hunt for bargains than the Web.

The key word is "hunt." According to the experts, it's best to continually check prices. Don't wait until the last minute.
For shopping options, it's hard to beat the Web. But it can seem overwhelming when you're trying to find the best deal. These 20 tips can improve your chances of success.

Do your own price comparisons, too: Open multiple windows and shop two or more sites at once until you land the best deal.

Where to beware

• Remember that online sites try various strategies to get you to spend more money. Easy checkout pages make the process less intimidating, and customer reviews encourage you to feel more comfortable buying from the site.
  
• Sites that look expensive generally are. Although aesthetically pleasing, those sites tend to have higher prices than sites that offer a simpler shopping experience. Why should you pay for their fancy Web page?

Be flexible

• Shop for the next season or the season just past, not the one that's just started. For instance, in spring, watch for staples such as black suits at clearance prices, and look to buy air conditioners in winter.

• If you're flexible on travel, you'll find last-minute booking deals, but you need to know when to jump. Hotels tend to get cheaper as the date nears and they want to fill their rooms, for example, but rental car prices tend to be higher in the week before.

• You might have a brand preference, but don't let that get in the way of a rebate or coupon making a similar product more affordable.

Limit spending

• Load a gift card for your favorite department store with a specific amount of money and use it to shop. That way, you don't pay interest, and it limits impulse buying.

• Buy items used at online auctions, such as eBay, and from Craigslist ads.

• Sometimes, free really does mean free, including free online music, credit reports and samples.

Shop locally

Local merchants may have good prices, too, without shipping costs and with easy returns. But you can still come out ahead if you research online first.

• Check out ShopLocal.com to find deals at stores in your area or use an online coupon organizer such as The Coupon Mom or The Grocery Game, which organize coupons by state or local area.

• Use the Web to find garage sales in your area and plan your Saturday morning attack. Many newspapers post listings online, and other Web sites try to help sellers ramp up foot traffic by allowing them to post information about their events.

• Go to Shopping.com or a similar Web site for the lowest price, print it out, and take it with you to a store to bargain.

• Ask retailers whether they accept competitors' coupons. It can't hurt to ask.

• Don't buy when you need an item; buy when it's at its lowest price. That's where shopping on a regular basis comes in.

• Retailers often drop prices about three weeks after the coupons come out, so don't use your coupons too soon.

Shop safely

Buying online offers convenience, but it also adds risks. You're paying upfront without directly seeing or trying on merchandise, and you're potentially opening yourself up to identity theft. Here are some ways to reduce the risk:

• Go with brands and Web sites you know.
• Make sure you are dealing with a secure site. When you go to enter payment information, you should see "https://" at the top of your screen where the Web address is displayed. The "s" after "http" indicates the site is secure. You may also want to call the company to ask about its privacy policy.
• Don't send money to a site that doesn't have a physical address or a phone number for customer service.
• Pay with a credit card. If you have an unauthorized charge, your liability is limited to $50.
• Never provide personal or financial information to unsolicited requests.
• Trust your instincts. If you don't feel comfortable or if you feel pressured, log off and rethink your plan.

Finally, remember that it's easy to get caught up finding good deals on stuff you don't really need. It's a bargain only if you can afford it and will use it.