Have you ever noticed when shopping online there is now extra Checkout options that are available, beyond just PayPal? This is a trend our editors have noticed is becoming more common while shopping online. Sometimes to entice shoppers to use these checkout methods retailers will offer stronger coupons than they typically offer all year! Here's a few tips if you're new to using these payment methods.

Create a Visa Checkout or Masterpass account and link it to your credit card.

This will only take a few minutes. Once you create an account and link a card, Visa Checkout, you'll save time at checkout. Instead of creating an account for every site you shop at, you can simply log in with your Visa Checkout account, which already has your credit card saved. Eddie Bauer, Staples, and Fandango are sites that have offered discounts using Visa Checkout recently. Some of our favorite Visa cards include the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards, which earn Ultimate Rewards points.

If your main card that you shop with is a Mastercard, you can use the Masterpass checkout method. We see discounts pretty regularly with this method at sites like Rakuten, Zulily, Newegg, and Monoprice, and it gives you the same convenience of shopping with one account like Visa Checkout offers.

You can find the latest discounts for each service here:

• Visa Checkout Offers
• Masterpass Offers

IMPORTANT: Enter the coupon code before you checkout.

Once you login to the checkout method of your choice and hit that submit button, it'll be too late! This is the most common mistake we see our readers make when trying to score a discount with one of these newer methods. The coupon code offered still needs to be entered on the store's shopping cart page, then you'll click on the checkout method to process your order.

Check your credit cards for extra discounts!

Our travel and credit card expert Mark recommends also checking your credit cards for current offers that may include these checkout methods. This includes Amex Offers, which can span different categories of discounts, including travel and dining. Many offers earn cash back, while others earn Membership Rewards points.

Another new option is Chase Offers, which was rolled out in the last half of 2017. Example offers have included $20 off $50 in spending at Whole Foods and 20% off Nordstrom.

What method have you tried in the past? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments!

Related deals:
Reserve Card: 3x Points for Travel/Dining
Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card