How do I give to a charity online?
The Internet has made it easy to donate to charities. You can go to the website of your favorite charity, where there is sure to be a facility for you to make an online payment—look for a button or menu page that says Donate. Another popular way to give to charity is through third-party sites such as JustGive.org. This site makes it easy for people to donate money, skills, time, or other resources and services to thousands of registered charities. It can help you find out about a range of different charities across many different fields.
Are there other ways to give to good causes online?
There are microfinance websites where you can pledge money. One such website is kiva.org, where you loan an amount as small as $25 to help someone anywhere in the world set up a business. This money is made available to people with no access to capital otherwise, and you’ll get updates on what is happening with your money and the progress made. Kiva takes no fee and is a nonprofit organization. There are other sites, such as kickstarter.com, where you can pledge money for creative projects in need of funds. Kickstarter takes a small fee from each successful project.
What can I buy on the web?
Almost anything from valuable diamond jewelry to food or toys. It’s just a matter of searching for what you want, either via a search engine or within a reputable shopping website.
Let’s start with books. Where’s a good place to get those?
As with any item, there are countless resources available online. Most bookstores have an online presence—so you can shop with a company you know and trust. There are also online-only stores, including Amazon. You can buy new books from these sites, and often secondhand ones, too.
How do I use an online bookstore?
It’s easy. You can search for the title (or the author or keywords) within the website, and you’ll be given a list of options, including new and secondhand books. Then:
• Click on the book you want, and you’ll see more information about it and may be able to inspect some pages.
• Before you decide to buy, check the shipping cost—sometimes new books come with free postage, so a cheap secondhand book may actually end up costing more once postage is added.
• If you want to buy it, click on Add to bag or Add to basket, and it will be saved. (You can delete it at any point if you change your mind.)
• You can add other books or items, and then click on the bag or basket icon (often in the top right-hand corner) when you are ready to pay.
• You will need to create an account with a secure password and contact email at this point, or log into an existing account.
• Follow the instructions for paying, and enter in your payment details. Confirm your purchase, and you’ll be sent an email with your order number (which usually comes through within a few minutes).
Do other websites work this way?
Yes, they do. You log on, search for what you want (or browse the site’s suggestions), and add items to a shopping basket or similar before you pay. Some sites—notably Amazon—have diversified, so you won’t find just books, but also many other items: music, DVDs, toys, games, housewares, foodstuffs, tools and instruments, and much more. Some are sold by the company direct, while others are sold by third parties. But you order, pay, and return items in the same way and through the same website.
How can I compare the prices of items I might want to buy online?
Your best starting point is a search engine. Type in the item you want to buy, and perhaps add the word “buy” to your search. The search results will then bring up various online shops so you can investigate the price and delivery options they offer. Many shops also have online stores, and you may see these coming up in the results.
Most search engines, such as Google, have a dedicated shopping search facility, so use this to target your search specifically toward online stores. Enter your keywords and search in the usual way, then click on the Shopping link below the search bar. Say you are searching for bicycle accessories. If you search in the usual way, the results will include the Wikipedia page on bicycle accessories and any current news stories. Once you click on Shopping, you will primarily see bicycle products that are for sale in your country. The price and retailer (or retailers) are listed underneath each product. Click on the product image to bring up more details of the retailers.
That’s brilliant. So I can find the cheapest option pretty much instantly?
You can. But be aware that not all stores are listed on the shopping search, so it’s worth doing a general web search first to get a feel for what is available. And, of course, you should only go with the cheapest option if the seller is reputable and you have taken any delivery charges into account. You could also try using a price-comparison website, which compares the prices of goods from various online sources.
What’s a price-comparison website?
It’s a website where you can compare goods from different shopping outlets. They don’t sell the goods themselves, but gather prices from other websites and provide links so that you can click through to the one you want. Enter “price comparison website” into a search engine to find these. They are useful for information, but be aware that they don’t include every seller, and some require retailers to pay to be listed, which narrows the field further.
