According to The American Interactive Consumer Survey nearly 120 million adults searched for product information online last year - and close to 100 million of them made website and in store purchases after doing their research.

Why search online? Because smart shoppers know that using the Internet as a shopping tool is the #1 way to save money. Below are three easy steps to becoming a modern savvy shopper:

Step One - Comparison Shopping Online

According to a survey by Forrester Research and the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce, 93% of shoppers buy their purchases in stores. But, by using an online comparison shopping resource before they leave the house, these shoppers can save both time and money.

At Cairo.com, for example, consumers can see all the local sales from their favorite grocery stores and retailers in one place - instead of waiting for Sunday and spending an hour elbow deep in newspaper circulars.

Cairo's Grocery Saver lets consumers enter their weekly grocery list - then sends them alerts when their everyday items go on sale locally. For people looking for a specific item, Cairo lets them input that item - for example, a new DVD, digital camera or shoes - and then searches over 60 different local retailers to find the best sale prices.

Step Two - Reward Yourself by Buying Online

For wily shoppers who like to shop from home, online rewards programs such as MyPoints.com are another great money-saving resource.

Similar to frequent flier programs, MyPoints.com online shopping program rewards shoppers with points for every purchase they make online.

Consumers who want to purchase a new laptop, for example, can log into MyPoints.com, go to the Office Depot or Dell website link, purchase the computer they already wanted - AND - (bonus!) earn as many as 5000 points. These points are then redeemable for valuable gift cards - from more than 80 stores and restaurants such as Starbucks, Target Barnes & Noble, Home Depot, Red Lobster and Chili's.

Step Three - Combine and Save Even More!

The real trick to mastering bargain online shopping, is to combine these services to get the most for your money. Search for the best price online at a comparison shopping site, purchase the product through a rewards program site, and pay for it with a cash-back or airline credit card. Each step will save you money or reward you for your purchase - making you the model savvy shopper!