Shopping looks different these days. Gone are the early morning Boxing Day bargain hunts and frantic last-minute trips to get your hands on a special item.
But while online shopping has the benefits of avoiding crowds, car parks and queues, the non-stop nature of it can be a bit overwhelming. So we’ve collated some expert tips to help you shop smarter, not harder, and look after both your physical and financial wellbeing while you’re at it.
Wishlist it, then sleep on it
Impulse purchases can be fun. They give us a temporary emotional boost (yay!). But it’s important to be practical even when treating ourselves. Virtual happy hour with friends plus boredom can quickly equal a one-way ticket to buyer’s remorse (boo!). Use your head and your heart.
For example, a discounted oil diffuser from Amazon might be a good impulse purchase for your home office. However, the expensive macrame hammock that looks amazing on Instagram but won’t fit in your flat? Maybe not.
“Our number one tip is to plan ahead,” says Adore Beauty’s acquisition specialist, Tamara Cole. “Use wishlists to prepare all the goodies you want to buy, then you’ll be ready to go when great deals pop up.”
When in doubt, press snooze on it, and see if the purchase seems as important tomorrow.
Know your sale seasons (and your acronyms)
Do you know your Black Friday from your EOFYS? A Click Frenzy compared to a Cyber Monday? Don’t worry if these all sound like gibberish – now’s your chance to learn. Sit down and do your research into upcoming promotions to maximise discounts.
The Iconic’s head of style, Nicole Adolphe, says: “My top tip is to make sure you sign up to newsletters so you are the first to know about any promotions and new-season trends.”
Sit down and do your research into upcoming promotions to maximise discounts.
For those inclined towards organisation and lists, key dates can be compiled alongside potential purchases or loved ones’ birthdays. Take it a step further by getting creative with colour coding! (Look, we all need tiny joys in life, and for some of us, this is obtained from a crisp green highlight on a spreadsheet.)
Set up calendar alerts to remind you of these sales, and don’t forget to plan ahead. Birthdays and special occasions still exist, and these always come around way quicker than we think. If you see that book your sibling has mentioned when it’s on sale: add to cart. The best part of shopping on sale and buying ahead? The smugness, of course! Oh, and the joy of gift giving, in this instance.
See what your bank offers before adding to cart
It’s worth taking a look at what your bank can offer. Many banks can provide useful tips such as budgeting tools or round-up options, as well as free guides to help you assess priorities for saving and spending.
Some banks offer products which include benefits like rewards programs. For example, eligible ANZ cardholders can access Cashrewards Max, a cashback rewards program offered by Cashrewards. Members can enjoy special cashback deals and extra benefits when they shop with a range of retailers including The Iconic, Apple and Uber Eats. You’re probably already shopping at these places, so make sure you’re getting maximum discounts!
Browse the latest offers via Cashrewards Max, add the dress (or the burrito) to cart, checkout using your linked ANZ card, then once approved, withdraw your Cashrewards cashback balance into your bank or PayPal account. Spend it on something else, or save it for a rainy day.
Get your mates involved
Have you ever got to the checkout page of an online store and noticed a little box where you can enter a discount or promo code, and wondered how to get one of these precious gems? It won’t work to mash your face against the keypad, or type GIVEMEDISCOUNTPLEASE (we’ve tried). But what does work, in many cases, is getting your friends involved.
Check to see if the brand offers an incentive for referring your friends.
Cashrewards marketing expert, Grace Alexander, says: “Check to see if the brand offers an incentive for referring your friends, then share the link around before making a purchase.”
Referral codes for online stores are usually mutually beneficial, with both parties receiving a sign-up bonus or discount on future purchases. “Brands also often run special deals that aren’t always displayed on their website,” Alexander says. “So having the Cashrewards browser extension downloaded means you won’t miss out on an available discount.”
Don’t forget to check your confirmation emails too for any referral codes you can pass on. Good shopping karma! Everybody wins!
Check the fine print
Resist the urge to rush through a checkout: could it be more savvy to stock up on more than one shampoo to qualify for free shipping? Many retailers, such as Adore Beauty and Petbarn, offer free or discounted postage for purchases over a certain amount, or two-for-one offers. (The shampoo could be for you or your furry friend.)
Postage rates can vary depending on whether the parcel is sent by standard mail or express courier, so always double-check the options before confirming the sale. It might be worth paying extra to get the item sent that day, but if it’s not urgent, you could save some cash. Remember delayed gratification? It’s a whole thing.
Choose your notifications wisely
The best thing about our phones is that they are tiny, intelligent computers that are always with us. Somehow, this is also the worst thing about them. It means our emails, texts and DMs follow us to bed, to the park … to the bathroom (don’t pretend you don’t take yours in there).
If the constant ping of notifications makes you want to hurl your phone into the sea, remember that you are in control. Don’t let the tiny computer control you! Pick and choose when you want to be notified by apps to prevent late-night awakenings, mid-meeting alerts and mindless purchases. You can always set it to Do Not Disturb after a certain time, switch on night mode and tell everyone you’re living off the grid. Well, until tomorrow morning.
Learn more about how to become a savvier shopper with Cashrewards Max.
A quick guide to Cashrewards Max
Get access to special cashback deals and extra benefits by becoming a Cashrewards Max member. Sign up today and score a $10* sign-up bonus.
Simply:
- Sign up to Cashrewards.com.au.
- Link your eligible ANZ debit or credit card.
- Shop on Cashrewards Max with your linked ANZ card.
- Spend a minimum of $20 within seven days of signing up and a $10 cashback bonus will be added to your Cashrewards account.
*T&Cs apply.
Consider your own objectives, financial situation and needs before making a sign-up decision, because they are not taken into account in this information.
*To be eligible for the sign up bonus you must be a new Cashrewards member and have made an individual qualifying transaction of $20 or more through Cashrewards within 7 days of joining.
Cashrewards Max is offered by Cashrewards and not ANZ. Cashrewards Max members may access higher cashback offers and faster cashback approvals for selected retailers, compared to the standard Cashrewards program. A Cashrewards account is not an ANZ account. ANZ business credit cards and ANZ business debit cards are ineligible for membership to Cashrewards Max. T&Cs apply.
