Shopping Online? Does It Cost You Or Save You?
As I head into the holiday season I am thinking about just how easy it is to buy online. To shop in a store, I have to be in the mood. When shopping online, I can shop in ANY mood (and in my pajamas with no makeup on!) Shopping online is easy for me. One of the reasons I justify my many Amazon purchases is because they “save me money.” My husband doesn’t really believe this as he gathers my many packages from the porch and breaks down my boxes on recycling day. So, does shopping online cost you more money or save you money in the long run?
The Threat Of Instant Gratification – Shopping Online
I love to listen to podcasts. It is one of my favorite things to do while getting ready or driving to work. Unlike 10 years ago, I can listen to a podcast and on that same device click a link and have the product they recommended shipped to me for free in two days or less…what the?? Wow. It is pretty amazing when I think that through. It also means I have three cookbooks on my end table that I have very little time to truly absorb.
“Back in the day” (and no, I am not even that old) I would have had to right down the author’s name, make a trip to Barnes and Noble (remember them?) or Target, locate the book and make my purchase. Meaning that there were times it didn’t happen. Destination shopping or shopping in a brick and mortar store is a natural obstacle that gives you time to think through a purchase. That barrier has now been removed for us all.
Subscribe “And Save” – Shopping Online
This is one of the ways that online shopping can save me money. The key is to take the time to price check items you need (toilet paper, hand soap etc) and look for the lowest price. When you find the lowest price online there is usually a way to automate your purchase to come on a schedule and they give you an additional discount. Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon all offer this.
Of course shopping online can be convenient, and sometimes that is worth the price. I also find items online that I would normally have to travel to special shops for or go way out of my way (raw organic cacao anyone?) This is another case in which shopping online is worth it to me, even if it isn’t always the cheapest.
Balance Is Best – Shopping Online
As with anything in life, balance is key. Sometimes I really enjoy taking a couple of hours to walk through the mall, buy a latte, browse around. Nothing beats being able to see, touch and experience the items you are looking for. However, more and more I find myself searching for that perfect item online in the comfort of my own home. Every once in a while I owe myself a reality check that every time I want to search, click and buy an item that comes to mind, I should stop and think it through. The important thing is staying in control of your shopping habits down main street and in cyber space.