What about more unusual items—can I get gift ideas online?
Whether you want to adopt a meerkat for someone or buy personalized cuff links, you’ll find all sorts of gifts online. If you’re stuck for ideas, then browsing online stores is a good way to start, as they generally organize their gifts into categories, such as male, female, children, couples, and different age groups. There are also dedicated gift sites that sell anything from gift experiences (a day out paragliding or a spa weekend, for example) to small, novelty presents and personalized gifts.
Where do I go for handmade gifts?
Many small sellers have individual websites, but if you just want to look for unique gifts then a couple of good sites are Etsy, ArtFire, and Madeitmyself. Here, you can buy (and sell) anything handmade: arts, crafts, and vintage items, including wedding invitations, jewelry, knitted clothes, ceramics, and craft supplies. They are interesting sites to browse, and if you’re a person who makes things, then your creativity could make you money (see here for more about selling goods online).
What about my weekly grocery shopping? Can I do that on the net?
It’s easy to do that online, too. Some supermarkets offer a delivery service, so if you’re unable to get to the store or would rather shop from home, you can browse the website—which is usually organized into lists that match the aisles you find in an actual supermarket—on your computer and have everything delivered to your door. You get to avoid the lines at checkout; there are no fuel costs or carrying heavy bags if you have no car; and there’s no traveling time, just a delivery fee. Many supermarkets have introductory offers with discounts or free delivery for new customers.
Does it take a long time to shop for groceries online?
It takes a while the first time. But most sites offer you the chance to create a “favorites” list (or create one based on your previous purchases). This saves you time if you tend to buy the same items on a regular basis, because you don’t have to search for them again. And it is simple to search online for particular items—certainly quicker than hunting up and down the aisles. There are usually pictures of the items, so you can be sure that the item you are buying is the exact thing you want.
What if the store runs out of the things I have ordered?
Some supermarkets substitute something similar if the exact item is not available. It can be tiresome to find you have been given green capsicums when you specifically wanted red ones—but you can usually choose to have nothing if the precise thing you wanted is out of stock. Any substitutions should be listed separately on the delivery sheet, so you can take a quick look and return anything you don’t want to the courier.
Of course, another disadvantage of online supermarket shopping is that you cannot select the exact piece of fruit or vegetable that you get. If you are the kind of person who likes to pick up three pineapples and choose between them, or if you always take your parsley from the back of the rack to get the one with the later sell-by date, then you might prefer to limit your online shop to heavy items, pantry items, and non-perishables: laundry detergent, dog food, canned food, and breakfast cereals, for example.
How do I schedule a grocery delivery—do I have to wait at home all day?
No. The delivery times are usually split into slots of about two hours, and at the checkout you choose your desired delivery slot, which can be during the day or even late into the evening. Less popular slots and those a few days away are often cheaper than the next-day delivery slots, so if you can plan ahead you can save money.
What is eBay?
It’s an online auction site, where anyone—individuals or small businesses—can sell new and used items. It makes its money by taking a small fee from sellers. Buyers can use it for free to find whatever they want, from pottery to clothing. Goods on eBay can be cheaper than in online stores. And it’s a good place to source rare items that are no longer in production. If you have unused items lying around at home, you could make a little extra cash by selling them on eBay, and as a buyer, you can sometimes grab a bargain if no one bids against you.
How do I buy something on eBay?
You can use the search box on the site to find something specific, or you can browse the site by selecting categories and looking through items. There are two types of sale on eBay: auction items that you bid on and aren’t guaranteed to win unless you’re the highest bidder, and “buy it now” items with a fixed price, which you can buy instantly. Once you have a set of search results, you can choose to view both types of sale or just one by clicking on All listings, Auction, or Buy it now at the top of the results list.
In order to buy (or sell) something, you need to sign up to the site and create a login and password. Then, for “buy it now” items, you just select the item you want, click Buy it now, and follow the instructions for payment.
