Saving money while shopping online is mostly about building a few good habits rather than finding one clever trick. These ten simple steps cover the areas that make the biggest difference to what you actually pay.

1. Compare before you buy. Check a couple of retailers for the same item before checking out, since prices for identical products can vary more than expected.
2. Search for a discount code first. A quick check for a current code before checkout can save a percentage off your order or the cost of delivery.
3. Sign up to retailer newsletters. Many stores send a welcome discount to new subscribers, along with early notice of upcoming sales.
4. Check the free delivery threshold. If you are close to qualifying for free delivery, it may be cheaper to add a small item than to pay the delivery charge.
5. Read the returns policy. A cheaper item with a difficult or costly returns process can end up less good value than a slightly pricier alternative.
6. Watch out for artificially inflated “was” prices. Where possible, check an item’s recent price history so a discount reflects a genuine saving.
7. Time bigger purchases around known sale periods. Events like January sales and Black Friday tend to bring wider and deeper discounts than usual.
8. Use price or stock alerts where available. Some retailers let you request a notification when an item you want goes on sale or comes back in stock.
9. Keep track of what you already own. Avoiding duplicate or unnecessary purchases is one of the simplest ways to save, regardless of how good a deal looks.
10. Compare the final total, not just the headline discount. Add delivery and any extras before deciding whether an offer is genuinely the best available option.

CheckoutDeals brings deals and discount codes together from a wide range of UK retailers, so you can put several of these habits into practice in one place rather than checking each store separately.