You can save much time and effort by shopping on the internet as well as getting the widest choice of goods and services. However there are risks and you need to take care with what you are buying, where you are buying it from and how you pay.
Prior to the Internet, unless you used mail order, you were limited to the range and prices of goods in the stores around your home. Now not only can you buy competitively from anywhere in the world, 24 x 7, but also normally cheaper than shopping on the high street.
When you are buy something on the internet, by mail order or phone, this is known as distance selling.
A guide detailing the information you should receive when you buy in this way and the additional rights that you have to cancel a distance sale, can be found at MoneyHelper.
A guide with top tips to reduce the cost of buying online is availableat this link.
Online Shopping Risks
Of course, there are some risks that come with shopping online, too.
Although identity theft is more common in the real world, it still happens online pretty frequently, as does credit card fraud. So staying safe while you’re shopping online is paramount.
For more information on Identity Theft go to the MyAdviceGateway page Identity Theft & Fraud.
For a detailed explanation and guide to safe shopping online including the risks involved and how to avoid them, go to:
Voucher Codes
Many online retailers offer voucher codes which quickly and easily take money off your bill.
Information on the latest voucher codes is available at the following links:
Further information on Vouchers, Deals and Cashback can be found at the MAG page Saving Money on Shopping
Cashback Sites
There are also a growing number of cash back sites which, as the name suggests, earn you cashback.
Whenever you want to make a purchase, check to see if the particular retailer is listed on a cash back website, such as Money Saving Expert, and if it is, click on the affiliate link shown. This will take you through to the retailer's site, where you can make your purchase as usual from the retailer. The retailer pays the cash back site for introducing you as a customer, and the cash back site passes a cash back payment onto you.
Guides to using the top cashback sites, along with some serious warnings to make sure you protect yourself, are available at the following links:
You can also earn up to an extra 5% on top using a Cashback credit card.
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