online shopping - Stuff Parents Need

How I’m Maximizing My Savings Online for Back-to-School Shopping

July 28, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 3 Comments

Thanks to ShopAtHome.com and Belk for partnering with me on today’s post about back-to-school deals. All thoughts, opinions, and total lack of creative skills are my own. Affiliate links included.

Yesterday I had to go shopping for clothing for an upcoming trip. I only shopped inside a store because I didn’t have enough time to order stuff online. I spent an hour scouring racks and trying on a dozen things in the fitting room. I did walk away with the items I needed (a new skirt and 2 new pairs of shoes) but it absolutely WORE ME OUT.

Additionally, when I got to the register I realized that I didn’t have any coupons to help shave something off the bill. This is hardly ever a problem when I shop online because I can often find additional savings opportunities through ShopAtHome.com. Shopathome.com back-to-school

Most everyone still has at least a week before school starts back, and most of us have 3-4 more weeks, so let’s take advantage of the current time lead and get that back-to-school shopping done online!

Right now, Belk (a department store largely in the South, but available for everyone to shop with thanks to the internet!) is having some terrific sales, and ShoptAtHome.com has DOUBLED their cash back offer. By clicking through the Belk link on ShopAtHome.com you are eligible to save 12% on your order, and that’s in addition to any coupons you might be using (currently ShopatHome.com has 23 coupon coupon offers for Belk).

Let me demonstrate how to rock what ShopAtHome.com and Belk have going on right now:

First head to the Belk page on ShopAtHome.com.

Then look through the coupons. Right now I’m seeing one for $10 off a $50 order. I’m going to click this link to get my savings code, and then I’m taken to the Belk site. Right now I’m looking for a few adorable pieces for my youngest, who is starting preschool in a few weeks. I’m a fan of Rare Editions and Bonnie Jean, because both lines tend to have whimsical, colorful prints and patterns that remind me a bit of Matilda Jane. But thanks to the Belk sale and the ShopatHome.com discounts, I won’t be paying Matilda Jane prices! 🙂

This 2-piece set is already marked down 40% and is currently priced at $30. Into my cart it goes!

And this owl outfit? Yes, please! It’s also on sale right now for $30, also 40% off.

Now given the ridiculously cute factor of these outfits, $60 isn’t too terribly bad, but I definitely want to do better. So I’m going to use that $10 off coupon code I found at ShopatHome.com to bring my total down to $50. Then I’m going to check out and pay the total, but here’s where the perks of ShopatHome come back into play: after checking out, I know that I am going to be credited back 12% of my purchase through ShopatHome. So I’m going to see $6 of that payment come back to me, and all I had to do to earn it was use ShopatHome.com. By using this site, what would have cost me $60 actually only cost me $44. And FYI if you like these brands…I saw quite a bit on the site that was 75% off!

And on top of all that awesome, ShopatHome.com also has the ShopGold program, which I think of as a loyalty program. Each store you shop at through the website is worth a certain amount of ShopGold coins. Coins that you earn by shopping can be redeemed for gift cards down the road. It takes a while to earn enough to get a gift card, but I see this as icing on the cake and a really great way that ShopAtHome.com is thanking their members for remembering to shop with them. More savings on top of all of the other savings is a pretty nice thank you! 🙂

ShopatHome.com sends checks out monthly, once you reach a minimum of $20 in your account. With the great cash back offers they have on hand, it won’t be too hard to earn that amount, friends. If you haven’t signed up for ShopAtHome.com, what are you waiting for? It’s completely free to join and is designed to save you as much time and money as possible.

The Next Big Thing in Online Shopping is Already Here: Rakuten Global Market

January 10, 2014 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Rakuten Global Market. All opinions are 100% mine.

Just yesterday my family members and I were discussing what might be the next big thing in online shopping. I can think of a few different online retail giants, and sometimes it is hard to imagine who might be able to compete with them. But remember, they weren't always around! And as it turns out, there happens to be an online shopping destination that over 80 million people are currently using, and that you may have never heard of. I know I hadn't!

Check out Rakuten Global Market. This is the biggest e-commerce site in Japan, and its merchants ships cutting edge products to over 200 countries.

I just spent a little bit of time on the site, and I have to say, I found quite a few super cool things for kids, the likes of which I really have seen in stores and online before. For example, I noticed a large variety of cute and colorful aprons on the site. The prices varied, but were all in a very reasonable range (this one was $18 and came with a matching bandana…so cute for a little kitchen helper!).

