As I was sitting here ordering those gifts, I thanked my lucky stars for the ability to shop online. First off, it saves me from having to wrangle my kids in a store. When we do go out shopping, it is usually after a long day at school, and between being hungry and tired, my kids just don't want to shop. If we're shopping for a birthday present and have to go look at toys, well just forget about it. Between Bryce wanting to "beep" everything, and Rylie wanting to buy everything for herself, it can make what should have been a quick trip turn into hours of "don't touch that" or "no you can't have that now, maybe Santa will bring that to you". Don't get me wrong, my kids aren't holy terrors in the store like some kids can be, but they are kids, and kids like to touch stuff.
The other great thing about shopping online is the ability to make sure you are getting the lowest price. There is no way I have time to run from store to store to figure out which one has the lowest price on the item I am trying to buy. Who does? When I shop online, I can do a quick search to find out where I will get the best price. I don't stop there, though. Once I find the website with the best price, I always look for additional discount codes on sites like CouponCodes4U. These sites rely on consumers to share coupon codes that they find, in order to provide the best discounts for the rest of us. I can either search for a particular merchant site, or I can search for the product brand I am looking for.
For example, if we have a birthday party to go to for one of Bryce's friends, I will think about what Bryce is playing with a lot lately and set out to purchase something similar for his friend. Since his most recent obsession is Legos, I will search around online for different Lego sets to try and find the lowest price. Before I order anything I will see if there is a lego coupon available online, either for the merchant I found the best price at, or for that brand in general.
I can usually find discount codes for most online merchants for a percentage off, or a free gift with purchase, but at the very least, I am almost always able to find a Free Shipping code. As a general rule, I refuse to pay for shipping when I shop online. Depending on how the shipping is calculated, you could end up paying double for your purchase when you add in shipping. If I cannot get free shipping at the merchant with the cheapest price, I will most likely make my purchase from a website where I can.
I'm not the most frugal person out there, but I like a good deal just like everyone else. When it comes to online shopping, I know how to find those deals, and I definitely always look!
What about you? Are you an online shopper, or do you still prefer to browse around traditional brick and mortar stores? How do you find the best deals?
5 comments:
A little "comment luv" - I appreciate the shopping excursions with little one's hands flying everywhere and can see where shopping online is a life-saver. When I was raising my family of 5, we didn't have the choice to shop online. It was either to go town, go to the next town, or order from the Sears or Speigal catalog. I chose the catalog most of the time.
Totally agree! I have 3 small kids, and last year I did almost all of my shopping for presents online, huge help.
We do a lot of shopping online also and I'm with you on the shipping thing. In fact, I have paid to become the member on Amazon then look for items that I can get the free shipping with. Life is just so much easier than it use to be way back when mine were smaller. I'd be the one dragging them wherever I went and...well...you know how that can be.
Sandy VanHoey
It's strange to realize that not so long ago I was afraid of internet shopping and I thought those who did shop online were reckless and crazy...
...and now? Now I cannot imagine life without it. Even living in a large metropolitan area (where just about any/everything is available) - other than food/groceries - we do most of our shopping online.
I should add, for the most part - our online shopping experiences have been largely satisfactory - and often quite a bit better than shopping the old fashioned way!
(Jesselyn A/Jesstinger)
jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com
A little "Comment Luv"
I've gotten so bad about 'brick and mortar's stores that I even hate to go to the post office to mail something! (I had no idea what stamps cost today.) The only stores I frequent are gardening centers and the grocery - pretty much everything else I buy online.
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