These 11 Shopping Hacks Will Save You a Ton of Money on Amazon Prime Day

Amazon's website on Prime Day in a stock photo. Dennizn/Shutterstock

By Rebecca Safier From Wealthofgeeks.com

First introduced in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th year in business, Amazon Prime Day has become a much-anticipated annual shopping event. Now spanning two days, it offers deep discounts on thousands of products in Amazon’s marketplace.

Although Amazon keeps the exact dates under wraps until shortly before Prime Day begins, this sale event typically kicks off during the summer. In 2022, Amazon Prime Day is happening on July 12th and 13th, and whether you’re looking to buy some new tech or get your holiday shopping done early, these Amazon Prime Day hacks will help you get more for less.

Hacks to Boost Your Savings on Amazon Prime Day

While any Amazon Prime member can enjoy discounts on Prime Day, there are some savvy steps you can take to save even more money. Here are some ways to prepare before Amazon Prime Day is upon you.

1. Become a Prime Member

First and foremost, you must be an Amazon Prime member to participate in this sale. In addition, a Prime membership will score you fast, free shipping on many items in Amazon’s marketplace. You can often choose one-day or two-day delivery, and customers can even access same-day delivery in some locations.

A Prime membership also opens the door to other free benefits, such as access to Amazon video, music, gaming, unlimited photo storage, and discounts on prescription medications.

You can sign up for a free, 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, after which you'll pay $14.99 per month or $139 per year (plus tax in some states). Alternatively, you can share a Prime Household account, which includes up to two adults, four teens, and four children.

Discounted memberships are available if you are a student or qualify for government assistance:

• Student: $7.49 per month
• Qualified government assistance: $6.99 per month

If you only want to join Prime to shop on Prime Day, you can sign up for the free trial and cancel the membership before you get charged, or check out these nine ways to get a free (or cheap) Prime membership.

2. Shop Early

While Prime Day technically spans 48 hours, you’re likely to see some deals pop up early. So keep an eye on your Amazon account in the week leading up to Prime Day for early-bird discounts.

You might see these promotions in the top banner of your home screen, or you could scroll down the page for additional recommendations. Rather than waiting until Prime Day officially kicks off, it’s worth checking your account for some early deals.

3. Add Items to Your Wishlist

If you have your sights set on specific items, add them to your Amazon wishlist before Prime Day starts. This will allow you to check prices quickly and set up notifications to receive alerts when those items go on sale.

Download the Amazon Assistant browser extension which allows you to set up notifications, compare product reviews, and add products from other stores to your Amazon cart.

Note: Some of the best deals on Prime Day tend to be home appliances, such as air fryers and vacuums, and Amazon tech toys, such as Alexa, Ring, and Echo.

4. Download the Amazon App

Products often sell out quickly on Amazon Prime Day, so downloading the free Amazon mobile app is a great way to keep informed. Just as you can set up browser notifications with Amazon Assistant, you can also set up notifications on your phone through the Amazon app.

Tap “Watch this deal” on Prime Day deals marked with a blue badge to be alerted when the price drops. Once you’ve added the newly-discounted item to your cart, you'll have 15 minutes to finish your purchase.

Once you’ve completed your purchase, you can continue using the app to track your shipment or chat with customer service.

5. Watch for Lightning Deals

One of the best ways to save money on Amazon Prime Day is by taking advantage of “Lightning Deals,” which are short-lived discounts that typically only last for a few hours.

Lightning Deals are easy to spot as they display a countdown timer next to the item and may also indicate a limited number of items available at that discounted price. The deal expires when the item sells out or the timer runs out—whichever happens first—so if a Lightning Deal catches your eye, act fast.

You can monitor Lightning Deals on the Amazon Prime Day page. Outside of this annual sale, you can also find these special, short-term deals on the “Today’s Deals“ page in your Amazon account.

6. Ask Alexa

Amazon’s Alexa device has been known to hook customers up with exclusive deals. In recent years, Amazon has offered special sales that can’t be found anywhere except through an Alexa device. Therefore, if you’re the proud owner of an Amazon Alexa or Echo Dot, remember to ask, “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals” on July 12 and 13.

7. Clip Amazon Coupons

Check out the Amazon Coupons page. You can find and clip digital coupons in various categories, from electronics, pet supplies, groceries, and more.

Simply find the coupons you want to use, click “Clip Coupon,” add the item to your cart, and the coupon will be applied to your cart automatically.

8. Reload a Gift Card

In 2021, Amazon offered a $10 bonus to customers who reloaded a gift card with $100 or more.

This was an easy way to save money if you were already planning to spend $100 or more. And while it’s unclear if Amazon will offer this deal again, if you’re planning on spending more than $100, it’s worth reloading a gift card, just in case.

Note: Previously, this deal was only available to first-time gift card reloaders, not to those who had already reloaded a gift card in the past.

9. Look for Special Promotions

Finding additional Amazon promotions will boost your Prime Day savings. And while your Amazon homepage will be loaded with promotions during Prime Day, doing some extra research beforehand will help you identify the promotions best suited to you. For example, in 2021, Amazon gifted Prime members a $10 credit after supporting a small business with a purchase of $10 or more.

10. Compare Prices

Amazon offers discounts on Prime Day for anything from appliances to electronics to furniture (and more), yes, still, don’t assume they’re the only game in town.

In an effort to keep up with the e-commerce giant, other retailers often run significant sales around Prime Day. So before checking out on Prime Day, take a few minutes to compare the prices on other websites. You can do so manually or by using a browser extension such as Honey or PriceBlink.

11. Use Cashback Apps

Beyond clipping coupons, you can glean even more savings by using a cashback app when making your Prime Day purchases. Many cashback sites have apps and browser extensions that will notify you of active cashback offer as you’re shopping online. All you have to do is activate the offer to earn a percentage of your purchase as a cashback rebate.

Cashback apps work with a large number of retailers, so they are an excellent way to save money even after Prime Day has ended.

The Most Important Hack

All the shopping hacks in the world won’t actually save you money if you spend beyond your means. Before the event starts, consider your budget and allocate a specific amount for Prime Day shopping.

Prepare for Prime Day in advance by pre-planning your purchases and setting spending limits to prevent impulse purchases and keep you from overspending.

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