Okay, so we get it. You’re confused. You may even be outright paranoid. Shopping online is a pretty big deal to a lot of people and here’s why. People from older generations (and younger ones as well) are a little skeptical about shopping online sometimes. We totally understand that and aren’t going to try to convince you that it’s safe. However, for those of you that have shopped online and are cool with it, we’re going to teach you something.

We’re going to teach you when you should shop online and when you shouldn’t.

Ready to get started? Great! Let’s begin.

Do You Need It?

Okay, so let’s face it. There are some things that you need and some things that you want. This is where shopping online comes in. Obviously, if you need toilet paper or cotton swabs, you don’t want to wait for it. Even though you could probably order it online for much cheaper, you need it now. So, you pay more for it to get it faster which is fine.

Do You Want It?

However, if it’s just something that you want, why not wait for it? A pair of name brand jeans is much cheaper on eBay than it is in Belk. Do you really need the jeans that day or can it wait a week or so if it means saving you $30? Of course it can! So, why not do it?

How To Get It

So, this brings us to our main point. You know how to distinguish whether or not you should buy something online (waiting for it) or buy it in person (and get it on the spot). Now, for our main point. What if you’re kind of stuck in the middle? What if it’s an item that you kind of need but at the same time, you kind of don’t need it right now? Well…

What You Should Do

This is when you do a little comparing. What’s the price difference between buying something online and buying it in person? How long are you going to have to wait for it? Let’s say you need a new air conditioner (you know, a window unit) for your home. Your current one is still working but it’s been acting up. You can buy a new one in person at Sears for $200 or you could buy it online for $150. It’ll take a week to get it online. What should you do? Well, is $50 savings worth the risk that your air conditioner will go out tomorrow and you’ll have to wait 6 days for a new one? If you live in Texas, probably not.

If you live somewhere where the climate alternates such as Virginia, it probably is worth it (and you’ll knock some money off of that electric bill). That’s just one example though of course and it’s definitely something that many people don’t think about. Too often, people just click “Add to Cart” or drive down to Sears and impulse buy something. Start thinking it through and think about the Risks vs Rewards. If you do that, you’ll save big money regardless of where you shop. Now, where will you shop? Will it be in person or online?