Centsible Life

Helping Women Live Healthier, Happier, and Wealthier

  • Home
  • All Posts
  • About
    • Disclosure
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
  • Health
  • Money
    • Make Money from Home
    • What To Buy Series
  • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Food
    • Menu Plans
    • Recipes
  • Personal Posts
  • Travel
  • Work With Me

How To Use Technology For Holiday Shopping

November 26, 2009 By Kelly 1 Comment

I talked about making a list, and staying organized, but I also have a ton of tips on how to use technology for holiday shopping to save money and keep you from getting scammed. The info was shared via two online conferences I recently attended. The experts who shared their expertise were:

Bank of America “Shop, Save and Be Tech Savvy” experts:

  • Omar Wasow: tech guru,internet analyst, founder of BlackPlanet.com
  • Michele Madhok: deal finder, founder of SheFinds.com and MomFinds.com.

Global Influence video conference experts:

  • Scott Silverman from the National Retail Federation, and Shop.org
  • Beth Jordan from AVG


How To Be Tech Savvy When Shopping

Here’s a synopsis of the tips these experts shared about using technology for holiday shopping.

Use apps to find deals:

  • Red Laser: scan any UPC code and find the cheapest price for that item online
  • Yowza: find coupons and discounts for retailers nationwide (note: I haven’t been able to find many deals in my area, but it’s a promising app)
  • your bank’s site: keep track of your spending, and pay bills while on the go
  • Mint.com: to keep track of your budget

Follow your fav brands: follow your favorite brands for discounts, special offers, and giveaways.Ways you can follow:

  • twitter: some retailers even have  special twitter sale accounts
  • facebook: become a fan, join discussions, and keep an eye out for giveaways
  • email newsletters: use your sale mail account, or a filter so you aren’t tempted to buy when it’s not in your budget
  • apps: Many retailers now have apps, some offer special discounts via their apps.
  • contact the company: Love a product, and want to tell everyone you meet about it? Contact the company and tell them! They may be willing to send you coupons, or even free products.

Set up price alerts: since you know what you are shopping for already, set up alerts for when those items go on sale. Sites you can use:

  • sales.com
  • pricespider.com
  • shopstyle.com


Comparison shop online: Even if you find a better deal in a brick and mortar store, doing  a little research will let you know when you’ve truly found a good deal.

  • SheFinds.com
  • Shopping.com
  • Pronto.com
  • FreeShipping.org

Use your resources to find discounts.

Bank of America has Add it Up which saves you up to 20% at online retailers. Other cards offer discounts on various retailers. Or you can shop for the extra points whether you have a cashback card or a card that rewards you with frequent flier miles. RetailMeNot offers discounts and coupon codes.

For special deals from retailers

On Cyber Monday, go to CyberMonday.com and find a plethora of deals to choose from. Some retailers are starting their online sales now, so be sure to check them before CyberMonday as well.

Stay safe when you shop:

  • Know your retailers.
  • Uuse ripoff report or the BBB to find scam sites
  • Look for httpS:// when you are on the payment page
  • Use this opportunity to update virus protection software before you shop. AVG offers free downloads of virus scan and link scan.

All these tips were provided to me to share with my readers, and I did not receive compensation for writing this post. I have not used all the sites above, so please use your own judgement.

Do you have any tips about how you use technology for holiday shopping? I’d love to read them in the comments!

Kelly


Unique Gifts from Hammacher

Holiday Shopping Guide 2009

  • I don’t do Black Friday: This is my 1st post in the series. I talk about why I don’t shop for “deals” on Black Friday.
  • How to spend smarter this holiday season: my 1st of 2 guest posts over at Consumerism Commentary. I cover ways to spend less, including handmaking gifts and decreasing your shopping list. Please head over and leave me a comment. ?
  • Shopping Lists: How to craft a shopping list for holiday gift giving.
  • Photo Gifts and Giveaway: Photos are one of my favorite gifts to give!
  • Crocs: Yes some of them are hideous, but some of them are adorable, and so comfy too. Crocs is offering 10% off and free shipping through the holidays.
  • Posh Gifts for Less: and a $10 bonus for signing up with Rue La La. They are also offering free shipping after your first order.
  • Free photo book: Offer may still be valid.
  • Restaurant.com Coupon Code: These make a great gift for someone you want to spend more time with, or a supplement for a gift certificate.

About Kelly


Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

  • View all posts by Kelly →
  • Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+

Share:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Holiday, Shopping Tagged With: holiday gift guide, holiday shopping guide, holidays, Shopping


Trackbacks

  1. How To Save on Christmas Gifts {Guest Post} - Centsible Life says:
    May 13, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    […] Learn more: How To Use Technology For Holiday Shopping […]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pinterest
INSTAGRAM
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Follow by Email
RSS

Hi! I'm Kelly Whalen, writer, frugality expert, debt slayer, and money nerd. Welcome to the Centsible Life, my corner of the internet, where I help women live happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. My goal is to help you save time + money, so you can spend both how you want.

Want to know more about me and learn how Centsible Life has helped readers like you? Click here.

As seen on:

Top Posts & Pages

  • Owl Paper Roll Craft
    Owl Paper Roll Craft
  • 50 Activities For Kids When There Is No School
    50 Activities For Kids When There Is No School
  • Sleepaway Camp Tips and Packing List
    Sleepaway Camp Tips and Packing List
  • LEGO Friendship Bracelets
    LEGO Friendship Bracelets
  • Spray Paint Closet Door Makeover for $21
    Spray Paint Closet Door Makeover for $21
  • 13 Money-Saving Tips Infographic
    13 Money-Saving Tips Infographic
  • Working Parent’s Guide To Snow Days
    Working Parent’s Guide To Snow Days
  • How to Create a Disney World Surprise Word Puzzle and Riddle
    How to Create a Disney World Surprise Word Puzzle and Riddle
  • Free Printable Game Day Paper Chain
    Free Printable Game Day Paper Chain
  • DIY Cardboard Box Lap Tray
    DIY Cardboard Box Lap Tray

Archives

Categories

Copyright © 2022 ·Metro Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.