If there’s one thing I love almost as much as hunting for beautiful interior furnishings/decor, it’s finding them at the best prices. I absolutely believe in buying high-quality pieces that will last over the years, but will always try to avoid paying more than I need to! So, whether you’re on a budget or simply want to make your dollar stretch farther, keep reading for my 5 *tried and trusted* tips on saving money when shopping for your home.
(Also, if you’ve been in a rut thinking of new shops to browse for decorating your home, check out my recent blog post here on my 10 recommendations!)
1. Utilize the Pinterest browser extension
I first discovered Pinterest’s browser extension (easily installed via your browser’s web store) when I started this blog and was searching for a fast, easy way to pin images and articles.
Wondering how it works? Simply hover over a product image (but works on any image) and a little magnifying glass will appear. After clicking the icon, a new page will open showing different sites on the internet containing that image. Sometimes the image will lead nowhere, but many times it will show other retailers who may be selling that product – or similar – at a better price! For example, this “Hannah Cabinet” retailed for $2,299 at most stores but by using the Pinterest extension, I found this at another seller for $750 less!! It’s also equally as helpful to find where else a product may be sold if you’re unsure where to look!
2. Check for similar items on Etsy
Etsy has so much more to offer aside from unique party decorations and personalized goods (for which it will always remain a go-to!!) – it’s also an amazing source for handmade, vintage, and look-alike pieces. Even more, it’s a great way to support small or individually-owned businesses (sorry Amazon). I recently saved around $50 by purchasing the “dupe” of a trendy mirror from Etsy — which I found by using the Pinterest extension!
With all that said, there are a few things I would caution about when using Etsy, including returns and shipping costs. Because these aren’t your typical large big-box companies, return policies can be strict or nonexistent. Also, while I think it’s amazing that consumers can purchase from shops around the world, those also might come with some hefty international shipping prices.
3. Look for coupon / promo codes
I can’t tell you the last time I bought ANYTHING online without searching for some sort of promotional or discount code (and 80% of the time there is!). My friends know this about me – I hate buying anything at full price if I could get it for less!
Most retailers will have a sale, promotional code, etc. at some point throughout the year, whether it’s annual/semi-annual/monthly! However, when there’s not a sale or discount code readily available on their site, I will always search the internet for any miscellaneous codes that might be active. Honey is also a great resource for finding codes. Like Pinterest, there’s an extension you can install in your browser to make searching for coupons as simple as a click!
Lastly, don’t forget about new subscriber promo codes. I find this is slightly more common at fashion retailers, but many furniture and decor sites do offer a code for signing up for their newsletters.
4. Compare prices using Google’s Shopping feature
Without a doubt, my first go-to move when shopping for anything new is to Google it! Not only do I look for product reviews and additional pictures, I also look for other sellers of that product where it might be listed for less or have discount codes available.
When searching, the more specific the better – if you enter the name of a product (for example, “Hannah Cabinet”), keep in mind that some retailers may rename it as something else, so it’s helpful to include the type of product in your search is as well.
Once you hit “search,” navigate to the Shopping tab within Google. Find the product that most closely resembles what you’re looking for and see if it’s sold at other stores. The comparison feature can save time and effort by showing you which other retailers sell the product, list price, delivery information, if there’s known discounts available, and ultimately the total price with tax and shipping costs.
5. Get cash back
Yes, actual cash money!
You may already be familiar with e-Bates, now Rakuten, which is a company that gives cash back based on a predetermined percentage of your purchase (that varies by store). There are two main ways to shop: navigating to an online retailer through Rakuten’s site (where you’ll be redirected to that store’s website), or you can install a browser extension that can allow you to quickly verify if that store is supported by Rakuten and what the cash back percent is.
I admit it took me awhile to get on board… earning money just by shopping for something you already planned on buying seems a little too good to be true, right? The trade-off is that Rakuten does collect information about their users to “personalize their experience” – which may be a turn-off to some (you can read further details here). Fine print aside, I’ve personally saved a significant amount of money and have found it very convenient to use!
I hope that these tips help stretch your budget further when shopping for that next special piece for your home!
COMMENTS