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Seven Simple Steps to Save on Your Online Shopping

Do you love to shop as much as I do? It's even more fun when I can shop and save money, too. Here are a few of my favorite ways to save time and money when shopping.

1. Compare prices on a shopping comparison site

Find the best price (and save a lot of time surfing) by using price comparison websites like Shopping.com, PriceGrabber.com, NexTag.com, Epinions.com, MySimon.com and others. Be sure to check more than one since some sites only list certain stores.

2. Lose the mall. Surf the online malls instead

Just like a regular mall, an online mall groups the best stores all in one place. In this case, the stores are all accessible from one website. Online malls are so much more efficient than the regular mall. You save time because there's no waiting for a parking space, no fighting the crowds and no waiting in long lines. You can save more money using an online mall than a regular mall. Many online malls give you cash back rebates on each of your purchases through their store links. Rebates can be up to 25%.

3. Make sure your plastic pays you

Cash back credit cards offer another great way to save even more money on your purchases. My credit card gives us 1% back every time we use it. Rewards vary depending upon the store you're buying from and what items you purchase. Other cards provide airline miles or even let you save for college while you are shopping.

4. Clip those codes

Don't forget to use online discount codes and coupons to save even more. The best way to get these codes is to sign up for a store's e-mail newsletter. Notice of the site's sales and specials will be sent directly to your e-mail. Another way to find codes is to use your favorite search engine and search for the site name along with the word "coupon," "discount" or "promotion code." If you are using an online mall, be sure to check it too. Most malls maintain a selection of coupons for their members.

5. Always get free (or almost free!) shipping

When shopping online, watch for times when you can get free shipping. You can save anywhere from a few dollars on up. Use the search engine technique above to look for the website name with "free shipping."

6. Give an electronic gift certificate

Are you shopping for a special someone? Let her decide what she wants and where she wants to buy it by giving her an online "super" certificate from GiftCertificates.com. If you need a last minute gift, you can e-mail the gift certificate to the recipient. Save even more when you buy these certificates through an online mall. GiftTracker.com even has certificates to my local mall (perfect for teacher gifts), restaurants, spas and more.

7. Avoid the long lines at discount stores and visit their websites instead

Some of the best discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target have an online store to save you time. Instead of standing in lines, get your purchases delivered to your door when you shop online.

About the author: Want to know more about online malls and other ways to save? Visit the Discount Shopping Service Guide where Julie Hood is a senior contributing editor and writes about saving money shopping online.