Amazon is one of the first places most people visit to do their shopping, whether they are looking for beauty products, food, or home goods.
Most often appreciated for its convenience, Amazon is loved for its low prices and seemingly endless products. But most people do not realize how easy it is to save even more money on Amazon and get the most out of your purchases.
The following article looks at the top eight ways to save money while shopping on Amazon.
Consider an Amazon Prime membership
Amazon Prime is a subscription service offered by Amazon for $139 per year or $14.99 per month. While this may seem steep for a subscription service, it is a great way to get the most out of Amazon, especially if you are a frequent shopper.
Not only do you receive faster, free shipping on thousands of items with no minimum spend, but you also gain access to free perks such as Prime Video, Prime Music, and thousands of e-books. You also get greater flexibility on shipping options, which we will discuss further.
- It is also possible to save money on your Prime membership. Prime is available at a much cheaper rate for students, with a yearly membership currently at $59 and a monthly membership costing $6.49.
- You can also get it at a discounted rate if you have an EBT or Medicaid card, in which case a monthly membership costs $5.99. For households wanting to save money, Prime memberships can be shared between two adults and four teens or children.
If you still are not sure about the commitment of membership or want to try it out before you pay out, Amazon offers a Prime trial for free. The trial gives you access to all the perks of a fully paid Prime membership for thirty days, at which point you can either continue with a paid membership or cancel your trial at no cost.
Be Aware of Shipping Deals
As briefly mentioned above, Amazon Prime membership comes with access to several different shopping options, all free for members.
Some of the most favorable options include one-day shipping with a qualifying product, Amazon Day shipping, and same-day shipping, available if you spend over $35, usually before noon.
In addition, if you do not mind waiting a little longer, no-rush shopping is a great option. It gives you discounts and rewards for a little longer delivery time.
Even if Prime is not for you, you can still take advantage of Amazon’s shipping deals available to everyone and still save some money. Free shipping is available to everyone on orders over $25, where items are eligible, and typically takes around five to eight days to arrive.
This is a great option if you need more than one item and can save you a considerable amount in shipping costs.
Set Up Subscribe & Save
The Subscribe & Save program is offered by Amazon for those items you purchase frequently. It allows you to set up a schedule of monthly deliveries of your items and receive a 15% discount in return.
You can get money off items like makeup and skincare, food, and household products. The program is great for saving you the hassle of manually repeating purchases while saving money.
Subscribe & Save is an excellent option if you want a ‘set it and forget it’ approach to shopping for the necessities you need to purchase regularly.
Depending on your needs, you can adjust your schedule to fit how often you will need it and skip a month if needed, making it an even better option for avoiding unnecessary purchases. You also qualify for free shipping with the program.
Track Prices and Set Up Alerts
Alerts are a great way to get notified when items you want or need are on offer, especially if it is something you do not need to purchase urgently and can afford to wait for.
One of the most popular options is Camelcamelcamel.com, which automatically tracks product prices and emails you to notify you of savings and deals available. You can save a considerable amount by waiting for an item to drop in price and purchasing it at a lower price, particularly where items start high.
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Amazon Assistant is Amazon’s extension for your browser, comparing product prices and ratings and notifying you of deals and offers. As well as notifying you of a price change, the extension also shows you other products related to what you are searching for and recommends options that may be cheaper or have a better rating.
Keep an Eye on Daily Deals
Amazon’s home page frequently displays deals of the day, but there is also a dedicated page for limited-time deals. The Daily Deals page refreshes every day with new options available each day. It is well worth regularly checking to ensure you do not miss out on the opportunity to save some money, especially if there is something you need.
While the items available daily may not always be the best items, you are more than likely to eventually come across something you need. If you have an Amazon Echo, you can also use that to find out about the deals available that day or available to you.
Use the Trade-In Program
Anyone can use the Amazon Trade-In Program, in which you can trade in old devices and products such as books, phones, and TVs in exchange for Amazon credit or a gift card. Although you will not receive any physical cash, it is an excellent option for anyone who frequently purchases from Amazon and could use the credit toward future purchases. You may also receive a discount on Amazon devices if you trade in one of your own.
The Trade-In Program uses complimentary shipping and, in some places, offers free drop-off points, meaning there are no unnecessary costs on your end. When they get your item, it will either be repaired and resold or recycled in the right way, saving you both time and money from having to do it yourself.
Take Advantage of Coupons
Despite the already low prices, Amazon coupons are available regularly. The ‘Special Offers’ section of product pages is the best place to look for coupons, which you can clip to apply the savings to your basket.
You may not get a lot of money off most items, with most coupons offering around a dollar off, yet coupons are a great way to get money off the things you need.
The majority of coupons are available on groceries and personal care products, so keep an eye on the offers sections of these products.
Consider Signing Up for Amazon Family
Amazon Prime members also get access to the Amazon Family program, which deals on essentials like diapers, baby food, and sanitary products. In addition, you can schedule your deliveries when they will be needed and receive a 20% discount if you have five deliveries set up per month. Amazon Family is a great option for parents needing quick, easy, and cost-efficient deliveries.
Image credit: [BogdanVj]