Frugal Americans presents you: Things to always buy online

Depending on what you’re purchasing and where you’re shopping, it often makes sense to buy an item online rather than in a store. Why? Because you can save both time and money—especially if there’s free shipping.

According to personal finance experts, there are often extra incentives for purchasing items online. For example, many shoppers receive travel rewards from shopping on certain websites, and companies like Ebates even give cashback rewards when you make a purchase at select stores.

There are a few reasons why you often get a better price online. One would be that online stores usually have lower overhead costs than physical stores, which basically allows them to offer lower prices on stuff.

Another reason there are certain things to always buy online is because stores have a lot of items they want to get out of their inventory. That’s why you should do your research before making an in-store purchase to ensure you’re not paying too much.

Without further ado, here are some things to always buy online if you want to save money!

1. Books

Books are the first item on our list of things to always buy online. They were the first product that was widely sold online, back in the days when Amazon was a bookseller and not a virtual, huge mall. Nowadays, the Web is still one of the best places to purchase books for less.

It’s well known that books are generally significantly cheaper online. This has a lot to do with the pretty high costs of running brick-and-mortar stores, which tend to spike prices.

Moreover, you don’t need to physically handle a book before purchasing it, and sites like Barnes & Noble and Amazon now offer sneak-preview features that allow you to peek at the contents before deciding to buy.

According to personal financial experts, purchasing popular titles can often save you about 40% off the cover price. This being said, make sure you include books in your list of things to always buy online.

2. Electronics

Next on our list of things to always buy online are electronics. Buying a new gadget, such as a smartphone or a TV, is a complicated process. There are several different factors to consider, including how easily you can return the product if you’re not happy with it, its specs, and the warranty.

It’s not that easy to do all that while standing in a showroom where the eager sales clerk is trying to convince you to make the purchase right away.

The good news is that shopping online for electronics takes the pressure off. It gives you plenty of time to read customer reviews, compare different products, and make sure you’re buying the right one for you.

To top it off, purchasing electronics online can be cheaper—a lot cheaper. According to experts, some of the electronic things to always buy online to save money are TVs, laptops, and small accessories.

3. Medicines

According to a recent survey, about one in four Americans who take prescription drugs say they struggle to pay for them. If you also take prescription drugs and want to save some money, here’s the good news: they are among the things to always buy online as they tend to be cheaper.

So, next time you want to purchase them, order them from an online or mail-order pharmacy. In fact, many health insurers work with mail-order pharmacies to keep their costs down. In some cases, you can buy a 90-day supply of a certain medication and pay your copay only once, rather than making the refill once a month and paying the copay three times.

Buying online can save you money on over-the-counter drugs, too. Many large drugstore chains have programs that offer discounts or other special deals for placing an order online.

However, experts advise being careful with online pharmacies. Some websites that sell prescription drugs are pharmacies that dispense illegal, counterfeit drugs. Not only could these imitations be ineffective, but they could also end up affecting your health.

This being said, while medicines are among the things to always buy online, make sure you only purchase them from reliable online pharmacies.

4. Pet food

Next on our list of things to always buy online to save money is pet food. There are several subscription services that give you discounts of up to 20% on your furry friend’s food.

It’s something you purchase on a regular basis, and it usually comes in big, heavy bags. Having it shipped right to your doorstep saves you the trouble of carrying all those bags home from the store.

For example, Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program gives you a 15% discount on pet food. There are thousands of products to choose from for cats, dogs, and just about any other pet you can name.

5. Luggage

Another category of things to always buy online is luggage. There are several reasons why you should do that. First of all, it’s bulky, and purchasing it online saves you the trouble of carrying it home from the store.

Second, you have many more options to choose from, and it’s easier to look for the right bag that fits your needs exactly. There are many websites that allow you to search their selection by style, type, color, brand, size, price, and features.

And, obviously, another reason to buy luggage online is the price. According to personal finance experts, department stores like JCPenney and Macy’s often sell luggage on their websites for quite a bit less than they charge in stores.

Moreover, the best time to purchase is during Black Friday and Presidents’ Day sales, when most luggage is discounted by 50% or more.

We agree that one issue with getting it online is that you can’t examine it up close. However, make sure you check online reviews, which will help you get a good idea of its quality. Pay especially close attention to what other people have to say about the zippers and wheels, which are the parts that usually wear out the fastest.

6. Clothing basics

Last but not least on our list of things to always buy online are clothing basics. When it comes to everyday pieces such as shirts, casual pants, and jeans, it’s easier to get them right without being able to try them on.

For garments like these, shopping online can save you both time and money. When a store has a great sale on a popular line of clothing, the most popular styles and sizes quickly sell out. Shopping online offers you a better chance of finding what you want at a better price. It’s also much easier to browse through the selections of clothes on a website than to hunt through packed aisles and picker-over racks in a store.

However, experts point out that no matter how good the price is, you shouldn’t purchase all your clothing online. For some garments, such as gowns or men’s suits, the fit is crucial, and it’s difficult to get it right without being able to try it on.

But with everyday pieces, you won’t have to worry about an exact fit.

Final word

While our list of things to always buy online can help you save money, it’s important to ensure you’re buying from a website you can trust. If the product description is in such bad English that you can barely make it out, there’s a chaotic array of different fronts, or the site’s design looks outdated, chances are you may be dealing with a site that will snitch your money and give you nothing in return.

If you liked our article on things to always buy online, you may also want to read 8 Sneaky Expenses That Quietly Drain Your Wallet.