5 Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Prime Sale
5 Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Prime Sale
We are approaching a large shopping time. With Amazon Prime Sale coming up (July 11-12) , Target Circle Week (July 9-15), Nordstrom Anniversary sale (July 11-August ), and many other retailers who want to compete with Prime day sales, there’s plenty of opportunities to save on the stuff you need and want. Let's just call it Christmas in July. With so many options, it may be hard to stay focused, maximize your savings and end up with a lot of extra stuff. This post contains some tips for optimizing your Amazon Prime Sale (and other sales during this time frame) to save on all the things you actually need throughout the year.
Tip 1: Take inventory
This is the most important step in the process because if you just blindly say what you need or just look at what's on sale you can end up buying a lot of things that you don't need and missing out on the stuff you do need. Let’s avoid repurchasing what you already have and end up still missing what you need. Speaking from experience- I have bought more things on sale just to realize that I already have the exact same thing at home and unopened ( gasp😮). Go through closets and storage to eliminate the extra and make space for the new. Purge, donate(where possible) and/or sell items to clean the house for your new treasures. I know it's easier said than done. If a massive purge seems overwhelming, focus on the areas you know you were planning on shopping. For example, you know you were wanting to get some kitchen gadgets. Go through the kitchen to remove old gadgets and take note of what you have so when the sale starts you don't buy a shiny new measuring spoon even though you have an excellent one at home.More specifically start with the junk drawer and move on from there. Once you start seeing one small area change, use that momentum to move throughout the house.
Tip 2: Create a Wishlist
Now that you are updated on your current inventory, it's now time to create your list of items you want to buy. Make sure you complete this list before any of the sales starts, so you don't get lost in the seas of sales and lightning deals. This will also help you stay organized and focused during the sale in order to compare prices.
It's important to not just think about items for yourself but also items for others.Think bigger than just stuff for you and your household. Is someone's birthday coming up? A baby shower around the corner? Did you buy everyone’s Christmas gifts? Think Christmas in July. What Christmas gift, birthdays, etc. can you get for cheaper than you would have paid waiting to the last minute? This is the time to get some of the best pricing for gifts for the holidays. If you need help thinking of gifts to get and how to save the most amount of money doing what you were already going to buy- click below to read my ebook.
Buy More Pay Less, Save your Sanity
If your current budget does not allow you to buy all of Christmas in July, try purchasing select items on the Christmas list that are being offered at an extremely low deal. For example, if you are getting your Aunt a particular cooking set that rarely goes on sale and/or you haven't seen the price this low, jump on that deal now versus buying an Amazon Dot that you know will be on sale at the next Amazon Sale.
Tip 3: Set a Budget
It's easy to get carried away during a sale, so it's important to set a budget before you start shopping. This will help you avoid overspending and make sure you only buy the items you really need. To set a budget, simply decide how much money you're willing to spend on the sale and then stick to it. I know that's easier said than done however here are some ideas to help you reel it in. After you decide the amount you want to spend overall, break it down by person and/or item. What's the approximate amount you plan on spending on that line item? For example, If I'm buying a watch and its typically $65 pre Amazon sale, I can write that down as the estimate so that when it's most likely less I can put the savings towards another item. You can use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to help you track your spending. The budget will also help you to prioritize the list of the items most needed.
Tip 4: Shop Early
The best deals tend to sell out quickly, so it's important to shop early in the sale. This will give you the best chance of getting the items you want at the best prices. The Amazon Prime Sale typically lasts for two days, so it's important to start shopping early on the first day of the sale. If you're not already an Amazon Prime member, now is the time to sign up! Prime members get free two-day shipping on millions of items, as well as access to exclusive deals and discounts. To sign up for Amazon Prime, go to the Amazon Prime page and click on the "Start Your 30-Day Free Trial" button. There are many deals that non Amazon Prime members do not see. Make sure you are checking for lightning deals because those deals are only available for a short amount of time. The same goes for other sales because the inventory could clear out quickly on a hot sale item and you could miss out.
Tip 5: Shop other sales too
Target, Nordstrom are just a couple of stores running big sales during Amazon Prime time in order to boost sales at their respective stores. This is definitely where it pays to have a list because you can compare the item across stores to see who has it the cheapest.
By following these tips, you can make the most of the Amazon Prime Sale and save a lot of money. Don't forget to use cashback apps and/or credit cards with cashback/mileage rewards. So what are you waiting for? Start shopping today!