Save Money When You Buy Online

Last couple of years there has been a surge in buying products online and with more power in Technology sector, this trend will only increase in coming years.

We all love to buy online. It adds more to our happiness when we see discounts on our favorite products and save few bucks (kind of a "high five" moment, isn't it ?).

Do you know there are few money saving hacks that one can apply to buy products at much cheaper price. if you are a frequent online shopper, you can make a killing by applying these hacks.

I've see people buy online now and then. It has become a modern day religion to buy stuff online.

Imagine how helpful it will be for parents who end up paying lot on baby products in first few years of infancy. I know the hole diapers, powders and other baby products can make in parent's wallet.

So here are few tricks that you can use to save money while buying products online.

1. Use Price drop alerts through Cheapass:

You can set instant price alerts here if you are panning to buy products online. Mention the URL of the product (taken from ecommerce website) you want to buy and set it up against your email address. You will receive a signup email with details of the product you have set the alert.

Everytime there's a price drop, Cheapass will trigger an alert in your inbox. Open the email and check the product price. if you think this is within your buying range, click on the product and buy the product from respective store.

I use the same cheapass alerts to buy Pampers Newborn to Small, Pampers Active baby and other baby products online.

You can use these alerts for any product which you think has tendency to undergo price reduction.

Tip: Always check the discount you are getting for the alerted product. for eg: Incase of pampers, you will see the discount how much you are getting. for eg: if you have bought pampers newborn to small (46 pack) few days back for 420 and today you are getting it for 407, site will show the discount percentage being offered. Make sure the discount is somewhere between 20-25%. Consider that a fair deal to buy the product. Similarly you can set your own discount margin.

Refer below screenshot.

Just imagine how much money you could save in long run by using these price drop alerts. 

2. Signup on CouponDunia:

If you are planning to buy diapers or any other product online, it's better to visit CouponDunia website first and then gets redirected from there to specific ecommerce website (store).

Signup on CouponDunia and search store wise. Look up for product or product category of your interest.
for eg: if you are planning to buy diapers from Amazon, mouse hover on "Top Stores" in Main navigation bar on CouponDunia website and click on "Amazon". Use (CNTRL+F) to search for "diaper" on the page and once found click on either "Activate Deal" or "Get Code". System will automatically redirect you to Amazon sire wherein you will see all the diapers listed. Select the product you intend to buy, add it to cart and buy the product.

Every purchase done through Coupondunia will fetch you cashback.

You can recharge your mobile using the same cashback or transfer it in your bank account. You can also refer CouponDunia to your friends and earn money.

So next time you plan to purchase any product online, visit CouponDunia first and then gets redirected from there to the respective store.

3. Use Payback points:

You must have seen BigBazaar, ICICI Bank promoting Payback at their outlets / sites, asking customers to signup for free. Next time you come across something like this, signup for it, it's free.

Why you should signup:

First of all, it's free.

If you are an ICICI Bank customer and you have a payback card linked to your bank, every transaction done using your ATM debit card, will fetch you payback points. Now the points credited may not be too high in number but if one keep accumulating them for long duration, you can earn a lot. And thus, you can use the same points to buy products online from various stores. So one must signup for payback.

I generally use my payback points to do shopping on Firstcry.com

Here's a screenshot of payback points i earned (circled in green) using my icici bank's ATM card in last 1.5 years.

I was able to buy 13 boxes of Similac Infant Formula Stage 1 - 400 gm on firstcry without even paying a single rupee from my pocket. Isn't that AWESOME !!!

So next time you do any transaction using your ICICI bank ATM card, make sure your account is linked with an active payback card / account.

You can also mention your payback number or phone number everytime you purchase anything from firstcry. You not only earn points for online transaction using your ICICI bank's netbanking or debit card but also earn payback points for buying the product from firstcry.com, so it's double the bonanza.

4. Dont buy products offline.

If you are getting the product online with hefty discounts and paybacks and cash rewards, dont make efforts buying it offline.

