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If you prefer shopping with your mouse, you're probably familiar with the term promo code.

"It's usually a four digit number and a combination of numbers and letters that you can enter in," said Kristen Nelson of retailmenot.com. "It's good for, you know, ten percent off savings off one item. Also free shipping."

Nelson's company is one of many sites that compile promo codes. She says visitors see an average savings of about $20 per transaction.

"We love it," Nelson said. "I like to think of couponing and online couponing as investigative shopping. You need to check around and see before you make a purchase and see if there's a deal, see if there's free shipping and see what your options are."

That may sound time-consuming, but it's not. And to prove it, I'm going to demonstrate how much I can save and how quickly I can do it.

So I've got a few items in my shopping cart at kohls.com, totaling just over $151 dollars. Before I check out, I do a search for Kohl's coupon codes. I'm in luck: several sites have them.

I type in a code I found for 15 percent off. That knocks $21 off my total. And since Kohl's let's you use multiple codes, I also enter a code for 20 percent off summer items only. A few more dollars disappear, making my final price $124.97, a total savings of just over $26.

But savings don't end with promo codes. Next, I'm going to look for cash back on my purchase.

First, I check my credit card to see if they offer any cash back opportunities with Kohl's. They offer 5 percent, which means I'll get another $6.25 back on my card. My total now: $118.73.

I also always check a site called ebates.com, which allows you to accrue cash back and receive a check with your rewards every few months. In this case, their offer is better: 6 percent, which is roughly $7.50 cash back. My final total for this purchase: $117.47. That's $33.63 off the original price. $33 dollars for a few minutes of my time? To me, that's worth it.

"It's really about looking around, seeing where you can combine savings, seeing where you can cut corners and really make the most of the money you have," Nelson said.