How do I bid on an eBay auction?
At the top of the item’s page, you’ll see a box that you can type text into and underneath that box is text that tells you the minimum amount you can bid, for example, “Enter $0.01 or more.” If someone has already bid on the item, then you’ll be asked to enter more than the previous bid. In the box, enter the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the item. The price will not increase to this amount unless others have also submitted bids up to that amount.
The way it works is that the bid amount increases incrementally up to the ceiling price that you and others have bid. So if the current leading bidder’s highest bid is lower than your highest bid, the price will increase by an increment above the leading bidder’s maximum, but not right up to your maximum. This system is quite helpful as it means that you don’t need to be online as the auction progresses. eBay will bid on the item for you each time someone else submits a bid. You will receive an email from eBay to tell you if you are outbid by someone, so you can go online and increase your maximum if you want.
Are there any good strategies for winning an item?
One useful tip is to log on at the very last minute, just before the auction ends, and submit a bid that’s higher than the last price—the other bidders may not then have time to increase their own offer. Another way to win items is to look for those that others haven’t found, such as items where the title contains a common misspelling. There are websites that generate common eBay misspellings—FatFingers.com is one—so you can enter the search term (e.g. “gardening gloves”), and it’ll give you possible misspellings (“garening gloves”) to bring up items that most people won’t find, and where the auction is consequently unlikely to reach a high price.
How do I know whether an item is new or used?
Items for sale on eBay can be new or secondhand. The item listing will tell you this, so be sure to read the details. In fact, always read the details of any listing carefully, as this is your only recourse should something not be as described and you need to send it back. If you neglect to read the details and find out the roll of wallpaper you ordered is actually for a doll’s house, you’ve got no right to return it and get your money back unless the item description wasn’t clear about this.
So I can return an item and get my money back if it’s not what I wanted?
Not quite. If the item is not as described, or it is faulty and this wasn’t made clear on the item description, then yes, you can return it and get your money back. This is easier if you have paid via PayPal. But if you receive the item and decide you don’t like it, you have no right to return it. However, items have different return terms and conditions, depending on the seller. Some sellers will accept a return if you change your mind, though most individual sellers won’t.
Is it best to pay by PayPal, then?
Yes. While you could send a check or pay by bank transfer, PayPal is recommended because you have more rights as a buyer in the event that something goes wrong with the sale. If you want to be a seller, it’s good practice to accept PayPal as a payment option—because it’s naturally very popular with buyers.
I have some things I’d like to sell on eBay. How do I start?
The site can be a great way to make some extra money. But do check that the item is worth selling. It takes time to set up an auction listing and photograph the item, so there’s no point wasting your time over something that won’t make you much profit or is unlikely to sell at all.
How do I check if my item’s worth selling?
First, search for similar items on the site to see if they have sold. Click Advanced next to the Search button to bring up the advanced search page. On this page, enter your search term (item title) and then scroll down to where it says Search including and tick the box that says Sold listings. The search results will now bring up only items where the sale has ended (whether the item sold or not). All successful sale prices are listed in green, and unsuccessful sales (no buyer) are in red. This gives you a good idea of whether or not an item is popular and will sell, and at what price. It will also help you decide under which category of goods you should list it.
I have done the checks. What next?
You need to set up an item listing. If there’s a similar item in the results of your research, click on it: Under the image of the item you’ll see the words Sell it yourself. Click on this, and you’ll get straight to an online form to begin listing your item for sale. Some of the form will already be filled in with the details of the similar item, which saves you time.
To sell a completely new item, unlike any other available on eBay, click on the Sell menu at the top of the page, then Sell an item and the online form will load. Follow the instructions on-screen. You will need to register with the site and create a seller account, supplying your contact details and the types of payment you will accept before you can list an item.
I’m not sure how to describe my item.
