In times like these, we're all trying to pinch some pennies and save money where we can. Some people are going out less, some are cancelling their cable TV, and many families are cutting out luxury purchases altogether.

If you're looking to save some money but you don't want to completely give up online shopping, I've compiled a list of three great Firefox money add-ons that can utilize the power of the internet to provide you with the best possible deals.

Whether you're using Amazon, eBay, or dozens of other sites - these add-ons will make sure you never spend more than you have to online.

Ookong for Amazon

Ookong helps you make purchases on Amazon at the "right time" by tracking price history and providing notifications when prices drop.  Prices on Amazon fluctuate constantly, so this add-on will let you know the instant a good deal is available.

Ookong is built right into Amazon, so when you're viewing an item listing you can click the large Follow this item button to begin tracking the price of that item as well as its price history.

firefox money

After you've clicked Follow this item, the button will change to View the history which you can click to watch the price over time, including a display of the item's lowest price thus far. You can add as many items as you want to your watch list.

firefox money
firefox money

You can easily access your Following List later by clicking the Tools menu in Firefox then selecting Ookong.  When the price of an item you're following drops, you will receive a notification in the bottom right of your browser.

ookong price dropped

If you want to learn more about Ookong (and hear a great accent with classy music), check out Ookong's introductory video.

InvisibleHand

InvisibleHand is a great add-on for Firefox that notifies you when a better price is available on a product you're browsing. InvisibleHand works with over 100 retailers in the US and UK.

When a better deal is available on a product you're browsing, you will receive a notification at the top of your browser window showing the competing retailer. InvisibleHand will also let you know when the product you're viewing is already listed at its lowest price.

invisiblehand

The InvisibleHand icon (the arrow in the bottom right of Firefox) will glow green when you are browsing a site that the add-on supports.  If you're browsing a site and you aren't given a price comparison right away, check if the InvisibleHand icon is blinking.  If it is, the add-on is still in the process of searching for the best deal.

invisiblehand supported

Myibay Auction Sniper for eBay

eBay is a great place to find deals on new and used items, but it seems like somebody always manages to steal the winning bid from you in a tight bidding war. This type of activity is called "sniping", where a person enters a winning bid at the last possible second of the auction, and you can also partake in this with the myibay Auction Sniper Firefix money add-on.

After you've installed Myibay Auction Sniper, you have a few different ways to add an item to your Sniping list.  When viewing an item you want to snipe on eBay, either:

  1. Click the "Snipe It" link which should appear in the bottom right of the listing below the Other item info box.
    myibay button
  2. Open the Tools menu in Firefox and select "Snipe it with mibay.com".
    myibay menu
  3. Right click the item's page and select "Snipe it with myibay.com".
    myibay rightclick

When you add an item to your sniping list, you will be prompted to securely log into your eBay account and then be able to set the price of your bid and how many seconds you want left in the auction before the bid is placed.  After you click Add, you can track and manage your snipes through myibay.com (which is free).

myibay bidded

Conclusion

These add-ons will help you shop smarter and purchase products when they are at their absolute lowest prices. You may not save a lot of money on an individual item - but several dollars off each item you buy will save you and your family a lot of money throughout the year.

Have any other Firefox money tips to save cash using the internet?  Share them with us in the comments!