Anyone who has rummaged through the shelves of TK Maxx knows that finding a bargain can be a difficult task.
But imagine going to a store and deciding what to buy, a salesperson offers you some money and automatically applies the discount at the checkout.
While this service is not yet on the main street, it does exist online.
Until recently, when shopping online, I always waited to come to the payment page before checking if there was a discount code.
For example, while shopping on the Marks & Spencer website, I would type “Marks & Spencer Coupon Code” into a separate browser search bar before purchasing the item, hoping to get lucky and find some cash.
This sometimes worked, but most of the time I found a list of codes not working on my purchase for various reasons. What a waste of time and effort, not to mention the frustration of knowing there can be discounts if you only know where to look.
Anyone who has rummaged through the shelves of TK Maxx knows that finding a bargain can be a difficult task. But imagine going to a store and deciding what to buy, a salesperson offers you some money and automatically applies the discount at the checkout. While this service is not yet available on the main street, it is available online.
Thank goodness the next generation of apps that work as an assistant for online shopping and automatically find the best deals for you.
I found some of these browser extensions (apps you install in Chrome, Safari or whatever web browser you use) that will apply any discount codes available at checkout. They have made my online shopping experience not just faster, but much better in terms of value for money.
The first is the Honey browser extension, which automatically runs when you shop, searching for coupons for any commercial site you deal with.
When you arrive at the checkout and are about to pay, it automatically goes through all possible coupon codes. This means it will take longer to complete the purchase. A box will appear in the upper right corner of the screen informing you that Honey has tried several coupons.
But if the app finds an unfamiliar discount code and saves you money on the last purchase, it’s worth the short wait.
Even if your item doesn’t have a discount code, you can earn “Honey Gold” as part of the app’s loyalty program, which is ultimately the equivalent of storing credit or gift cards.
These are funded by commissions paid by various sites that Honey is affiliated with. In fact, these fees are the main reason Honey is free, as its revenue comes from the brands you shop with. Honey on Amazon also shows if an item is being bought at a lower price from another seller, which is pretty helpful.
The first is the Honey browser extension, which automatically runs when you shop, searching for coupons for any commercial site you deal with.
Something wrong with this great app that helps you save money on your purchases from multiple websites like Nike, Skechers, Expedia and Forever 21?
Not exactly. Honey collects information from the websites you visit, but claims it does not log your internet history or sell your data to advertisers.
There is no cost to install the Honey application on your computer, mobile phone or tablet, and no other costs for the user. It is completely free to use. If you want to download it just go to joinhoney.com.
A similar browser extension that will give you the best price for anything you want to buy is the Karma app.
When you go to buy something on a commercial website, look for coupons that will lower the price for you.
It also lets you store links to products you’re interested in but don’t need to buy right now, so it can let you know when the price drops or there’s a new product update.
This means you don’t have to go back to the website to see if the item is already on sale.
The app has links to numerous websites including H&M, Zara, ASOS, Net-a-Porter, and Matches, and also offers cashback when you purchase items from certain websites.
The refund element occurs when you make purchases on affiliate websites through the karmanow.com Site.
All these stores offer between 1-4 units. The purchase price credited to your account as an incentive to shop there.
Other useful features include an in-app shopping list where you can save lists of items you like.
Karma will notify you when prices drop.
You can sign up for Karma for free and install it in your browser or download it to your phone to help you shop more cheaply on the go.
Have a question for Yasemin? Email him at AskJasmine@MoneyMagpie.com.
Recycle your clothes like royalty
The Queen is excited to redesign her outfits so she can wear all her outfits correctly.
It was clear during the anniversary celebrations that other members of the royal family took a leaf out of her book and wore old favorites instead of bragging about something new.
Royal fashion watchdog Miranda Holder says: “The white Alexander McQueen suit and jacket that Kate wore for her anniversary was initially seen attending one of the G7 summits. And Camilla wore another number one Bruce Oldfield in the competition”.
Give your clothes the royal treatment by recycling and renovating them to expand your wardrobe and cut costs.
Holder says using different accessories is the fastest way to transform an outfit.
“You can turn a day look into an evening look with a glamorous belt, earrings, and a trendy purse,” she says. Search old flea markets, thrift stores and discount sites as you can find unusual things to make a dress look new.
‘Find what you have. You may love an old blouse but don’t like its belt or buttons, so update it. From adding beads to sewing patches to dyeing clothes, there are tons of tutorials on how to get things done on YouTube.
Turn a dress that has seen better days into a skirt or blouse. Pajamas can be made from T-shirts. Old jeans can be trendy summer shorts.
It’s also worth looking through your wardrobe to see what you can sell. Use Vinted, Depop, eBay, Preloved or any of the other websites used to convert money into your clothes.
This year’s Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August, and you can watch the action live and get paid by hiring one of the thousands of short-term jobs they have to fill.
There will be tasks in security, attendant, catering, retail, cleaning, transportation, logistics and more, giving you access to the Games and earning extra cash over the summer.
These temporary jobs will last from three weeks to three months, so there is some flexibility. Many are especially suitable for college students looking for a job during the summer months, or anyone caught between jobs and needing some money to make a living.
Sports fans should definitely sign up! Visit birmingham2022.com/jobs to register your interest.
Get 20% off all books on the award-winning book2door.com website. There’s something for adults and kids of all ages, and it earns an impressive five-star rating on Trustpilot. The odds are already up to 80 pieces. discount off the cover price, but using my special code JASMINE20 at checkout you can get an extra 20% off any book you buy. Hurry up: the offer is valid until midnight on Friday 17 June. Once per customer.
If you’re 60 or older, you can get 10% off all your groceries in Iceland or The Food Warehouse on Tuesday until the end of July. To withdraw money from your account, simply show the cashier your proof of age, such as a driver’s license, bus pass or freedom card.
Source: Daily Mail
