Online shopping makes it remarkably easy to feel like you are saving money, especially when a countdown clock or giant “40% off” banner appears on the screen. But an online deal is only valuable when the final price is genuinely lower and the purchase fits your needs and budget. Retail prices can change frequently, meaning today’s impressive-looking discount may simply bring an item back to a price it reached weeks earlier. Shipping charges, return fees, financing costs, and impulse purchases can also erase apparent savings. Before clicking “Buy Now,” use these seven checks to determine whether that bargain deserves your money.
