It’s very fitting to kick off my online shopping blog at the start of one of the craziest, but best, shopping times of the year. There may still be 24 shopping days to go, but you sure won’t find me anywhere near a mall these days. I prefer browsing multiple retailers online (much faster than physically walking or driving to them) while nestled on my sofa, sipping a nice cup of tea (or wine). Now that’s my kind of shopping! My love of online shopping has outfitted me with tips and tricks to finding the best deals and styles to share with you on to the nines.

So let’s get this holiday shopping season started with some tips on shopping for gifts online:

PRICE CHECK, PRICE CHECK, PRICE CHECK. Prices can sometimes be better online than in the store. But what about shipping fees you ask? A lot of retailers will provide free shipping for spending a certain amount. If not, try searching for “free shipping coupon code + retailer” and if you’re lucky, you may find a legitimate coupon code to enter at the checkout. In some cases, such as Best Buy and Nordstrom, retailers give you the option to order the items online and pick them up at the store (depending on availability).

PAY ATTENTION TO DEALS. It’s that one time of the year when it’s a good idea to pay close attention to those spammy emails you may have signed up for to receive from retailers. As an email subscriber, you will get the head’s up on any special deals before anyone else and you may even receive an exclusive discount. Some retailers, such as Kate Spade and Piperlime, offer a one-time discount for signing up to their mailing list.

BOOKMARK YOUR OPTIONS. If you’re one of those types of people who likes to source the perfect gift, it may take some time to surf multiple sites over multiple days. If you want to keep track of all the items you’ve shortlisted, consider starting shopping lists on Kaboodle for each person. You can add to your list or refer back to it at any time and remember where to ultimately purchase the perfect gift.

And remember, ONLINE SHOPPING IS NOT FOR THE LAST MINUTE SHOPPER! Always take into consideration the amount of time it will take to receive your items from the retailer.

Do you have any advice for online holiday shoppers?