Have you ever shopped online for hours and realized you’re suddenly over budget? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Saving money while shopping can be tough, especially with the myriad of options available online. However, smart budgeting is essential for good money management. Here are a few tips and services you can use to manage your money without breaking the bank. 

1. Use budget planning softwares

There are thousands of tools available online that can help you figure out your budget. Using these, you can figure out how to save money and avoid overspending. 

Most banking apps have in-built budget planning softwares. You can enter your desired monthly budget, and the app will warn you when you’re close to overshooting it. Using your banking app to manage your money is possibly the most convenient way to save money while shopping. 

Here are the top three free budget planning apps that you can try as well:

  • Plum – this app is good for tracking investments, setting money goals, and figuring out how to save money while shopping. 
  • Emma – this is a great personal finance app that helps you figure out where to cut your spending if you’re over budget. 
  • Monese – this app will help you build your credit score and save money during international shopping. 

The great thing about all of these apps is that they connect seamlessly to your bank account. This will help you keep track of:

  1. Where most of your money is going
  2. How much you can spend, and 
  3. How to cut down your spending

When creating your budget, follow this rule of thumb:

2. Hire a financial advisor

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might find yourself unable to budget your money properly. The trick to saving money is to bring an expert in to help you. Independent financial advisors can help you manage your money and allocate a strict budget for shopping. Most advisors offer free consultations. This can help you decide if a financial advisor is the right choice for you. This option is particularly convenient if you have a large history of overspending. 

Choosing a financial advisor can be confusing, especially when you’re not familiar with the process. Forbes breaks down the different things to look out for when choosing a financial advisor. 

3. Do your research to spot good deals

Doing your research before going on a shopping spree can save you thousands of pounds. When you’re shopping internationally, it can be especially difficult to know where the best deals are and how to save money. 

There are a number of apps that you can use to see where and when the best deals will be available. Here are two to try out:

  • Honey – this is a desktop app and extension that shows you relevant discounts and coupon codes every time you’re on a website. It’s like your personal shopping assistant!
  • Capital One Shopping – every time you’re on a website, this app will show you the deals available on it, as well as similar (read: cheaper) deals available on competitor websites. This allows you to compare different retailers and get the best deal possible. Saving money has never been easier!

4. Get your money back ASAP

Part of the online shopping experience is returning items that you don’t like. In most cases, when you buy something from an international retailer, it’s extremely tough and time consuming to get all of your money back, especially when you’re trying to get back the money you paid for customs. 

Most people aren’t even familiar with the painful process of getting your customs money back. This means that it is likely that you will lose hundreds of pounds on your refund. Luckily, there is a solution. Duty Refunds can help you get your customs money back in no time. No more filling out long forms, and waiting for months to hear back on your claim. With Duty Refunds, you can easily reclaim customs charges and avoid all the red tape that comes with it. 

The only thing you need to do is provide Duty Refunds with your tracking number and parcel information. Just initiate your claim here. Everything else is handled by our experts who ensure that you get all your money back within three weeks!

Final thoughts

Figuring out how to save money can be tough without the right tools. This blogpost should help you get a headstart on shopping smartly, especially when dealing with international retailers. Whether you’re creating a budget sheet, tracking the best deals, getting coupons online, or trying not to lose money on refunds, these tips will teach you how to save money more effectively. Happy shopping!