I saw lots of other cool products, too (boys' tuxedos, adorable Alice in Wonderland-inspired frocks, super cute bibs, fun and different maternity clothes, you name it!).

I definitely recommend that you take a bit of time to Explore Rakuten Global Market. Offerings for babies and children are plentiful, and they are only a tiny fraction of what is available on the site!

Shopping on Rakuten Global Market is also very easy. Simply register on the site (it only takes a few minutes and it is completely free) and then you are eligible to earn points when you shop, which can be applied to future purchases. The site is available in English, as well as 4 other languages.

This is a very cool website that gives you access to over 40,000 merchants, many of which are likely very new to you. Truly, this is bringing the global market right to your computer screen. And if you already have certain favorite brands from Japan, this is a great way to easily get access to them without having to fly to the other side of the world!

So what did you find that looked really cool when you took a look at the place where over 80 million othr folks around the world are shopping?

Guest Post: The Increase of Online Shopping for Parents

May 16, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Please enjoy this guest post, sponsored by Born Gifted, a wonderful store based across the pond but easily accessible online!

It’s hard to believe that one of the biggest maternity and kids wear corporations have publicized that they are closing one of three stores in the UK and getting rid of 800 jobs. The executive chairman stated that the business is at an all time low due to the increase in customers shopping online. Online vendors have been eating up the profit which is putting a damper on stores that sell baby items. Even though there will be fewer stores, this national chain is planning on diving head first into the remaining stores in order to get business back up to speed.

Bringing their profit up to a positive point might be a moot point. Online merchants seem to have more bargains and easier access to baby items any time of the day or day of the week. The astonishing aspect in all this is the fact that such a HUGE chain is publically acknowledging that online websites can offer more items with just the click of a button, and at better prices as well. In addition to great prices and the shopping convenience of the internet, there is a wider range of products to purchase and this is something a local store (even a national chain!) just can’t hope to compete with.

Oftentimes it is possible to find free shipping straight to your doorstep which makes it even a better deal all the way around. Parents can order during football practice via their smartphones or whilst grabbing a quick bite to eat as baby naps. This in turn frees up time that can be spent with those little ones. For busy parents this allows time to shop hassle-free rather than trying to manage an infant in a pram or watch a toddler pulling items off the shelf. Consumers also love that with the click of the mouse they can compare items online and evaluate them based on other customer reviews. Stress free shopping is what parents need and something rarely found in local shops.

Bio: Born Gifted believes that online shopping should be convenient and stress free. As a leading online merchant for everything ‘baby,’ here you will find gifts for all occasions. Click here to find out more.

What about you? Do you prefer to shop online or to hit the brick and mortar stores? I’m most definitely an online shopper, as this allows me to shop at odd hours or during brief moments of quiet in my home. Bonus: no schelpping around a diaper bag!

Find the Best Gifts at the Best Prices, Always! Become.com

September 13, 2011 · by Tiffany Merritt · Leave a Comment

Have you already started on your holiday shopping list? I have 24 people on my list that I shop for (woah!), so if I don’t shop all year, I really do find myself in a pickle by the time the weather turns cold.
Some of the folks on my list are already taken care of (except for the actual wrapping part!). But there are others that require more digging around to get that perfect gift.
If you are doing some internet sleuthing to find the perfect present for someone (maybe even yourself!), then let me once again recommend Become.com, which is an online price comparison site. It helps you find the very best item you need or want for the very best price.
Perhaps you want to go all out and give your parents who love to watch weekend sports AND who love sitting on their porch an outdoor tv enclosure. That’s definitely something you are going to want to comparison shop for, as the price AND the quality do vary widely.
Maybe you are shopping for a practical problem-solver, and want to find a non slip stair tread. It turns out, there are some options that aren’t ugly at all, and Become.com can show them all to you in one convenient place. I actually could use one of these for our back porch steps, which get really slick when it rains. I’m pleased to see some really affordable prices thanks to this website’s comparison shopping!
Or, maybe you want to give a gift that I actually did receive (and loved!) one Christmas: comfortable bar stools. If you have a space in your home that can accommodate a bar stool, I believe you will never regret getting them! We loved ours and miss them dearly now that we live somewhere without an island or a bar in our house. The selection you’ll find on this site is great! You can shop by price point or even by color, which can help you find your perfect stool faster!
As you start to look for holiday gifts, or even if you are like me and are already in the thick of it, remember to do your comparison shopping through Become.com so that you can be sure you’ve found the very best price!

This post brought to you by Become.com. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.