Shop online and save money

If there’s one area of day-to-day life that the internet has revolutionised it’s the way we shop.

More convenient than going to the high street, simpler than mail order and with more bargains than an entire shopping centre’s worth of January sales put together, the internet really is top of the shops.

Not only can you effectively trawl the stockrooms and warehouses of almost every well-known retailer in the land, but you can also hunt down bargains and rarities from online auctions and overseas stores from the comfort of your desktop and have everything delivered directly to your door.

But with all the horror stories in the media about online fraud, identity theft and credit card crime, you could be forgiven for thinking that shopping on the internet is fraught with danger.

In fact, by following a few simple rules and shopping wisely, you can remain just as safe – if not safer – than you would be on your local high street.

So, read on to find out how you can make sure your online shopping experience is a pleasant, secure and fruitful one.

The price is right
First, let’s remind ourselves why online shopping really is worthwhile. Whether you’re looking to buy computer accessories or car insurance, the internet is by far and away the best place to shop. For starters, it’s not just a myth that things are cheaper online – they often are.

Take the DVD of the movie Ocean’s 13, for example; at the time of going to press the recently released George Clooney crime caper is just £4.99 at Play.com, compared with anything from £12.99 to £19.99 on the high street. That’s not to say that you won’t be able to find a bargain offline too, but it will almost certainly be harder to track down the best price from local shops.

It wasn’t long ago that comparing prices meant physically traipsing from shop to shop to weigh up differences in cost or, at the very least, phoning round to see who was selling a particular item for less. The internet removes the need for either of these time-wasting activities, allowing web surfers to check prices and, in many cases, stock levels for specific items within a few clicks.

Even better, with price comparison sites, such as Computeractive’s own Active Prices, it’s possible to search for items and instantly view prices from an assortment of retailers side by side.

Price comparison sites don’t just work for CDs, DVDs and computer goods, either. You can compare prices for almost anything, from flowers and food to flights and hotel rooms, utility providers and even credit card deals.