Parents especially, if you ask for Pampers Newborn to small (46 pack) diapers in any chemist store, they will sell it for atleast 450+ to save on their margin. Same product you get online on Amazon at 417 or 407. I have thrice purchased it on Amazon at Rs. 382.

So there's no point of buying products offline.

Also, online saving saves time. Busy parents dont have to go out of the house and can spend more time with kids if they purchase things online.

5. Use Paytm / Mobikwik wallets:

This is my favorite. Use wallets. These wallets generally keep coming up with different offers now and then. Make full use of these offers. for eg: Firstcry has tied up with Paytm & mobikwik that if you transact on their sites using their wallets, the wallet companies will give you money back for the transaction done.

I recently bought formula feed from firstcry using my Mobikwik wallet. I immediately received 150 rupees cashback which i can use it in my next purchase.

You can use these wallets while buying stuff from Bigbasket as well.

You can install the following wallets on your mobile and make full use of them:
Payzapp
Mobikwik
Paytm
Payu
Pockets

6. Subscribe to Store Alerts / Newsletters

One can subscribe to email alerts / newsletters from different stores. Amazon, Firstcry keeps sending emails about various promo codes running every day / week on their site. Using those codes, one can avail great discounts.

7. Install HONEY Chrome Extension

This is a must for all those who generally do online shopping from their desktops instead of mobile. 

Install HONEY chrome extension in your chrome browser and next time you plan to buy any product online and are on Checkout page, click on "Honey" extension in chrome browser, it will search for the best code that can be applied on your cart to make some savings.

I have regularly been applying HONEY recommended codes to save few bucks on babyoye and firstcry sites.

8. Checkout Lightning deals from Amazon

Amazon keeps coming with lightning deals where the product is available only for few minutes at discounted price. Make full use of this opportunity.

I generally buy under Lightning deals in mornings at around 7 IST to get the cheapest products.

9. Buy during Big Billion / Big Bonanza sale

Stores like Amazon / Flipkart keeps coming with big billion / bonanza sale wherein products are available at dead cheap price. Make full use of these. Prepare a list of items to buy and once the sale is ON, make a killing.

These are my money saving hacks which i regularly use to save few bucks. I hope you enjoyed the post.

I would like to know what are your thoughts and views about these and if missed anything. Would love to see more hacks to saving my money while online shopping. 

Take Care

Checkout the Post: Mobile Apps for Pregnant Ladies & New Moms

Free Apps for Pregnant / New Moms

Do you know there are many free apps available on both Android and Apple store for pregnant ladies & new moms ?

These apps can be a life saver during pre and post delivery.

Few Apps are pregnancy related, others are more generic.

1. My Pregnancy Today by Baby Center

This is a must have app for expecting mothers and new moms. This not only tracks your pregnancy (days to your delivery) but keeps you informed about the changes in your health, mood swings, food to eat or avoid and a lot more, detailing into nitty gritty of pregnancy.

You can read articles related to pregnancy, discuss with other expecting / new moms. Learn about the exercises that can be done or even search for baby names. Information from To-Do list at the time of delivery to baby poop color is all available in this very app. The information is backed by veteran doctors and user experiences. So one always get the right (most sorted) advice here.

New Moms can keep track of baby's age with every passing day. it triggers alerts / emails with every passing week / month etc and keeps parents informed about baby's health and changes you may see at every stage. it also tells moms about the food choices and things to watch out for.

Have a question, this app has answer to almost every question. One can learn a great deal of information from here and best part is, its free.

Android: App
iOS: App

Visit Baby Center

2. IAP Immunization

This is an Android app, a must for every Mom & Dad who finds it difficult to keep track of vaccinations to be given to kids at different stages of early life. You can keep track using this app. This app helps you to not to miss out on scheduled (recommended) vaccinations.

This app takes in child information and keeps you informed about the vaccination schedule and trigger reminders when the date is approaching to get the child vaccinated. There's a chart available which list down all the injections / vaccines needed at different stages of child development.

User can send an email to oneself and set reminders.

There are many other similar apps available on both Android and iOS that helps in knowing the vaccination schedule and setup reminders.

