3 Best Shopping Websites and Apps of 2016
Improved tools to help you save money using your smartphone or computer.
The picks below are part of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s annual Best List, a roundup of the best values in all the areas we cover – from funds, stocks and ETFs to credit cards and bank accounts to cars, college, kid stuff, phone plans, travel and health. Discover all our Best List picks here.
Website for cash back
Create a free account at eBates.com, then click on any of the site’s more than 2,000 retail partners, recently ranging from Amazon to Zulily. How much you’ll earn back depends on how much you spend and where you shop. For example, eBates recently offered 1% back on Best Buy purchases and up to 10% back at Expedia. You’ll receive a check or PayPal payment every three months as long as you’ve earned more than $5.
Single-store app
Target’s Cartwheel app helps you save on everything from food to clothing to health-and-beauty aids. Download the app to your phone, then scan the bar codes of items at the store as you add them to your cart to find and select app-only savings offers. Display the Cartwheel bar code on your phone at checkout to claim your savings.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Multi-store app
ShopSavvy helps you quickly spot better prices at other retailers while you’re out shopping. Use your phone to scan the bar codes of items you’re planning to purchase, and the app will show you how much each item costs at local stores and online retailers. You’ll also see reviews from other shoppers.
-
Use An iPhone? You May Be Hearing From A Class-Action Lawsuit Group
A handful of suits against the iPhone maker seek to crack down on everything from app store purchases to messaging.
By Keerthi Vedantam Published
-
Capital One/Discover: What's In Their Wallet For You?
Push back on Capital One's planned merger with Discover is growing with one group of consumer advocates calling for a public hearing.
By Keerthi Vedantam Published
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime Day
Smart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
By Andrea Browne Taylor Published
-
5 Ways to Save Money on Vacation Rental Properties
Travel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
By Cameron Huddleston Published
-
10 Annoying Hotel Fees and How to Avoid Them
Travel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
By Cameron Huddleston Last updated
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards March 2024
Smart Buying Trying to compare the best cash back credit cards? Unlike most reviewers, we include cards from small banks and credit unions, as well as from large issuers.
By Ellen Kennedy Last updated
-
How to Spend $1,000: Find Cheap (or Free) Online Courses to Build Career Skills
Smart Buying There's a huge array of skill-building online courses that can level up your career for under $1,000.
By Kim Clark Published
-
MoviePass is Relaunching. Should You Sign Up?
Smart Buying The subscription discount movie card company has a checkered past and an army of disillusioned former cardholders. If you want to try the reboot, you’ll need to hurry.
By Bob Niedt Published
-
HBO Max Is Offering Huge Discounts
Smart Buying Looking for a streaming service deal? Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting the price of HBO Max.
By Bob Niedt Published
-
Are You Streaming Too Much? What the Discovery+/HBO Max Mashup Means
Smart Buying Fewer original scripted series? Maybe. And maybe it’s time to unsubscribe.
By Bob Niedt Published