The title is how people will find your item when they search and the first information they will get about your item in the search results. So include likely terms to make it easy to find, and as much useful information as possible to encourage them to click on your item. For example, don’t just put “Black dress,” but “Ladies black party/special occasion dress, size small,” or any other descriptive terms that a potential customer might type in.
Put as much honest information as possible to describe your item so that the buyer is left with no questions. If there are any defects—such as a small stain on a pair of curtains or a book with a well-used spine—list them here and explain that they are shown in the photos. The online form will ask if you want to upload a photo (or photos) of your item.
Do I need to bother with the photo?
You have little chance of selling it if you don’t. Buyers always want to see what they are being offered—particularly when buying secondhand items. It’s a good idea to upload a couple of images, to show the item from different angles. And if your item has any damage you should include more than one photo, the second photo showing a close-up of the imperfections.
Do I have to pay to sell an item?
You do, and you have to pay whether the item sells or not. But if it doesn’t sell the first time, then you can relist the item again for free, and you can adjust the starting price or any other aspect of the listing at any time to encourage a sale. The listing price varies according to the starting price you set (the lower the price, the lower the fee), the category it is listed in, and any optional extras you choose when you fill in the online selling form. If your item sells, you’ll also be charged a final-value fee, a small percentage of the final price. In addition to this, if you accept PayPal as a form of payment, you’ll be charged another small percentage by PayPal. All these need to be taken into account when deciding your starting price.
I don’t want to pay. Are there any sites that sell secondhand items for free?
There are several. One is eBid, which charges no fees to list items and gains revenue mainly from advertising. There are also sites that work like the classified ads you find in newspapers. Craigslist is one such site, where you can find and advertise goods, services, and even your home.
Absolutely! It’s not easy to do on your own, but it’s worth investigating. If you can pull it off, it will save you a lot of money on real estate agent fees. Craigslist is a free way to put your house on the market privately—but you may not reach many potential buyers that way. You might want to use an online estate agent. You get fewer services than with a face-to-face service, and you will have to host the viewings of your home yourself, of course. But if all you want is a virtual store window in which to display your house, then they’re a good option.
What about my car?
If you want to sell your car, consider listing it on a car-sales website, and you’ll get a wide audience of potential buyers. There’s nothing stopping you from listing your car on a general auction site, of course, though there’s a risk that you won’t get the price you are hoping for.
Can I use the web to save money?
Definitely! It’s always worth using the web to track down news of sales as well as to find discount codes and promotional vouchers. You can save money on many things you buy—including gas, beauty products, groceries, and restaurants. And it is so easy that many people now do it as a matter of course before they buy.
What’s the best way to find discounts?
There are two ways. The first is to sign up to a dedicated voucher website, such as RetailMeNot or Groupon. These sites gather deals from many vendors. You’ll find lists of deals, plus discount codes that you can enter at the checkout to save money on certain websites. Some coupons listed are for online or offline use, so you can print them out and save money in the store. Second, if you know you want to buy something at a specific online shop, it’s worth checking whether or not a discount code or coupon is available before you complete your purchase. On a search engine, perform a search with the name of the shop and the keywords “discount code,” and you may well find a money-off or other coupon (such as one for free shipping) in the search results.
Groupon seems to have deals as well as coupons. How do these work?
Groupon offers deals every day by email—significantly discounted items and services available to buy for a limited time only. This could be any service or item: a manicure at a local salon, a weekend away, a food processor, or sports equipment. Companies use Groupon as a way of advertising their business to Groupon’s large mailing list. The deals are dependent on a set number of people signing up, and if the number isn’t met then the deal doesn’t go ahead. To receive deals you’ll need to sign up (for free) to Groupon, whereupon you’ll receive daily emails advertising the deals. You just might get a shot at a fabulous bargain.
It’s worth checking whether or not a discount code or coupon is available before you complete your purchase.