So i would recommend all parents to install this app if they don't want to unknowingly miss out on their vaccination schedule.

You can also set SMS alert for vaccine reminder. How ? , Refer the below Screenshot

Source: Facebook

3. White Noise apps

Is your newborn cranky or find it difficult to go to sleep ? Does he / she gets easily distracted from external disturbances ? Is he / she has frequent sleep disturbances or cries a lot before sleeping. if answer to all these questions is "yes", try white noise apps.

White noise helps to sleep and relax new born babies. The external noise when played in endless loop, relaxes baby's body and make him / her sleep instantly.

Android: App
iOS: App

it keeps the baby engaged by minimizing external distractions and pacifies crying babies.

There are many free apps available on both Android and iOS with regards to white noise. Just search "white noise" and install the best rated app on your device. Select a noise which you think will pacify the baby. for eg: Vacuum Cleaner or running shower or incoming train or animal sounds in jungle and play it endlessly. Keep the device at a distance from baby while the noise is playing. You will notice soon the baby will go to sound sleep. During day, it will relax the baby and make him / her fall sleep at night. Stop the noice once the baby is asleep.

This is a must have app for all those parents who sometimes find it read hard to handle cranky / crying babies.

4. Amazon

Yes, you read it right. A must have app for all those parents who are so held up with baby care that they find it hard to even step out of the house to buy stuff.

Amazon has everything available from A to Z with regards to new born or grown up babies. From Diapers to breast pumps to formula feed, everything is available on Amazon.

Make sure before you buy the product, read reviews, check ratings and see the price is good enough to give you best deal.

If you are too much dependent on diapers, trigger price drop alerts so that you do not miss out when the price falls. Checkout the Lightning deals offered by Amazon as they offer discounts on products during off hours.

Android: App
iOS: App

There are many other apps available to buy stuff for eg: firstcry.com, babyoye.com, flipkart.com, Snapdeal.com etc. But i would still recommend to go with Amazon as it gives you the best price deal, awesome service and ontime delivery. Plus, it's a lot easier to return on Amazon incomparison to other e-commerce sites.

Firstcry works best incase of ordering diapers as it has the same day delivery program if you place order before 12 Noon. But this works only on weekdays. So be very careful placing order on firstcry on weekends if you are in urgent need of diapers. They will deliver it after few days only if you order it on weekend.

5. BigBasket

Parents who find it difficult to go out to buy grocery and is always behind schedule must install BB for their rescue.

This app works best when it comes to buying food / grocery online.

Add items to the cart, select a time slot when you need the items, mention your address and make payment. It's that easy. You will get the best food items delivered at your place in no time. This not only saves individual's time but also give peace of mind by making one thing less to worry about. New parents get to spend more time with babies.

Android: App
iOS: App

6. Gaana.com

Do not spend time to load / transfer music on your mobile ? How about playing music online. Install Gaana.com app. Listen seamless high quanlity music with gaana app. This app is a must for new parents as it not only has songs that you can listen to while feeding the baby but you can also play white noise to relax yourself as well as the baby. Just search for "white noise".

If you want to meditate or listed to Geeta or Osho, it's all available on gaana.

The only pre-requisite to use this app is that you should have a high bandwidth working internet to play songs.

I recommend this app to everyone whosoever find it hard to load songs on device or has storage issues. Create a playlist and listen to your favorite songs anytime, anywhere.

Users can also watch videos on youtube but it may not be a very easy option for new parents.

7. Practo

Finding difficult to search for a good doctor in your area. Try Practo. it has all doctors with their key specializations listed in area of search.

From Gynecologist to Pediatrician, all profession doctors are listed in this app. Pregnant women / new parents can search for specific skill doctor in their area on Practo and checkout the ratings and reviews. Doctors address details, fees and time slots is also available. Users can even book an appointment through the app.

This app is a must for all those new parents who has recently moved to new place and has no clue about good doctors in their areas.

Android: App
iOS: App

Besides the above mentioned apps, users can join pregnancy / new parents / parenting / child development related groups on google / facebook / yahoo etc.. There's a lot to explore.

Thanks