5 tips to help you #ShopLikeABoss on Prime Day
Prime Day is almost here! So if you’re an avid Amazon shopper like myself, then make sure to set an alarm and mark your calendar, because the shopping extravaganza officially begins on Monday, June 21 at 12:01am PT and ends on Tuesday, June 22 at 11:59pm PT.
And, to help you #ShopLikeABoss, we’re dropping tips from shopping experts so you can snag all the items on your wish list, without exceeding your budget! 🛍
1. Get a Prime membership. ✅
First things, first. If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. Just be sure to set a reminder on your calendar if you don’t want to keep the membership to avoid being charged the subsequent $13 monthly fee. And, if you’re under the age of 18, not to worry. Amazon has a feature just for teens. All you have to do is speak with your parent or guardian to create an account, or for existing Prime members, add you to their membership. You can read more about it here.
2. Make a wish list. 💫
On free-for-alls like Prime Day, it’s really easy to overspend and end up with a ton of things you don’t need. That’s why shopping experts always recommend making a wish list of your must-have items. Looking for a new gaming console or hoping to buy a kindle so you can stock up on summer beach reads? Awesome, add them to your wish list! And, don’t forget about birthdays or other upcoming celebrations – this could be a great time to stock up on gifts at lower prices – saving you money later. Once your wish list is complete, take a look at the total cost and see if you’re comfortable with the amount. If not, it might be time to reconsider whether you really NEED all these items.
3. Do your research. 🔎
While Prime Day will definitely have some great deals, in some cases, they won’t actually be all that great. Sometimes, retailers will mark up a price and then offer it at a massive discount to make you think you’re saving a lot of money. So, make sure to do your research and see what the item is going for at other retailers. Additionally, stores like Best Buy, Target and Walmart often run their own special “anti-Prime Day” deals and price match big ticket items. When in doubt, you can always look at camelcamelcamel to see the price history of specific Amazon items.
4. Monitor for lightning deals. 👀
It’s important to keep in mind that some of the most coveted Prime Day deals will only be offered for a few hours with limited quantities available. To help make sure you don’t miss out on these deals, you’ll want to turn on Amazon’s “Watch A Deal” feature, which lets you know when a special deal is about to start. Use this guide to set it up. And, if you have an Amazon Alexa device, you can shop some deals starting as early as today by saying: “Alexa, what are my deals?” Then of course, there’s the good old-fashioned refresh button.
5. Don’t lose sight of your budget. 💰
While all of these Prime Day deals will be very tempting, stick to your wish list and don’t exceed the amount you’ve budgeted for. One thing I find helpful when the retail gods are tempting me, is to think about the tradeoffs. For instance, if I buy this item then I’ll have to work hours to pay for it. Or, if I buy this item, I won’t be able to go to with my friends. Asking yourself these questions can really help put your priorities in perspective. And, if you don’t already have a budget, check out this article to help you create one.
Don’t forget to use your Step Visa Card for all of your Prime Day purchases, so you can track your spending in real time. Ready, set, shop! 🙌
