If you’ve spent more than 5 minutes on my site, you’ve probably noticed I have a small love affair with Amazon. And really, what’s not to love? Their prices are competitive, their customer service is exceptional, their selection is freaking awesome and I don’t have to shower or brush my teeth to go shopping {cashiers everywhere are thankful for that!}.
So what do you do when your Amazon shopping habit becomes a borderline addiction? Short of starting an Amazon Anonymous support group {which I’m totally looking into}, you simply learn to shop smarter. Here are the easiest, and my favorite, ways to save on Amazon:
Amazon Prime: If you are going to be a serious Amazon shopper, YOU. NEED. THIS. Amazon Prime is the bomb dot com. You get all sorts of VIP perks which will make you feel like Amazon royalty. My favorites of course is FREE 2 -Day Shipping! {Sometimes my stuff even arrives the next day} I can even order an item and have it shipped to my mom {or anyone, anywhere else} for FREE! I also get a junkton of FREE movies and FREE eBooks! Holy cats it’s awesome!
Subscribe and Save: Here’s the low-down on how Amazon Subscribe & Save works and why you should be using it:
1. You can save up to 15% on your entire order when you commit to purchasing an item on a regular basis {diapers, anyone?!}!
2. You get free 2-day shipping on every Subscribe & Save shipment.
3. You’ll be charged for each order only when the item is shipped. The amount charged each time will reflect the price of the item on the day the order is processed minus the Subscribe & Save discount.
4. You select the frequency that you want to receive new orders, and they’ll automatically send your subscriptions by your monthly Subscribe & Save delivery day. You can change your subscription schedule, quantity and/or frequency online at any time. Easy peasy.
Amazon Student: You’re probably too busy searching the couch cushion for change to buy some Ramen to be reading this, but if you happen to catch it, you’ll be glad you did. Amazon Student is a feature offered to college students with a valid .edu email address. You’ll get Amazon Prime FREE for 6 months and then have the option of continuing that membership for 50% off {so only $39/year for students!}. Plus, you can receive a $5 credit for referring friends via email and social networks with no limit on the number of referrals made.
Amazon Mom: Amazon clearly understands that being a mom is freakin hard sometimes! So they’re making your life just a little bit easier and rewarding you for being a cool mom {or dad, or grandparent or caregiver}. Amazon Mom is a membership program geared towards moms {etc} of newborns through toddlers. You save up to 20% on all sorts of baby related stuff {think diapers and wipes} and then they ship it right to your front door for free! New members even get 3-months FREE!
Warehouse Deals: I think this is one of Amazon’s best kept secrets! You can score deep discounts on open-box, like-new, and pre-owned products backed with Amazon’s A-to-Z guarantee. That means all products are thoroughly tested and shipped right from Amazon. Plus you’ll get Prime or FREE shipping where available.
Amazon Outlet: The Amazon Outlet store is another hidden gem! You can find crazy low prices on markdowns, clearance items, overstocks, and more. And unlike the Warehouse Deals, all outlet items are brand new. Some of the best deals I’ve ever scored are from the Outlet Store!
Freebies: There’s no such thing as a free lunch? Amazon doesn’t think so. Okay, so they won’t be serving up free subs and chips anytime soon, but they do offer so many freebies. And FREE is really hard to beat! They offer free e-books, free music and MP3 downloads, free aps, free instant videos and more. I’ll often just sort by price when I’m browsing a category to see what Amazon is offering free that day, because their freebies change daily!
Super Saver Shipping: If you don’t shop on Amazon enough to justify an Amazon Prime membership, but you don’t want to pay shipping {what crazy person does?}, the Super Saver option is for you. Throw $35 worth of qualifying items in your Amazon cart and your entire order ships for FREE! It’s like constantly having a free shipping coupon without having to mess with typing in a code.
Amazon Coupons: Amazon has coupons? Who knew! You can save a ton by simply using an Amazon coupon. To redeem a coupon, simply click on it and then add the item to your cart. The discount will be automatically applied when you check out. There are coupons for everything from electronics to baby wipes to household cleaners.
Earn While You Shop: You’re shopping anyway, why not get paid to do it?! You can earn 3% cash back when you shop through Ebates, or Amazon gift cards when you use SwagBucks. It’s really the easiest way to stretch your dollar and make your money work harder for you!
And there you have it. 10 ways to save while you spend. I’m basically helping you feel less guilty for being an Amazon addict! You’re welcome.
~Mavis
Linda says
We have Chase’s Amazon card. We earn triple points on Amazon. We buy most stuff from Amazon so we rack up a lot of points. I love their Subscribe and Save.
Jane says
Linda, Us too!! We have two rewards credit cards- my husband uses one and I use the other (the Chase Amazon card). I love earning point for free stuff when I’m buying things I’m going to buy anyway (gas, groceries, etc.)!
Diane says
Thanks for the info. Could you point to where the instant access to kindle books is on Amazon? I’ve not been able to find it. Thanks!
Alison says
You actually left out something important! With Amazon Prime and Amazon Mom (you need to have both) you get 15% off all subscribe and save items (not just baby or kid-related items) when you have five or more Subscribe and Save items in a month. I get the 15% discount on detergent, snacks, cleaners, shampoo, etc. Often I find hey have a coupon on top of the 15% discount, which makes for a great deal!
Em says
Wow, learned some more stuff about amazon. Thanks!
Jess J says
With Amazon Mom and Amazon Prime you get 15% off subscribe and save items. If you have 5 or more items delivered in a month it’s 20% off! You can also add multiple addresses to your subscribe and save. I have my Grandmothers household goods and treats delivered to her house in the next town for cheaper then if she had gone out and got them at the grocery store.
Clifford Hawley says
Can a teacher at a college or university use Amazon Student? My wife is a junior college professor and she has a .edu email address.
Tom says
And don’t forget about MyHabit.com, Amazon’s flash sale site. Got some good deals on clothing there. Just have to double check other prices. I’ve seen some things actually cheaper on regular amazon than on MyHabit.