The internet has changed the way many of us handle our daily errands. You can bank, pay your bills and order movies online. Additionally many people are foregoing the traditional trips to the mall in place of shopping online. The convenience of one stop shopping (from the comfort of your home) and the added value of comparison shopping can save people a lot of money. Unfortunately you don’t always make out with a great deal when you check out your shopping cart and see the shipping fees associated with your order. Here are a few ways to save a few bucks on shipping charges.

Become a member.

It pays to become a member of websites that offer year round shipping at one price. Both Amazon and Sears offer subscription memberships that come with free shipping. If you receive many shipments per year this one time annual fee can quickly pay for itself.

Check minimum-order requirements.

Many sites offer free shipping once you have met a minimum purchase amount. If you are close to reaching the minimum order amount you may actually save money by purchasing a filler item that will get you to that amount instead of paying for shipping.

Use your store card.

Certain retailers offer free shipping to people paying with their store account card. Keep in mind that most retail account credit cards have higher interest rates, so keep your budget in mind when shopping online. It doesn’t help to save a few bucks for shipping if you end up exceeding your budget and paying interest on the items.

Compare numbers.

Padding the price of an item is not a new concept for retailers. Online shopping is no different, you may think you are getting a deal with free shipping only to find that the item you are buying is cheaper somewhere else. The beauty of the internet is the ability to comparison shop to see if you really are getting the best deal available.

Look for free shipping codes.

Many people clip coupons or read a local flier before heading out to do some shopping. You can do the same online; do your homework before checking out online by visiting a site like FreeShipping.org to look for promotional codes that can save you money on purchases as well as shipping.

An important tip to remember when shopping online is to stick to a budget. It can become far to easy to fill a “virtual” cart which can lead to spending more instead of spending less.