{"id":28722,"date":"2017-03-15T16:29:36","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T08:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=28722"},"modified":"2026-03-17T18:08:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T10:08:46","slug":"save-make-money-using-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/save-make-money-using-internet","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways You Can Save (And Make) Money Using The Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you imagine a day go by with no access to the Internet? Sounds like a nightmare to many of us.<\/p>\n

We are so used to having technology enriching our lives in different ways, we can\u2019t imagine living without it. This goes beyond checking up on your Facebook friends, or sending WhatsApp messages to your colleagues.<\/p>\n

The Internet does not just make our lives easier, it can help us save some cash too. With the cost of living rising at an alarming rate, seeking value and bargains is as important as ever. With the Internet access, it becomes so much easier to find deals and save money.<\/p>\n

Here are 6 ways that you can save money and time (because time equals money) using the Internet:<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Shopping<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

No, we are not just talking about online shopping, though that can come in handy a lot of times, but the Internet has made it easier for us to do research before making purchases.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just good for research, it\u2019s also more convenient with the option of making purchases at home while still in your pyjamas. Online shopping is especially useful for those living in Selangor. With the recent ban on plastic bags, customers have to bring their own shopping bag or pay an additional RM0.20 per plastic bag to put their shopping items. This can be a real pain if you are stocking up on groceries!<\/p>\n

The next best thing to do is to order your groceries online and have them delivered to anywhere you want to.<\/p>\n

Online shopping is not just good for groceries, it\u2019s also cheaper for certain items. For example, if you are buying a Samsung top-loader 13kg washing machine, you can compare the recommended retail price stated on Samsung\u2019s official site with the price stated on an online shop, like Lazada.<\/p>\n

\"online<\/p>\n

\"online

Price on Lazada.<\/p><\/div>\n

The difference is RM400! If you were to look for the best price offline, you would probably have to pay a visit to a few different places, wasting your time and money. Sometimes you can even get online coupons for even more discounts!<\/p>\n

Pair it with the right credit card, you can also enjoy cashback. For example, if you are purchasing the washing machine using the CIMB Cash Rebate Gold<\/a>, you will enjoy 5% cashback. This translates to RM50 in savings (maximum cashback per month is capped at RM50)! If you make your purchase on Monday<\/a>, you will also get additional 5% (desktop) to 10% (app) discount.<\/p>\n

You can even go a step further by using shopping apps on your devices to get additional discount. For example, the Zalora app gives you an additional 15% off with a minimum spend of RM150.<\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Product comparison and review<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Product research and comparison should not be limited to prices. The Internet has enabled us to do our due diligence for almost everything \u2013 from home broadband to personal loan from banks.<\/p>\n

The best thing about the Internet is you can get most information for free and genuine user reviews and analysis can also be easily obtained. For example, if you are looking for broadband for your home, you will be able to find the information to help you decide between TM UniFi Home Broadband<\/a> and Maxis Home Broadband<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For banking products, the usual factor to compare is the interest or financing rate. Choosing the right product that gives you the best rate obviously has its perks. Here\u2019s a comparison of two personal loan plans that offer different interest rates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>
Personal Loan A<\/center><\/td>
Personal Loan B<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loan amount <\/td>
RM30,000<\/center><\/td>
RM30,000<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loan tenure<\/td>
5 years<\/center><\/td>
5 years<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Interest rate<\/td>
7.00% p.a.<\/center><\/td>
8.25% p.a.<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Monthly instalment<\/td>
RM675<\/center><\/td>
RM706<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total interest<\/td>
RM10,500<\/center><\/td>
RM12,360<\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

In this example, the lower interest rate save you RM1,860 over the five years loan tenure.<\/p>\n

This just proves that a little research goes a long way when you are shopping for financial products, be it personal loan, credit card or insurance plan. With the Internet, product research has just become easier and more convenient.<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Paying bills online or automating payments<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Late payment<\/a> is the worst \u2013 not just because it will cost you money, it also has long-term repercussion to your financial health. Paying off your credit card or financing late could badly affect your credit report. Every time you miss a payment or be late on a payment, it will be reflected on your Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) report.<\/p>\n

Having a bad record on your CCRIS report means you may not be able to obtain more credit in the future. You will also have to pay for your tardiness. Late penalty could be as much as RM10, while for credit card it means having to pay higher interest rate in the future.<\/p>\n

Though we try to be mindful of the due dates of our bills, sometimes life happens. This is why being organised about your bill payments must take precedent.<\/p>\n

You can do so by setting up automated payment online using whatever bank platforms your account is on. Each transaction would cost RM2 in service fee. Even if you are not keen to set up standing instruction, you can still make online payment anywhere and anytime.<\/p>\n

<\/span>4. Swapping and selling<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Impulse purchase \u2013 we\u2019ve all done it before. But we don\u2019t have to beat ourselves up every time it happens because we can still cut our losses by swapping or selling items we don\u2019t need for things that we do need or for cash.<\/p>\n

The Internet has made all these possible without too much hassle. There are Facebook groups and websites dedicated for people selling preloved items. For example, you bought an expensive stroller for your child and now your child has outgrown it. You can sell the stroller at a much cheaper price on the Internet and recover some of the money for other things that you need.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a comparison of a brand new stroller versus a preloved stroller. If you are looking to buy, you can always consider buying preloved for certain items to save some cash.<\/p>\n

\"selling

Brand new stroller sold on Lazada.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"buying

The same stroller sold as preloved on Mudah.my.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/span>5. Offering your products and services<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

With today\u2019s financial demands, it\u2019s getting harder to get by with just a single income, which is why so many Malaysians are turning to ride-sharing for side income.<\/p>\n

However, if driving is not your cup of tea, you can still earn some money through other side gigs like freelance writing, designing or even selling your crafts. With more websites available to make it easier for you to market yourself and your services, making extra cash is becoming increasingly easy.<\/p>\n

Some of the websites you can consider are:<\/p>\n