I also am new to on-line shopping. Mostly Amazon (no affiliation etc).

I use a credit card that allows virtual numbers, and you can set both a dollar limit and time limit. I highly recommend credit cards that allow this. As of yet, I have not had any problems.

I think the thing that converted me to on-line shopping was not so much generally lower prices (they are) but the ability to find what I actually need. A few months ago I was doing a (what I thought) was a simple home repair. I needed a small plastic part. No problem, I head off to the Home Depot. Nope. Now, several years ago, the staff there would have been able to tell me where to get it (a la Santa in Miracle on 34th Street). No more---they were dumbfounded. 3 hours of checking all other local stores had the same result. I went home, logged on and found the part I needed in less than a minute and had it in my hands 2 days later. Finding the repair part saved having to make a major replacement--probably saving at least 100 or more dollars.

I too like to support local businesses, even chains, as they employ local folks. But I still need to be able to find and buy what I want and need. I can't afford to replace things that only need a new $2.00 plastic part.