The net makes it easy to compare prices and find the best deals on household bills such as gas, water, electricity and insurance. The key is never to be loyal to a single provider: switch frequently, and do it all online.
Say “no” to auto-renew
Don’t ever let your car, home, or other insurance renew automatically when the annual contract is up. Most insurance companies make money by relying on people to take the easy option and accept the renewal quote without question. Usually the renewal price is more expensive than getting a new deal elsewhere, or even with the same company, so shop around every time it comes up. Many insurance companies will give you a quote online when you put in the details of your car. But you can still haggle and play their offers off against each other for the best deal.
Flick the switch
Keep tabs on your energy usage and aim to compare energy suppliers at least once a year. They are all keen to have your business. If you do find a cheaper deal, the energy companies will take care of the switch.
Compare and contrast
Use comparison sites to save time and compare deals all in one place. However, bear in mind that not all providers are available on comparison sites—you may want to supplement your research by making some phone calls to providers or by getting direct quotes from their individual websites.
Get money back
Once you have found the best deal, check cashback websites like Ebates.com to see if cashback is available. Compare the cashback price with the best deals to work out the cheapest option.
It’s wise to claim your earnings frequently, and as soon as possible, as they aren’t officially yours until they’re safely in your bank.
It sounds great. Is it really that good?
The main snag is that you can get so keen on the idea of saving money that you buy things that you don’t really need. Be strict and only sign up if the deal is something that you genuinely want to make use of. If the deal is for a beauty or other personal treatment—massage, teeth whitening, and so on—do your own research into the company behind the deal. Sign up only if this is a company you want to do business with.
Any other money-saving ideas?
Yes: Use a cashback website every time you make an online purchase. You’ll need to create a free account with a cashback site first. (If a site asks you to pay to sign up, avoid it.) You can earn back significant amounts when buying things such as home insurance, and small amounts on everyday purchases such as clothing, DVDs, stationery, photographs, and so on. The cashback will build up if you use the site regularly. Some sites even have a downloadable app that tracks your movements and pays you a small fee just for walking through the door of a store on the cashback list.
How can I build up cashback?
To make a cashback site pay, you have to get into the habit of checking every time you want to purchase something. Do this by searching the cashback website for the retailer you wish to buy from. If cashback is available, click through to the retailer’s website from the cashback site. This click-through is logged, and once your purchase has been made your cashback begins to be processed. It can take a while for cashback to come through, and you’ll need to accumulate a minimum amount before you can claim it. You can usually choose to receive it by bank transfer, or there might be an option to take it in the form of shopping vouchers that are worth more than your actual earnings. It’s wise to claim your earnings frequently, and as soon as possible, as they aren’t officially yours until they’re safely in your bank.
I have loyalty cards for quite a few different stores. Can I get something similar online?
If you have a smartphone, you can get rid of many of your loyalty cards and download an app instead—many stores now offer these. You just open the app when you’re at the store’s checkout, and a barcode scanner will scan your phone when you pay for the item. Similarly, some coffee-shop chains have a downloadable app that you can top up with money and use to pay for your morning latte. Each coffee you buy earns you points, and eventually a free drink.
I don’t want my phone cluttered up with too many apps, though.
The good news is that there are also apps that display different loyalty cards in one app, so you don’t have to download each one onto your phone separately. Search the app store on your phone to find these—there are plenty of free ones.
Save with QR codes
Have you spotted anything that looks like a square barcode on the window of a store, on the back of a book, or on an advertising poster, and wondered what it is? It is a QR code—QR is short for Quick Response—and many stores and companies are using them as a way of offering discounts and bonuses. To read these codes, you need a smartphone, and you need to download an app called a QR reader (there are lots of free apps that do this). Then, when you come across a QR code, you simply open the app and hold your smartphone in front of the code to scan it, as if you were taking a photograph. Your phone will then give you the option of loading a website that might contain a discount, a money-off coupon, a loyalty bonus, or some other kind of promotion. (They can be used as “proof” that you have visited a particular store, for instance, which may help you earn points.) There are many other uses for QR codes. You may see them in magazines or at tourist attractions, for example: scan the code, and you are taken to a site that gives you additional information about the article or the attraction.
