Secrets for Amazon Shopping

Being a dedicated Amazon shopper, I spend more time than the average person searching for products, finding deals, checking sales, and trying out gadgets, which has helped me establish a great relationship with Amazon.

How can I utilize it to save money, gain convenience, and discover products that enhance my life, without spending too much and having an excess? Today, I'd like to share some tips on how to find the best products, navigate the site effectively for top listings, and save time and money while using the site.

Is Amazon Prime Truly Worth The Cost?

It includes benefits such as Amazon Prime video streaming, Amazon Music with hundreds of playlists, a free Kindle library, and access to features like Subscribe and Save, Amazon Try Before You Buy, and Amazon’s Personal Shopper. Taking everything into account, it's easy to see $14.99/month as a worthwhile expense. 

Only using Amazon for 1-2 purchases a month can easily justify the cost, given that the average shipping expenses for online shopping usually fall between $5-$15 or higher. If you make use of any of the additional benefits, in my opinion, the price is definitely worth it. In our personal experience, we utilize nearly all the features at our disposal, leading to significant cost savings.

With that being stated, I believe having an Amazon membership is comparable to having a Costco membership. Utilizing a Costco membership to purchase necessary items in bulk, get groceries, and buy favorite products at a lower price can greatly help save money.

However, if you constantly give in to the temptation of purchasing many additional items that exceed your budget, it is likely not beneficial for you. Essentially, you're just wasting all the money you've saved. Amazon Prime is exactly the same. If you discover that you are purchasing too much or acquiring unnecessary items due to the convenience of Amazon, it may be causing more harm than benefit.

Subscribe and Save

I believe more individuals should utilize the Subscribe and Save program offered by Amazon. You can sign up for items you frequently buy, and once you have five subscribed items in a month, you can access the highest level of savings, ranging from 10-15%.

As a busy mom, I truly appreciate this because just when I'm running low on a product, it arrives at my doorstep. You have the ability to fully personalize it to your preferences: monthly, every four months, bi-monthly, whatever suits your needs in terms of frequency and quantity. You have the option to skip or add months as needed.

You can organize it for diapers, wipes, commonly used cleaning supplies, our dog food, and batteries. The options are limitless: paper towels, beauty products, pantry staples, and beyond. It has rescued me numerous times by preventing me from rushing to the store when running out of supplies. And it reduces my spending on products I regularly purchase by around 5-15%.

Discovering the Top-Rated Products

As I mentioned before, I dedicate more time than the typical individual on Amazon, searching the website for great discoveries. The three best choices will always show you a glimpse of the current best sellers. In my experience, I have had great success with Amazon's most popular items.

There will always be some products that are not great, but chances are it is a valuable item. It also spotlights recent launches, which might not be of interest to everyone, but it's intriguing to see what's been gaining popularity lately - I discovered some of my favorite new items here. Also located within the left sidebar:

Small and medium-sized business section - I enjoy exploring this category to find products on Amazon while also backing small businesses. Amazon committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 through the Climate Pledge initiative, allowing customers to purchase items with a designated Climate Pledge seal.

Browse based on what captures your attention – Perfect for finding inspiration for presents. It consists of curated lists organized by categories, put together by Amazon influencers. Browse items for people who adore animals, cooking, cosmetics, gadgets, etc. 

Subscription Boxes – Another hidden treasure on Amazon is their selection of subscription boxes, which are perfect for gifting and frequently feature excellent bargains. Ship packages filled with various items like toys, craft supplies for children, gourmet food packages, books, self-care products, and more. 

Amazon Warehouse - offers a variety of discounted items that are either refurbished or open-box, indicating that they have been previously ordered and returned.

Amazon Outlet - It’s basically Amazon's version of an outlet store. Clearance and discounted items from reputable Amazon sellers are all priced at a minimum of 20% off or more, mainly due to being overstocked, out of season, or purchased in excess.

Handmade - A trendy method to explore the handmade products available on Amazon.

Two Major Methods to Prevent Spending Too Much on Amazon

Make Use of the 'Save for Later' Feature

Make it a routine to put items in your cart, but don't always complete the purchase right away. My Amazon Save for Later folder contains hundreds of products. I hardly ever make immediate purchases when I browse Amazon. I regularly add things to my cart and then periodically review them to decide what I really need to purchase immediately.

This typically ends up being only a small fraction of what's in my cart. Having the option to Save for Later is wonderful. Once you calculate the sum of everything and arrive at the final amount, you will probably recognize that you don't require every single item. It will really help you to avoid spending too much.

Add the Honey Extension to Your Browser and Create Notifications For Price Changes

This is a Google Chrome extension that can assist in saving money. Basically, it will provide you with a few benefits while using Amazon. Initially, upon clicking, the tool will display the cost of a product on Amazon in comparison to other sellers and will indicate whether Amazon offers the most favorable price or if you should consider buying from another source.