How To Save Money When You Shop Online
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Shopping online offers convenience and a wide range of choices, but it can also lead to overspending if you’re not strategic. Fortunately, there are several effective tools and techniques available to UK consumers that can significantly reduce the cost of online purchases. From cashback platforms such as TopCashback to smart coupon browser extensions, this guide outlines the best ways to save money when shopping online in the UK.
It’s no secret that we lovd to shop and that’s why it’s important to look for the best ways to save money when you shop online and we have some handy tips and tricks that will make sure you don’t spend full price, because everyone loves a discount.
1. Use Cashback Platforms like TopCashback
One of the most effective ways to save money online is through cashback websites. TopCashback is a UK-based cashback site that allows users to earn a percentage of their spending back when they shop via the platform.
How It Works:
- Create a free account at www.topcashback.co.uk.
- Search for a retailer you want to shop with (e.g. Argos, Boots, Currys, ASOS, Just Eat).
- Click the retailer’s link from the TopCashback website to be redirected to the store.
- Complete your purchase as normal.
- Cashback is tracked and credited to your TopCashback account, typically within a few days.
- Once confirmed, you can withdraw your cashback via bank transfer, PayPal, or as gift cards (which often come with bonus value).
Personally, we love to take out the money we earn and turn it into vouchers. Our favourite vouchers to get are Amazon and B&M, with B&M being one of our favourite stores and you can top up on anything you need and have a little splurge. The last amount we took out was £88.
However, you can take this out as a bank transfer as well and it really comes in handy when it’s time to do the Christmas shopping and what’s better, you can use the money you earn in TopCashBack on Christmas gifts and get even more cashback with that!
Advantages:
- Covers thousands of UK retailers, including fashion, travel, insurance, and broadband providers.
- Offers frequent bonus promotions and payout boosts.
- Includes a browser extension for quick access to cashback alerts (see below).
2. Install Coupon Browser Extensions
Coupon browser extensions are free tools that automatically search for and apply the best discount codes when you check out online. These tools take the hassle out of manually looking for promo codes.
Recommended Coupon Extensions for UK Shoppers:
Pouch
- Designed specifically for the UK market.
- Automatically applies voucher codes at checkout.
- Works with hundreds of UK retailers including Tesco, Very, M&S, and New Look.
Honey (by PayPal)
- Widely used and compatible with global and UK retailers.
- Finds and applies available voucher codes.
- Offers a price-tracking feature and user reward programme called Honey Gold.
Coupert
- Offers both coupon codes and cashback.
- Alerts users when better prices or offers are available.
- Tracks price history for select items, useful for Amazon UK shoppers.
How to Use:
- Install the extension via your browser’s extension store (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
- Browse your favourite online shops as normal.
- At checkout, the extension will automatically test and apply the best available promo codes.
- If successful, the discount is applied directly to your basket.
These extensions work well in combination with cashback platforms. Just make sure you click through the coupon extensions first and then TopCashback before making your purchase to still get the cashback.
Browser extensions are great because it saves time going to a website, and you are less likely to forget that it’s there if it’s pinned onto your browser. A lot of times, as well you will get notified if there are codes that you can use and if the website accepts TopCashBack, so they are well worth installing.
3. Stack Discounts for Maximum Savings
To get the best possible deal, use multiple savings techniques together. This is known as “stacking.”
Example Strategy:
- Visit the retailer’s site via TopCashback to activate cashback.
- Use a coupon browser extension to apply any valid promo codes at checkout.
- Time your purchase during a sale (e.g. Black Friday, end-of-season clearance).
- Pay with a rewards credit card that offers cashback or loyalty points.
By combining these methods, your total savings can be substantial. For instance, on a £100 purchase, you might get a 20% seasonal discount, a 10% coupon code, 5% cashback through TopCashback, and 1% in credit card rewards—reducing your effective cost to less than £70.
Although this is a great way to save more money you’ll find that the amount of websites that let you do this is rare. However, we very much suggest using the coupon websites and then applying TopCashBack before you checkout.
