There are so many great ways you can save money by shopping online, you might not know about all of them! And for those of you who do, it never hurts to have a reminder. Here are five fast tips that will help you save money while online shopping.

1. Search for Coupons

This is a big one: Before you go looking for deals at your nearby retail store, look for coupons. It can be as simple as going to Google and typing “[Insert store name] coupons.”

You can try finding coupons for less traditional purposes, too. You can find coupons for free rentals from automated DVD kiosks, local restaurants, tax consultants, and plenty of other businesses or outlets as well. Many small businesses are looking to get more traffic from online sources, so they put valuable coupons on their websites to lure more customers. Before spending anywhere, do a quick search and you might save a buck!

2. Use PriceGrabber.com

The nice thing about PriceGrabber.com is that you’ll be able to shop numerous online stores at once, comparing prices along the way. If you make a purchase, you know you’re getting the best price! This can save you a lot of money. I’ve found savings upward of 6% by using PriceGrabber.com. Not bad!

3. Use Your PerkStreet Debit MasterCard® at Amazon.com and Walmart.com

In my review of PerkStreet’s changes for 2012, I noted that you can earn 2% cash back on Amazon.com and Walmart.com without maintaining a certain checking account balance. This is a great new way to make extra cash back, and you should certainly take advantage of it.

4. Compare Insurance Plans Online

Instead of getting insurance through the most recognizable, well-advertised provider in your area, try comparing insurance plans online. You can compare Health Savings Accounts and other options as well!

Why should you compare? It’s simple. Insurance is a commodity. You’ll find different providers offer different deals. You’ll be able to choose the best deal and have insurance providers competing for your business!

5. Save Money by Avoiding Ever-Rising Gas Prices

Another way you save money by shopping online is mostly automatic — provided you’re able to get a good rate on shipping. Shopping online will save you money because you won’t be driving your vehicle. With average gas prices in America now around $4.00 a gallon, shopping from home has never been more attractive.

Think about it: How many times have you driven to a store only to be disappointed that they didn’t have the item that you were looking for? What a waste of gas! The least you can do is shop online first, call local stores second, and drive as a last resort.

Next time you want to find your latest fashion statement or gizmo to play with, consider shopping online. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Are you an online shopper? What do you do to save as much money as possible by shopping from home? Share your  thoughts in the comments section below!

John Frainee is a Customer Columnist here at PerkStreet, and the webmaster and a writer for the ever-growing blog, The Christian Dollar. John enjoys exploring how faith and finance interact, spending time with his wife and family, and meeting readers from all over the web. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible and Christian Counseling and loves encouraging others in their financial pursuits. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.