4 Hacks for Maximizing Savings With Price Comparison Shopping Apps

November and December are popular months to shop, as many people buy holiday gifts for loved ones. As you shop online, ensure you're getting the best possible deal. Every dollar saved on purchases, including holiday shopping items, is a significant win for your bank account. You can use price comparison shopping apps, tools, and browser extensions to save more money. Here are a few hacks to help you maximize your savings as you shop this holiday season.

1. Consider shipping costs when comparing prices

Price comparison shopping tools and apps can help you keep more money in your pocket. You can quickly compare prices across multiple retailers to avoid overpaying. But make sure you also figure in shipping costs. Luckily, many tools, like Capital One Shopping, include shipping estimates to help you decide which retailer to buy an item from.

Don't forget to consider whether you have any memberships or program perks that provide discounted or free shipping. Many people invest in an Amazon Prime membership for the free shipping benefits. I recently discovered that Capital One Shopping also has a setting to mark whether you have Amazon Prime, so you can see more accurate shipping cost data.

2. Save more money with coupons

Paper coupons still exist, but they can be a pain to use. Luckily, digital coupons are now the norm. Many retailers provide coupon codes to customers to help them save more money. Before placing an online order, check if a coupon code could help you get a discount. The good news is that you don't have to waste time searching online for coupon codes. You can use one of the best coupon apps to find codes, giving you an easy way to save more money.

3. Shop when the sales are plentiful

If you're not buying something you need right away, it can be beneficial to time your purchase. Shopping during a big sale event like Prime Day or Black Friday could allow you to maximize your savings. Just use your favorite price comparison tool to find the best sale to shop.

This shopping strategy also gives you time to save extra cash to fund your purchase. The last thing you want to deal with is expensive credit card debt after a shopping spree. So it's best to save for costly expenses and only charge your credit card for purchases you can afford to pay off.

4. Consider the rewards potential

It's also beneficial to consider whether you can earn rewards when shopping online. One easy way to do so is to use a rewards credit card to pay for your purchase. But before you complete your order, consider which credit card in your wallet will offer the most rewards.

For example, using a flat-rate 1.5% rewards credit card doesn't make sense if you also have a rewards credit card that offers 2% cash back rewards. Be strategic with your payment method for an easy rewards boost.

Another way to earn rewards as you shop is to use a cash back app like Rakuten. You can activate cash back offers with participating retailers. Not all retailers or cash back apps offer the same rewards, so it's worthwhile to compare offerings so you don't miss out on additional chances to earn money back on your spending. Check out our list of the best cash back apps to learn more.

More rewards can result in more money in the bank. You can use your cash back earnings to fund a future shopping trip. Are you looking for additional ways to save money? Our free personal finance resources may help.