We have come to an era in time where online shopping may be the most convenient way to shop for the best bargain prices. Online stores are now offering specials to attract customers such as free shipping, free return shipping and free gift with purchase. There are many well hidden secrets that come with online shopping.

1. Do an online coupon code search. If you are about to purchase an item on line search first to see if an online coupon is available. For example, if I was going to buy diapers from Target, I would go to Google and type in “Target coupons” or “Target Online Coupons”. The first page will show me the most relevant coupons. I would click on the link where I might find a coupon code that is valid. A few sites that can help you find on line codes are Retail Me Not,  Coupon Mountain and Coupon Cabin . These sites have hundreds of stores listed along with valid coupon codes that you can use online. An example of an online code is a set of numbers and letters such as BUY5 for $5 off a $50 purchase at Shoebuy.com. You can usually put these codes in a special box that indicates “coupon code” when you check out. Former codes could have saved our bargain shopper up to 70% at Coldwater Creek or have gotten us free shipping at Target . Coupon codes can save you a good amount of money for something that you were already going to purchase. Some stores allow more than one online coupon code to be entered during check out. This can save you a generous amount of money and you can use codes to get free promotional items as well. A very popular ladies and teens web site that is know for doing this is Victoria’s Secret . They allow you to enter up to four coupon codes on their website. In the past they have run a deal where we got $10 off, free shipping, free lip gloss and a free tote in the same order. Now that is what I call bargain shopping!

2. Finding clearance prices online: Some stores have a policy that once their sales quota is met, they can now clearance that item for as little as 99 cents! They have already made their goal in sales, because someone else paid the full price. Now you can take advantage of this and purchase an item below the companies initial material cost. Online clearance prices are usually better than in store because most on line stores don’t have to pay to rent a building or pay a large staff. All these are factors that are included in retail store prices.

How to find the online clearance deals?

1. Sign up your email address with your favorite stores on line. Go to your favorite store’s website and add yourself to their email list. They will send you coupons, on line discount codes, sales notices and clearance alerts. These can be very valuable. Tip: Sign up for a separate email account and use this email to sign up online with stores. I opened a free email account such as http://www.hotmail.com/ and I use this account to sign up for stores online. This way I don’t get a lot of spam in my primary e-mail account but I can still scan the free account once a day to locate good deals.

2. Join online bargain web sites to find sizzling clearance deals. There are a few bargain web sites that have been designed to help you find great deals on line. You can sign up for these bargain sites on line. The first one I recommend is this one and you can sign up for alerts through Bloglines . You may want to check out Slick Deals as well. Last year there was a fantastic deal listed on this website to get $10 off any purchase at Norm Thompson . I was able to have free chocolate sent out to my family as Christmas gifts using the code!

Homework for Today- 1. Sign up for an email list from one of your favorite online stores. 2. Sign up for bloglines and add The Bargain Shopper Lady Blog to get instant alerts!

Frugal Tip: Shop for Christmas gifts early to avoid paying high prices at the last minute.

(Originally published February 17, 2007)