The key to saving big when shopping online

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December is a fun month, one spent mostly outside and over beautiful food with family and friends. It’s also a month where spending – and money stress – is at an all-year high. But there are simple ways to reduce the strain without skimping.
Author and financial planner, Canna Campbell, takes advantage of yearly sales like Black Friday (November 27), which are a chance to nab gifts or party essentials at big discounts before Boxing Day.
There is a caveat, of course – Campbell purchases items that she was going to buy regardless.
“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are brilliant opportunities to save money on items that I actually need to buy anyway,” she says.
According to the Cashrewards Online Shopping Survey, shoppers are delaying spending for online sales days this year with almost a third saying they’ll be more bargain conscious due to COVID-19 related uncertainties.
Here are two expert-approved tips to reduce financial stress and stack your savings.
We all know that if you’re on a budget, you don’t go to the supermarket hungry. Similarly, hitting up sales without a clear list of the items you need leaves you vulnerable to the thrill of a ‘good deal’. It just takes a little planning.
“Before jumping online, I always have a list of what I need as well as any events that I need to plan and buy items for,” explains Campbell.
“With Christmas approaching, I will be using these online sales to help me be more organised with my gift purchases and planning for entertaining at my home over the holiday period.
“This includes buying things in bulk like wine, as well as kids gifts and decorations. Plus, getting in early helps me budget these expenses into my cash flow and takes a lot of pressure and stress off my shoulders.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to piggyback sales for added value. Programs like Cashrewards are brilliant for this.
Cashrewards is an award-winning, Aussie platform that partners with over 1500 major brands to give you cashback when you spend online or in-store with your linked card. How? They share the commission they get from brands with you.
When coupled with sales like Black Friday, it allows you to capitalise on big discounts, where the money spent actually gives your bank account a cash boost.
Campbell is a fan of this cherry-on-top tactic.
“I go a step further with my holiday spend planning and always ensure that any purchases that I make online go through Cashrewards, so that I always collect my cashback on my shopping. It also allows me to see if there are any additional coupons or discounts available on top of the sale prices,” Campbell explains.
“It’s one of my favourite cash hustling hacks.”
With cashback rates on cult favourite brands, you could get an unbeatable deal in the upcoming Black Friday sales using Cashrewards, including: Apple up to 8% cashback; Forever New and Rebel up to 10%; Lululemon, Bonds and Surfstitch 10%; Uniqlo up to 15%, and Kiehls up to 20%.
But there’s another rewarding element – Cashrewards donate one percent of business equity and one percent of the cashback you redeem to the Starlight Foundation, helping sick kids and their families.
Brands get more customers, you get cashback on purchases and the charity gets more donations. Wins all round – and less holiday spending stress.
The Cashrewards app or browser extension makes it easy to keep track of promotions, and you even receive a $20 sign-up bonus when you spend $20 within 30 days of joining.