By definition, comparison shopping is the act of finding an item that you like at one store and comparing its price to other retailers who carry the same item. This process is second-nature for many who love to shop and can result in some great savings. However, this process can be very time consuming and arduous when shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. This means that paying the extra cost for an item can be worth more than spending the time to find it at a better price elsewhere! This is where comparison shopping online comes in an efficient and economical to continue to still get great savings on items you love.

1) To start, find a great online shopping directory. This helps alleviate much of the stress and anxiety experienced by first-time shoppers since a wide category of different stores is in one place. This means you can find a variety of clothing, lingerie, and shoe stores at your fingertips.

2) Next, you want to have an idea of what you are looking for, for example a strappy navy blue high-heeled sandal. That may seem broad, but it is a definite start. Keep a notepad and pencil nearby to jot down the prices and location of various items that match that description.

3) Surf through the shopping directory and look for stores under the category for which you are looking, in this case, look for stores under the category of "Shoes" or "Footwear", store categories will differ depending on the shopping directory.

*Tip: Better organized online shopping directories will not only have featured retailers organized by category but will also have separate webpages for men and women's retailers.

4) With your notepad and pencil, go to some of the various shoe retailers featured and search for shoes fitting the description of what you are searching for.

*Tip: Higher quality shopping directories will also have each featured retailer open up in a new browser window whenever you click on them. This means you can browse several retailers at once and you will never lose your place on the shopping directory website.

5) After you find the item you want at the most desirable price, place your order. Try to only shop at online retailers that have a Better Business Bureau seal, very high customer ratings, or both. The best part about it is that many retailers offer free shipping, this means you will only pay for the price of the product, the exact same procedure as if you purchased it at a brick-and-mortar store.

Comparison shopping online, it's a great saver of both time and money. Like anything else, it will take a bit of practice to be able to perform it efficiently. I know this will help you shop like a pro in to time. Good luck and happy shopping!