There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has touched just about everyone across the country in one way or another – changing people’s patterns and habits, how they work, schooling, socializing, and more. And as people struggle to find that new normal where their health and safety is a top priority, one of the trends that have emerged is a substantial increase in the amount of online shopping. Online shopping gives people the freedom to shop from their own home, without the fear of crowds, and there is a real convenience factor that many are just realizing.

So, if you’re relatively new to online shopping, or you’ve just seen an increase in the amount of shopping you’re doing this year, here are some tips that can help make the process a little smoother.

Take Full Advantage of Coupon Codes

The first tip is that you need to start taking advantage of coupon codes, which translate to savings and discounts for you. Retailers are notorious for having all kinds of coupon codes listed, special savings deals, free shipping offers, and more.

And even if the retailer doesn’t have any sales happening, there are now sites such as goodshop.com that are dedicated to collecting all the most current and popular coupon codes of the moment. You’ll be able to search through the codes by retailer, allowing you to quickly find savings for the store of your choice.

Never Pay for Shipping

This tip can be tied in with coupon codes in some instances, as sometimes, in order to qualify for free shipping, you’ll need a coupon code. But, in general, there should never be a reason for you to pay for shipping. The majority of retailers will have an online minimum you must reach in order to qualify for free shipping, so it’s a good idea to wait to check out until your cart hits that free minimum amount.

Some will also offer overnight shipping at an additional fee – again, use the same tip, which is to never pay for shipping. There’s a good chance nothing is urgent enough that you need it overnight.

Shop During Holiday Sales

Just as if you were to be shopping in person, these online retailers also feature sales throughout the year. Typically the biggest sales will coincide with holidays or long weekends, as this is when you’ll see prices slashed, door crasher deals, and so forth. If you’re curious as to what the biggest holiday is for online sales, it’s the same as in person – Black Friday. Black Friday takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day in the United States and is known for having the most spectacular and drastic sales/deals of the whole year. While crowds can be brutal, to say the least, when you’re at stores, online you don’t have to worry about any of that and you’ll be able to check out quickly and smoothly.

Become a Savvy Online Shopper

Each of these tips will help you to embrace your newfound love of online shopping and make sure you’re getting all the best deals possible.