8 Surprising Ways Online Shopping Has Made Managing Money Easier - Not Harder

72% of shoppers consider rewards or cashback categories when deciding which credit card to use for an online purchase, according to a survey of shoppers by FinanceBuzz in partnership with Bank of America. That's a sign shoppers are thinking about their cards as active money-saving tools, not just a way to pay.

This shift tracks with how much shopping has changed. Shoppers can compare prices instantly, check reviews, track price history, and turn to AI tools to research products and find better deals. Price alerts do a lot of the work, too, by flagging drops automatically instead of requiring shoppers to check back manually.

With more information and tools available before checkout, shoppers have more room to make deliberate, informed decisions, including which card to use. Here are eight ways online shopping is helping Americans get more control over their money and more value from every purchase.

8 ways online shopping has made managing money easier

1. They read before they buy

94% of shoppers consult customer reviews before making an online purchase, making it by far the most used research tool available. But most people don't stop at the overall rating. 53% refuse to buy products with fewer than 4 stars while 31% pay more attention to negative reviews than positive ones to see whether the same complaints appear repeatedly.

This extra research helps shoppers avoid costly mistakes. Reviews often reveal issues that product descriptions and marketing photos leave out, such as poor build quality, inaccurate sizing, or disappointing performance.

Spending a few minutes reading real customer experiences could reduce the chances of buying something you'll regret, lower the likelihood of returns, and increase confidence that you're getting good value for your money.

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2. Rewards are a strategy, not an afterthought

Smart shoppers also don't leave rewards to chance. 44% say credit card rewards are a planned part of how they save money online. Here's how they do it.

• 72% consider cashback categories before choosing which card to use
• 60% check for bonus cashback offers
• 58% redeem rewards for retailer discounts
• 53% even decide where to shop based on where they'll earn the most rewards

Overall, 70% say rewards are at least somewhat important when choosing a credit card.

If you already carry a rewards card, there are ways to get more value out of the card you already carry beyond just picking the right category.

Let's use an example card to give this some real-world context. The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is built around this kind of choice. New cardholders earn 6% cash back in their chosen category for the first year. One of the category options is online shopping.

The online shopping category covers purchases at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, and Nordstrom, plus cable, internet, and streaming services from providers like Comcast and Netflix.

The 6% rate applies to the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter for your first year, which comes to $150 back per quarter.

If your online shopping is more seasonal, you can switch categories once per month, and your other options are gas and EV charging, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement. The choice category earns 3% after the first year.

Cardholders also earn 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases, with no annual fee, and they can earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

3. AI has become a shopping assistant

AI is changing how people shop, with 67% of shoppers using it to compare products and identify the best option for their needs. Instead of spending hours researching, shoppers are using AI to narrow their choices and gather information much faster.

Even so, people still value real customer experiences. Only 7% trust AI recommendations more than customer reviews while 57% trust reviews more and 36% trust both equally. That balance makes sense. AI speeds up the research process, but reviews help confirm whether a product performs as advertised. With the speed of AI and trusting human reviews, shoppers make confident purchasing decisions while reducing the risk of buyer's remorse.

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4. Subscriptions do the math for them

This might sound a bit surprising, but many shoppers have turned shipping subscriptions into a money-saving strategy rather than simply paying for convenience. 85% now pay for at least one service, with Amazon Prime leading at 78%, followed by Walmart+ (30%), DashPass (12%), Target Circle 360 (8%), and Instacart+ (8%). Instead of paying shipping fees on every purchase, subscribers replace those unpredictable costs with one fixed annual expense that's easier to budget for.

For example, Amazon Prime costs $139 annually (or $14.99 per month). Someone who would normally pay $5 to $8 for shipping per order may recover that cost after only a handful of purchases. Many subscriptions also include perks such as streaming services, exclusive member pricing, or early access to sales, which increase the overall value.

And you might be able to get more out of each subscription with the right card. Returning to our example card, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card counts streaming and internet services under online shopping, naming providers like Netflix and Comcast, so recurring subscriptions can earn 6% during the first year and 3% after that.

5. They price-check everything

94% of shoppers have compared prices while standing inside a physical store before deciding to buy, showing how online research shapes in-store purchases.

The habit continues online where 36% review a product's price history to see whether the current offer is actually a bargain. That's a smart move because prices on major retail sites often change with demand, inventory, and promotions. A product labeled as "on sale" may have been cheaper just a few weeks earlier.

Taking a few minutes to compare prices or check price history helps shoppers spot genuine discounts, avoid paying more than necessary, and feel confident they're getting the best value. Over time, those savings accumulate without requiring shoppers to change what they buy.

6. They wait for the sale

72% of shoppers deliberately time purchases around major sales events such as Prime Day, Black Friday, and Presidents' Day. Another 61% search for discount codes before checking out while 39% are willing to wait weeks or even months for the right deal. Instead of treating every purchase as urgent, they build patience into their shopping strategy.

That approach often pays off because retailers regularly discount the same products throughout the year. Electronics, furniture, appliances, and other big-ticket items frequently see 32% to 40% price reductions during Black Friday, for example.

Waiting a few weeks might save hundreds of dollars without sacrificing quality or buying a different product. It also creates time to compare alternatives, avoid impulse purchases, and decide whether the item is worth buying in the first place.

7. They use cashback portals

It may seem like a small step, but cashback portals help shoppers earn money on purchases they were already planning to make. 25% use platforms such as Rakuten before checking out to receive a percentage of their purchase back as cash. Because these portals partner with thousands of retailers, the savings come without changing what you buy or adding extra items to your cart.

The rewards become even more valuable when combined with other savings strategies. A shopper might activate a cashback offer, pay with a rewards credit card, and apply a promotional code during the same transaction.

That means saving money upfront while also earning rewards after the purchase. It only takes a few extra clicks, but using the strategy consistently throughout the year could return hundreds of dollars on everyday spending that was already part of the budget.

Stacking is where this gets interesting. A shopper might activate a cashback offer through a portal, pay with a rewards card, and apply a promo code on the same purchase. Looking at our example card, with online shopping set as the 6% category on a card like the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards, an Amazon or Walmart order placed online can earn portal cashback and card rewards at once.

8. They set alerts for price drops

Instead of checking the same product over and over, many shoppers now let technology do the work for them. 24% set price-drop alerts that notify them when an item reaches a price they're willing to pay. Shopping platforms, browser extensions, and dedicated tracking apps monitor prices automatically, so there's no need to keep refreshing product pages or wondering whether a better deal is around the corner.

That automation makes shopping both easier and more disciplined. Shoppers save time because they no longer have to monitor prices themselves, and they're less likely to buy too early out of impatience.

Price alerts are especially useful for expensive purchases where a modest discount could translate into significant savings.

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Bottom line

The fact that 44% of shoppers treat credit cards as part of their strategy for saving money online reflects a shift in how people make purchasing decisions. Customer reviews, price comparisons, price history trackers, cashback offers, and price alerts give shoppers more information before they buy.

Better information leads to better decisions, helping people avoid overpriced products, poor-quality purchases, and unnecessary spending. Over time, those small savings may make a noticeable difference.