ONLINE BUYING MADE EASY

THE internet’s great for picking up bargains, but it’s all too easy to buy impulsively and waste cash. Here’s a guide from our sister publication, No.1 magazine, to help you become a savvy online shopper.

Think ahead

MAKE sure you could create at least three potential outfits with the garment you’re lusting after. That way, you’re less likely to buy a fad item. If you can’t make it work in your head, you won’t be able to in real life.

Multi-task

WHY trawl individual stores when you could browse them all at the same time? Websites such as polyvore.com and shopstyle. co.uk are fantastic – you’ll soon find what you’re looking for.

Zoom in

OBVIOUSLY, you can’t reach out and touch the garments you’re browsing online. So, to avoid disappointment, we suggest using the “zoom” function to examine the item; try to inspect the stitching and fabric to ensure the sellers haven’t just made a cheap jersey look really expensive.

Shipping blues

TRY not to pay for shipping, which can cost as much as £10. Many shops will give you free delivery if you spend over a certain amount.

Return to sender

RETURN policies vary between stores. Some allow you 28 days to return unwanted items. For others, you only get two weeks. Remember, you have to factor in postage time. Some companies even make you pay to return items, or refuse to refund sale items. Be sure to check the small print.

Two-day rule

BECAUSE you’re not handing over cash at the counter, sometimes it’s easy to forget you’re spending real money while shopping online. Here’s a handy tip to avoid that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach every time you check your bank balance. Pop the items you want in your shopping basket, but wait two days to check out and pay for them. Go back through your cart and, if you can’t even remember why you put something there in the first place, then it gets the boot! Now you’ll be able to weed out those impulse buys.