Online shopping is truly a wonderful thing. Instead of being forced to face the cold weather and battle crowds to purchase the things you need, you now have the ability to buy virtually anything on the Internet.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Navy Federal Credit Union. All opinions are 100% mine.
As we enter the busy holiday shopping season and gear up to make more purchases online than usual, it’s a good idea to consider some ways to optimize your online shopping experience. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind when you’re shopping online:
CONSIDER BROWSER EXTENSIONS.
All web browsers have a virtual shop filled with extensions and add-ins designed to enhance your online experience in some way. It’s no surprise to find many of these are created to help you score the best deal and save as much cash as possible. Two of my favorites are Ebates, a rebate app that returns a percentage of your purchase to you, and Honey, a coupon aggregator that will automatically attempt to apply coupon codes to find the best deal for you.
CREDIT CARD POINTS AND ONLINE DEALS.
If you have a credit card that offers points or cash back, you could earn rewards as you shop online. Plus, if you have a Navy Federal Credit Card, you could get exclusive deals for your favorite stores by shopping through Member Mall. With Member Mall, you’ll get rewards beyond what you’d get for purchasing in-store or from a retailer’s website. With exclusive special offers and deals of the week, shopping through Member Mall can help savings add up.
LET IT SIT.
If you aren’t in a huge rush to make your purchase and you can’t find a coupon to apply, abandon your cart and leave it alone for a day or so. Some shops will follow up with an email to entice you to complete the transaction, and many will throw in a percentage-off coupon to sweeten the deal.
LOOK FOR THE LOCK.
When shopping online, it’s important to ensure you’re on a secured website. Check your address bar in your browser for a small image of a lock, or see if the URL starts with https (as opposed to the unsecured http). When this symbol is present, you can rest assured your information is encrypted as it’s transmitted online, keeping your data safe and secure.
Don’t enter your credit card information or other personal details on a website that does not identify itself as secure.
Many online shops allow you to create an account, which lets you save your personal details – including your credit card information – to make future transactions easier. If you know you’ll be a repeat shopper, this can be a great way to save yourself some time. However, since you’re providing your personal information, you need to think carefully about your passwords and create ones that won’t be easy for imposters to guess. Concerned you’ll set something too complex to recall? Look for an app like LastPass to securely manage your passwords.
REVIEW YOUR TRANSACTIONS.
Even if you take all available precautions, there’s still a slight chance your information could be compromised online. Breaches happen, and when they do, your credit or debit card information could be at risk. By keeping a close eye on your transactions, you’ll know if any suspicious purchases occur. Choose a bank like Navy Federal Credit Union that allows you to turn on instant transaction alerts and protects you against purchases you don’t actually make.
Navy Federal has lots of tips that can help keep you safe online. See all the ways you could earn and save with Navy Federal Credit Union., and Become a Member.
