Getting the lowest price: codes, sales and cashback

There are four common ways to pay less. Knowing how they interact matters more than finding any single code.

The four levers

• Retailer sales. The shelf price drops for everyone.
• Promo codes. Extra money off at checkout, usually with conditions.
• Cashback or rewards. Money back after you buy, through a cashback site or a card program.
• Loyalty programs. Points or member prices from the retailer.

Check the rules on stacking

Many retailers don't allow a code on top of an already-reduced item, or two codes together. Read the terms on the offer. Cashback often has its own conditions, such as excluding certain brands or requiring that you click through its link and don't use outside codes.

Should you wait?

If a retailer runs big sales around the same times each year, waiting can beat any code. That is why we are building discount history for each brand. It will show the typical discount and the best we have seen, once we have enough days of data to say so honestly.

A simple routine

1. Check whether the retailer has a current sale.
2. Look for a verified code that fits your cart.
3. Check whether any cashback or loyalty option allows both.
4. Compare the final total, including shipping and tax, with one other seller.