I’ve heard I can earn money by doing online surveys. Is that so?
Internet surveys can be an easy way of making some extra cash—just by sitting at your computer. Research companies need people to do their surveys—and they are willing to pay you a fee (albeit a very small one) simply for telling them what you think. All you have to do is sign up and complete the surveys to accrue points; these build up into cash rewards or coupons that you can spend at specific stores. Doing surveys is never going to make you a fortune, but if you enjoy doing them, then the little bit of cash that they make you is a welcome bonus.
How can I maximize my return?
For a start, never pay to do an online survey. If you are being asked for money, then it is never going to be worth your while. Sign up for a few sites—Swagbucks, Rewarding Ways, iPoll, and Global Test Market, for example. Many surveys require people to be specific ages, so this will help you access a reasonable number of surveys that you’re eligible for. Do spend a bit of time creating your profile, as this can influence the surveys that you are asked to do. And be sure to check your email account regularly—surveys are usually operational for a fixed period, and you don’t want to miss the deadline.
It’s also worth claiming your money as soon as you can—don’t leave it in the account. And if you earn vouchers rather than cash, make sure that you use them quickly—many have expiration dates and may become worthless if you hang onto them for too long.
If you go several months without completing a survey, you could find the emails tail off.
Are there ways of getting extra points?
If you have friends who are likely to be interested in doing surveys too, you can usually get rewards for referring them. There will be a Refer a friend or similar link somewhere on the site if this is the case. But make sure your friend is happy for you to do this and has a dedicated email address—joining these companies can put you in the firing line for spam.
Do I have to do every survey I am eligible for?
No, it is entirely up to you how many surveys you do, and when you do them. You can do lots one month, and nothing the following month. But obviously, the more you do, the more points/rewards you build up. And if you go several months without completing a survey, you could find the emails tail off.
Do I need to declare the money I make?
Money made from surveys is classed as earnings, so you will need to keep a record of how much you make, in case you need to declare it for tax purposes. If you fill out a tax return, you will have to include it; if not, check with a tax professional for advice.
A friend does “mystery shopping.” Is this worth doing to earn money?
It can be, if you have time and are interested in helping shops monitor and improve their customer service. If so, this can be a fun way for you to make a little extra cash and get bonuses such as a complimentary drink or meal. There are lots of mystery shopping websites online, and again you shouldn’t sign up unless it’s free. As with survey sites, give as much information as possible when you sign up, as some assignments are available only to people of a particular age and so on.
How does it work, exactly?
Once you have signed up, you’ll start to receive emails telling you of available assignments in your area. Assignments can be popular, so you’ll need to be quick to respond if you do want to do one. You’ll be given instructions about what to do and will have to report back following the task by rating different aspects of the shopping experience. Your expenses will usually be paid, plus you’ll earn cash or coupons for each assignment.
How else can I make money online?
Try entering online contests to win prizes. Many companies offer very good prizes, such as vacations or tablet computers, because it’s a great way to publicize themselves (and cheaper than making an ad). This isn’t a guaranteed way to make money or win prizes, of course, but if you enjoy getting “comped” and have time to enter many competitions, then you’re very likely to win something at some point.
• You usually enter by filling in an online form, which costs nothing except time.
• Don’t enter competitions that cost money, as there are plenty of free ones out there.
• Make sure you keep track of the competitions you have entered so as not to enter the same one more than once (for which you might be disqualified). Some contests allow only one application per household.
• It is wise to set up a separate email address for contests, as you’ll be flooded with confirmation emails. It’s fine to use the same one as for your surveys.
• Don’t forget to check and clear out the clutter from your email account, though—you might miss the email telling you you’ve won!