4. Sign Up for Newsletters and Loyalty Programmes
Many UK retailers offer incentives to first-time subscribers to their newsletters. These include discounts, early access to sales, and exclusive voucher codes.
- Newsletter Discounts: Retailers like H&M, River Island, and Dunelm often provide 10–15% off for signing up.
- Loyalty Programmes: Programmes such as Boots Advantage Card, Tesco Clubcard, and Superdrug Health & Beautycard reward regular shoppers with points, exclusive deals, and personalised offers.
Tip: Use a dedicated email address for promotional subscriptions to avoid cluttering your personal inbox. Otherwise your emails may get lost and you’ll miss out on amazing discounts. We advise signing up for websites you use often and know are on TopCashBack to maximise your success of getting discounts when shopping online.
5. Use the Abandoned Basket Technique
If you’re not in a rush to buy, this technique can earn you additional discounts.
How to Do It:
- Add items to your basket on a retailer’s website while logged into your account.
- Exit the site without completing the purchase.
- Wait 24 to 48 hours.
- Check your inbox for a follow-up email, which may include a discount code or an incentive to complete the order (e.g. free shipping).
Retailers such as ASOS, Schuh, and Urban Outfitters are known to use this tactic. It also works well on websites such as Etsy and eBay when independant sellers want to maximise their sales and use this as a tactic to do just that.
6. Compare Prices Before You Buy
Price comparison is essential to ensure you are not overpaying. Use comparison tools or websites that are focused on the UK market.
Useful Price Comparison Tools:
- Google Shopping UK – Aggregates prices from different retailers for the same product.
- PriceSpy UK – Offers detailed price comparison and price history tracking for electronics and more.
- Idealo UK – Compares prices across hundreds of UK retailers.
Some browser extensions also alert you if a product you’re viewing is available for less elsewhere.
It’s also important to keep in mind that Black Friday sales aren’t always what they seem. Amazon for example are known to inflate their prices weeks before the Black Friday event and then make it look as though they have slashed their prices. If there is something you want to buy then keep an eye on the price to make sure you’re getting an actual discount.
7. Take Advantage of Special Discounts (Students, NHS, etc.)
Several groups in the UK are eligible for exclusive discounts.
- Students: Use UNiDAYS and Student Beans to get discounts on clothing, technology, and more.
- NHS and Emergency Services: Blue Light Card provides discounts for NHS staff, police, fire service, and armed forces.
- Workplace Schemes: Some employers offer staff discount programmes via platforms such as Perkbox or Reward Gateway.
Always check if your occupation or student status qualifies you for extra savings. There used to be a time when you could sign up for a student account and get money off or even 6 months free Amazon Prime, however the check are more invasive now and it doesn’t work and can result in your accounts being banned.
8. Shop During Key UK Sales Events
Timing your purchases around major sales events can help you secure products at significantly reduced prices.
Notable UK Sale Periods:
- Boxing Day and January Sales (post-Christmas clearance deals)
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday (late November)
- Mid-season Sales (March/April and September/October)
- Amazon Prime Day (exclusive to Prime members, typically in July)
- Back to School / Back to Uni Promotions (August–September)
Combine sale prices with cashback and discount codes for maximum effect. If there are items that you want, keep an eye on them and add them into a list to make sure you are actually getting a discount and the prices haven’t just been inflated to make it look like there’s a huge discount, this isn’t always the case.
Final Thoughts
Saving money while shopping online in the UK is entirely achievable with the right tools and strategies. By using cashback platforms like TopCashback, installing coupon browser extensions such as Pouch and Honey, and taking advantage of loyalty programmes and seasonal sales, you can consistently reduce your online shopping expenses.
For best results:
- Always check for cashback opportunities first.
- Use browser extensions to find hidden discounts.
- Combine offers for stacked savings.
- Time your purchases wisely.
These habits can lead to significant savings over time without compromising on the quality of your purchases. You might think it takes too long to worry about it all but when you have £200 in TopCashBack at the end of the year and can use it for Christmas shopping, it makes a huge difference!
