Save Now, Travel Later: Where to Find the Best Online Deals in Canada
When you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, you’ll likely start prioritizing travel in your life however you can. One of the most effective ways to do this is by saving every penny and dollar you possibly can for your next trip (or, ideally, trips).
Taking advantage of online deals is a simple and convenient way to save more. They can help you save or even get cashback for everything you buy.
As a Canadian shopper, though, this can sometimes be challenging when you need reliable internet providers. You’ll see deals or sales thinking they’re perfect for you, only to get to the site and find out it’s only available in the US. To help you avoid this painful setback and save up for your next big trip, here is a list that includes Canadian-friendly ways to find the best online deals.
Cashback Websites
Cashback is a term you’ll often hear with credit cards that offer cash percentages or points for certain purchases. But it’s also something that exists when it comes to online shopping and deal hunting, where you can get real cash back on purchases — perfect for putting straight into your travel fund.
Platforms like Rakuten and Ibotta are partnered with thousands of retailers to get you as much as 40% cashback on your purchases. Some of these partners include online travel booking sites, so you can even get money back on your travel plans.
Cashback platforms offer two ways to shop: through their website or app. This gives you some flexibility to find the most convenient way to shop for you.
Coupon Websites
Coupons are a great way to save hundreds of dollars when shopping, especially for everyday purchases like groceries and toiletries. You can collect coupons online to use in person and digitally from coupon websites like Save.ca, SaveaLoonie.com, SmartSource.ca, and webSaver.ca. When using them in person, you can show cashiers the coupon on your phone or even print them out to bring into the store.
While you may not see the results an extreme couponer would, you’ll still see savings when you add couponing to your shopping habits, getting you one step closer to bringing your travel dreams to reality.
Deal Finding Websites
The popularity of shopping online, or more specifically, finding good deals when shopping online, has led to the development of deal-finding websites. These allow you to look through a wide range of products and experiences at discounted rates. In many cases, you can even look up a specific product or experience you’re looking for a discount on.
Groupon and Red Flag Deals are popular Canadian deal-finding websites that offer their users a huge variety of discounts and savings from around the web.
Signup for Bonuses and Deals
Online stores, brands, and even apps often offer bonuses or deals for signing up to join their email list, becoming a member, or using their app. If there’s a store, brand, or app you enjoy shopping from or using regularly, sign up to join their email list, become a member, or get notifications. This way, you’ll be offered new deals, bonuses, or discounts (plus, doing this means you won’t miss a sale when it happens).
And you never know where you might find cash bonuses. For instance, Canadian players at PartyCasino get a 100% bonus, so keep an eye out for deals and bonuses regardless of the site you’re on.
Price Comparison Tools
Sometimes, a good ol’ price comparison is the best way to find a deal. Websites and apps like Save.ca, Shopbot, and Flipp have all made this process easier by offering platforms that allow you to look at deals and flyers in one convenient place.
The best part about these websites is that you can set your location and see all the deals in your area — which is perfect for quickly finding out which grocery store or drug store is going to have everything you need at the best price (saving you from the headache of finding the flyer for each store in your quest to save!).
Whether you shop for groceries in person or online, this will save you valuable time and dollars in the long run, giving you more time and money to support your passion for travel.
Oh, and if you do shop in person, the same tools that allow you to make price comparisons are also helpful tools for price matching — which many stores offer, even if they don’t advertise it. Some stores even go as far as offering price beating, where they match the price and discount it even further. Unfortunately, while you can find the price match details online, you usually need to go in person to get the price.
Save on Shipping
If shipping costs hold you back from jumping on an online deal, you can work around this by opting to pick up in-store, which is free most of the time. Another possibility is to look out for retailers offering their members free shipping (like Amazon) or with a low minimum order amount to get free shipping. This way, you can take advantage of online deals without worrying about shipping costs.
Plan Your Spending
At certain times of the year, like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day, stores offer huge discounts to their customers. If you’re able to wait, buy the items you want when they go on sale so you can save a few extra dollars to put towards travel. And if you pair it with a cashback app or digital coupon, you can save even more!
Finding Online Deals Supports Your Travel Fund
There’s no shortage of online deals when you have the know-how and savvy to track down the best prices and deals. With this list, you’re well-equipped to start adding to your travel fund so you can enjoy your next adventure sooner rather than later.
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