Austin.YNN.com

Austin / Round Rock / San Marcos

Change region

  69º

Updated 01/30/2012 10:02 AM

Smart Living: What to buy online

By: Ivanhoe Broadcast News

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.


Thanks to the worldwide web, you have virtually everything at your fingertips, but just because it only takes minutes to buy doesn’t mean you should do it.

From kitchen supplies to life insurance, you can buy just about anything online. The Internet offers some surprisingly sweet deals, but watch out because not everything is a smart buy.

After a long day at work, the thought of grocery shopping online might be tempting but a study in the UK shows doing your groceries online only creates more stress due to missing items, late deliveries and strange substitutions. Also, virtual groceries often cost more and force you to buy more than you need.

For tools and furniture, it might look good online, but even if the price is right, it’s better to see it and feel it before you have to send it back.

Some surprising smart online buys include auto parts, diapers and gluten free foods.

When it comes to auto parts, opinion boards can save you the time and the energy of doing the research yourself—sites like E-bay motors and carparts.com offer deep discounts and plenty of items.

Free online programs like Amazon Moms can get parents a 30 percent discount on diapers and wipes. From breakfasts to boxed meals, online stores like Amazon grocery and gluten free mall have bundle deals on foods high in demand. It helps keep money in your pocket and sanity in sight.

Most men and women shop online during the morning before lunch. To avoid overspending, try just leaving it in your cart until the following day. You may decide you really don’t need after all.

Every Monday and Thursday YNN's Jennifer Borget offers lifestyle reports that help families make decisions about careers, finances, nutrition, fitness and parenting with our Smart Living.