I was one mistake away from saving 89% while shopping online recently. All the tools, discounts, and rebates were available to me, but I flat out dropped the ball. I’m about as thrifty as they come, so I was kicking myself for not getting that last discount. Granted, I still saved 76%, and truthfully it was pretty easy.

No, I didn’t have to learn Extreme Couponing, or poach a Prime Day deal at 3am, or suplex throw someone’s gram-gram across Younkers for a Black Friday sale. I’m not that motivated or malicious. I did, however, pocket a handful of super reliable online shopping tools over the last year. Not only do I think I’ll be able to repeat this level of savings, but I feel confident anyone can too!

Looking back, I could have skimmed through the website, filled my online shopping cart, and carelessly entered my credit card information. But doing that would have kept my bill at $70 for a pair of dress shoes. What I really ended up paying was $17… and it should have been even less.

Here’s how.

Cashback Credit Card

This past fall I finally decided to get a second credit card. For years I had relied on my Discover It. The card has been useful, but the brand isn’t accepted everywhere, especially at small businesses. So after searching for more hours than I’d like to admit, I eventually signed up for the PayPal Cashback Mastercard.

This credit card is top-notch for boosting shopping discounts. It gives 2% cashback on any purchase, and the rewards are unlimited. I use the card for just about everything.  I’m on track to save $360 in 2020, all just from the cashback rebates.

For this purchase, the PayPal card saved me $0.36. Yup… 36 cents. I know it sounds pitiful, but bear with me. The cashback is only this low because the final sale price was $17.99 (due to all the other savings).

Hey, every bit counts.

Rebates from Rakuten

The next tool that saved me money on this purchase was Rakuten. This savings app is one of the most convenient platforms I’ve come across. Formerly called Ebates, Rakuten is a shopping rewards site that focuses on cashback.

It’s incredibly easy to use. Just create an account, and add the Rakuten Cash Back Button to your web browser. When you visit a site that is partnered with Rakuten, an automatic pop-up will prompt you to activate the savings.

When you make a purchase, the cashback will be credited to your account. Every three months Rakuten will send you a check, or you can use a PayPal account to collect the rewards. That’s it!

I created my Rakuten account a little over two months ago. I haven’t received my first check yet, but so far there is over $70 in my wallet.

With Rakuten, I was able to get another 6% off this online purchase. Again, since the discount was based on the final sale price, the rebate totaled just $1.08.

Save on Shipping

I avoid shipping costs like the plague. For whatever reason, it seems like such a waste. So when a site offers free delivery, I take full advantage. Places like Amazon, Wayfair, and Walmart all waive shipping fees when an order minimum is met. Sometimes it can be as low as $25.

Unfortunately, I didn’t spend enough to qualify for free shipping. But I wasn’t totally out of luck. Many retailers also have free in-store pickup. I bought these shoes from Kohl’s, and there was a store 8 minutes from my house. It was a quick trip that saved me $8.95 in shipping costs. Easy money!

Coupons using Honey and Wikibuy

Honey and Wikibuy have been a part of my tool belt for roughly a year. These sites provide a constant stream of savings, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. Similar to Rakuten, Honey and Wikibuy are free browser extensions, but instead of giving cashback rebates, they apply promo codes straight to your purchase.

These apps will also scan the internet for better prices. Within a couple of clicks, you’ll have the best deal around. Both sites offer loyalty programs too. Frequent shoppers will earn points for using the app. The points can be cashed in for gift cards at a number of popular retailers, like Amazon or Target.

Honey and Wikibuy require almost zero effort. During my online checkout, I activated the search and within seconds two coupons were applied to the order. I saved $12 instantly!

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