16 genius ways to save money on Amazon
Amazon has grown into one of the largest global retailers, and it is clear to see why. With a website that offers everything from books to babycare, with rapid, free next day delivery with Amazon Prime and a no quibble returns policy, it is all too easy for Amazon to be the default shopping choice for many people.
That being said, there are still plenty of ways to save money on Amazon purchases, and some of them may just surprise you.
First and Foremost, make a list of what you need
It can be all too tempting for serial shoppers to go from browser to buyer in a click – one click to be specific, thanks to Amazon’s one click purchase option. The thinking behind this is devilishly simple – get the consumer to commit to buy before they’ve had a chance to shop around elsewhere.
This is why my number 1 tip to save money on Amazon is to always prepare in the same way you would to go on a high street shopping trip. Make a list of what you need, and do a bit of online research first. Is Amazon the cheapest option, or do other retailers have a better offer?
If after research Amazon is still your best bet, sites like CamelCamelCamel can help you track the changing price of Amazon items so you can see if you are getting the best deal.
Become an Amazon Prime member
If you are a regular Amazon shopper, then Amazon Prime membership is a great option. With a monthly subscription, you are awarded free next day delivery on millions of items, as well as access to Prime Video, a free TV and film streaming service, and Amazon Music, a library of over 2 million songs.
Add Family Members to Your Account
You are able to share your Amazon Prime membership benefits with other members of your household, giving them access to all of the services. In order to do this, simply add them to your account. This Amazon help page details how to do it.
Student Prime Membership
Students can sign up for Student Prime Membership, which includes a 6 month free trial and then is just £3.99 a month. If you are a student, proof of study is required in order to sign up.
This can include remote or online learning, so if you are currently doing any sort of study at any age, you may be eligible.
Read Free Books With Prime Reading
Prime members can also enjoy a library of free books and magazines all included within their monthly Prime subscription. These publications are available to read on any device including Kindle, iPads and mobile phones. Again, these benefits can be extended to everyone in your household.
On the conatary, decide if you actually need Amazon Prime
This might seem like a big contradiction after the last points, but everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you are blindly paying a monthly description to Amazon Prime but only ordering a couple of things a month and not utilising the other free TV, Books and Music content then it may not be cost effective.
You can still get free delivery on many Amazon items, see the next paragraph for details on how to do it.
Score free shipping by bundling items WITHOUT Amazon Prime
Even without Prime membership, Amazon offers a range of products at free delivery over £20. Rather than trying to find random items to go over the threshold, keep a list of the regular things you buy on Amazon.
For me, this includes “boring” necessities such as hot tub filters, or maybe I know there is a child’s birthday party coming up that I need a gift for. Whatever it may be, I ensure that the items I am buying are things that need to be bought and not just random junk on a whim. Otherwise the savings on the free postage have just gone right out the window!
Do Some Research Before You Buy
Shop Major Savings Events such as Black Friday and Prime Day to score big savings. Amazon’s own products, such as Kindle and Echo, tend to have massive reductions on these days, so if you are considering purchasing one and can wait, it’s definately worth holding out for a deal.
Of course, there are many other savings to be made, but other retailers have begun to price match or even undercut Amazon, particulary on Black Friday, so it is always worth shopping around to get the best deal.
Use Amazon Vouchers for extra savings
Did you know Amazon has a Voucher section where extra savings are available? Similar to the Daily Deals, Amazon Vouchers are available on specific products and change frquently. Simply go to this page and see if there deals that suit you.
Let your Amazon cart track prices for you
We’ve all done it at some point – added something to our cart and then let it sit there, either intentionally or not. Amazon is remarkably good at saving our baskets – (I still have this make up sponge cleaner in there a month later).
Although Amazon’s intention is for us to come back to our abandoned purchase, it is also a handy way of tracking any price changes. (Just don’t blame yourself for that sinking feeling if the price actually goes up).
Take advantage of Amazon Daily Deals
On the desktop site, the Daily Deals section appears as a tab on the top menu. On mobile, a Deal of the Day is presented on the front screen with an option to “View all deals”. Typically, the deals are varied across a range of products and offer savings between 10 and 70% off.
You can also ask an Amazon Echo device “Alexa, what are my Daily Deals?”
Be mindful that the original price could have been higher than other retailers, and sometimes the “deal” price may only bring it into line with its selling price elsewhere.
However, there’s no denying that some of the Daily Deals do offer genuine savings and great bargains can be found.
Shop Amazon Warehouse Deals
Did you know you can buy used, reconditioned items on Amazon? Head to the Amazon Warehouse section of the site to find deals on reconditoned electrical goods, household items and DIY products, it could be worth a look to consider if a used product will do the job and save you money.
Shop Amazon Outlet Deals
In a similar thread to Amazon Warehouse, Amazon Outlet is where you can find new overstocked items sold at discount. Amazon Outlet offers a wider range of products than the warehouse and includes Fashion, Baby & Kids, Electronic Goods, Home Decor and Household items to name a few. The savings don’t appear to be massive but you may find a good deal on an item you need.
Sign Up For Subscribe & Save
Subscribe & Save is a free subscription service, where products you order regularly can be auto delivered at a frquency to suit you. For example, you can select to have a monthly delivery of pet food, or a 6 month delivery of dishwasher tablets.
By activating Subscribe & Save you can save up to 15% on each item. However, it is worth checking periodically that the price is cheaper than buying elsewhere. Although as it is completely free and can be cancelled at any time, you can try Subscribe & Save with no obligation.
Earn Free Amazon Gift Cards or Buy Discounted Gift Cards
Several survey sites offer you the chance to earn Amazon vouchers as payment for your time, including Swagbucks. You can also buy discounted giftcards through apps such as EverUp and Topcashback.
Use Honey to save money on Amazon purchases
Honey is a browser extension that searches for discount codes as you shop. If it finds any, it will pop up with an alert and the code to enter. This can be used at Amazon and other retailers alike.
Additionally, you can earn points as you shop that can be redeemed as Amazon gift vouchers, amongst other options.
Find out more about Honey here.
Could You Save Money on Amazon with these tips?
Hopefully, this post has left you with a wealth of ideas of how you could save money on Amazon. Which have you already tried, and which are you going to take a look at? Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know.
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