Convenience of Shopping Online makes it harder to Save Money.

Online shopping is the ultimate convenience. Being able to shop from the comfort of your home instead of battling with the crowds on a Saturday afternoon can save you time and a significant amount of stress.

Instead of trawling around the shopping centre you can relax as you browse through online brochures, casually add products to your shopping basket and pay for everything at the end with ultimate ease.

Too easy?

Of course this is where the problem lies in when it comes to sticking to a budget and saving money. The ease and simplicity of the online proposition means that shopping doesn't feel as 'real' as it does when you do it in person. Whereas on the high street the physical act of carrying your chosen goods reminds you how much you're planning to buy, when shopping online it's all too easy to click 'add to basket' and build up your total spend. Online retailers are also very savvy when it comes to tempting visitors to buy more. Purchasing histories are often stored and used to present customers with special offers and products that they know they are more likely to buy.

Online returns?

Customers are far less likely to return unsuitable or unwanted goods when shopping online. With items that have been purchased in a physical store there is usually a clear return and refund policy in place. Customers know exactly what they need to do to get a refund or exchange as the procedure is generally the same from store to store. Taking unwanted goods back to a shop might be a pain, but it is an established and accepted part of high street shopping.

When buying over the internet however, the process for returning unwanted items becomes far less clear. Different websites have different policies, most of which will involve filling out forms and taking parcels to the post office. Working out what to do can be confusing and sheer inertia means that many online purchases are never returned whether they are actually suitable or not.

The solutions

Although it is easy to fall into a trap of over-spending on the internet, shopping online can offer massive savings if you follow a few easy tips. The first trick is to take advantage of the many discount and voucher codes that are available. Another good tip is to buy online via a cashback site - simply clicking through from your account will give you a percentage saving on your total spend. Try to stick to a budget and be ruthless about what you are spending your money on. Be clear too about refund policies and consider whether they are simple enough for you to use them should the item turn out to be unsuitable. Many larger stores offer a free collect at store option which allows you to return goods to a physical store - this can be a good way to save time and money if you happen to live nearby.