Psst, I make money on some of the links in this post at no cost to you. It keeps the lights on around here. Amazon links are affiliate. 

Y’all have probably realized by now that I order a lot of stuff on Amazon. With features like two-day and even same-day shipping, it’s great for my lazy blubberbutt. Over the years, I’ve found a few sneaky ways to shave money off my Amazon bill. Here are my 11 favorite ways to save on Amazon.

Did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Honey browser extension

I remember reading blogs about the Honey browser extension a while back. I didn’t install it for a long time, assuming I had to pay to use it. Imagine my surprise when I realized this suckah is free!

You can download this extension on your browser once and then forget about it. Any time you shop online, it automatically pulls coupon codes from across the web and updates your shopping cart. I used to do this manually and it wasn’t fun. Automating the process with this nifty tool has saved me a LOT of money and time.

Unfortunately Amazon doesn’t really do coupon codes. However! I still use Honey on Amazon because I can see a product’s price history. I know if I’m getting the best deal, or if I should wait for a better price to come along.

You can download Honey here (I’m not an affiliate).

Prime shipping and perks

I’ve written before about Amazon Prime. I do like this service, but they recently increased their prices, making it harder to get a return on investment. You have to use Amazon a lot, but Prime can help you save money on shipping costs. If you regularly order from Amazon, it usually makes sense to sign up for Prime.

Prime saves me a boatload on shipping costs, and I usually get faster shipping, too. The only downside is that you have to recoup the costs of the membership for this to make sense. And that means you need to order pretty regularly!

If you don’t want Prime or don’t use Amazon frequently, but would like to save on shipping as a one-time thing, you can always sign up for their 30-day trial. Remember to cancel before the trial ends! I set a reminder on my phone so I don’t forget to cancel.

Free returns

This is usually a Prime-only feature, but many sellers on the Amazon Marketplace offer free returns, too.

Mr. Picky Pincher uses free returns like crazy when he buys clothes online. He has a very particular fit and it’s nearly impossible to find clothes for him in-store. He tries on clothes he orders from Amazon, and simply sends back what doesn’t fit.

Just make sure the item you’re ordering offers free returns! You can turn on the “free returns” filter while shopping on Amazon to make sure. Always read the fine print. There’s nothing like ordering a non-returnable three-sizes-too-big sweater.

Discount gift cards

I’m new to the discount gift card game, but it’s been a real winner. I like to use Cardpool.com, but there are plenty of discount card exchanges to check out. They don’t always have Amazon gift cards for sale, but when they do, stock up!

You won’t make a killing with discount gift cards, mind you. They usually sell for 1% – 6% off the face value of the gift card. For example, you can buy a $100 Amazon gift card for $99 – $94.

Are you going to get rich doing this? No, but it’s a good way to save if you know you’ll be shopping on Amazon anyway.

P.S. I like to buy discount gift cards with my rewards credit card for extra savings.

Amazon Deals

Amazon doesn’t do coupons, but they do offer daily deals. These are like the Chef’s Special of Amazon: they’re limited-time sales on select items.

I like scrolling through the Daily Deals, but it’s rare that I actually buy something. They’re great if you’re looking for a particular item and don’t need it in a rush. Be careful: these deals are designed to get you to buy! Purchase only what you need; otherwise it’s just an unplanned expense instead of calculated savings, y’know?

Here’s the link to their deals page. 

Buy used

Buying used is like navigating a minefield, but at the end of that minefield is a big bag ‘o’ money. Buying used items is a great way to snag the same item at a much lower price point.

For example, I bought both my Bellabeat and Roku used on Amazon and they work great. I got ’em for half price, baby!

To make sure I don’t get screwed over with used items, I always check the product description to make sure it’s a certified manufacturer refurbished item. This way, if the item doesn’t work, there’s a warranty for replacement. I also tend to go for Amazon-fulfilled items, because the product has to go through Amazon’s quality control as well.

Subscribe and Save

Do you regularly buy diapers, OTC medicine, shampoo, or toilet paper every month? If so, Subscribe and Save could be a great option to save more moolah.

Amazon lets you subscribe to have items regularly shipped to you on a frequency you choose. For example, you can sign up to have toilet paper delivered monthly and sunblock delivered every six months. In exchange for signing up for regular, recurring purchases, you can shave 5% – 10% off the price of each item.

The best part? Amazon gives you an even steeper discount if you add five or more items to Subscribe and Save. This feature alone shaves $10 off my bill each month.

Before you sign up for Amazon’s Subscribe and Save option, check your local store’s prices. There’s no sense in overpaying on Amazon (even at a discount) when you can get store brand toilet paper for half price.

Check colors

Did you know you can knock several dollars off the price of an item just by choosing a different color? A few months back I desperately needed new bras. After doing some research, I settled on a particular bra that had great ratings from Good Housekeeping.

I thought, “Hey, this is great! I’ll buy the bra in a few different colors. That’ll spice up my life. I’m such a rebel.”

I added a beige bra to my basket for $20. I moused over the options and discovered the same bra was selling for $4 in blue. Whaaaaaaaat. There was a $16 difference solely based on color. (You know I snatched that deal up in a heartbeat)

This works for clothes, electronics, and even appliances, like my KitchenAid. If you aren’t Picky about color, check your options to save a little more.

Prime rewards card

I don’t personally do this, but it’s worth mentioning. Amazon does offer a rewards credit card for Prime members. Here are a few of the perks they offer for cardholders:

• 5% cashback on Amazon.com and Whole Foods Marketplace
• 2% cashback at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores
• 1% cashback on everything else

This ain’t too shabby as far as rewards credit cards go. I do like that you can use the card for non-Amazon purchases, so it’s a little nicer than other store credit cards I’ve come across. You also get a $70 gift card for signing up. The only downside is that you use the cashback to purchase more items on Amazon. This is cool if you shop on Amazon regularly, but not cool if you want more flexibility.

I don’t usually advocate taking out a line of credit to save money, but I think it can make sense here for some people. Remember that rewards credit cards are only a good idea if you pay them off in full every month.

Shopping portals and cashback

I also haven’t given this one a shot, but people swear by it. You can save money on Amazon by shopping through cashback portals like eBates. Are you going to become a filthy rich, jewelry-laden millionaire doing this?

Nah. But you can shave a few bucks here and there, which add up over time.

Smile.amazon.com

This isn’t necessarily a way to save, but I had to include it. You can donate to charity, at no cost to you, just by shopping at Amazon Smile. Amazon donates 0.5% of your purchase price to a charity of your choice. That’s a very small percentage, but if you’re shopping on Amazon anyway, why not give a little?

To use Amazon Smile, visit smile.Amazon.com and shop as normal. If it’s your first time using Amazon Smile, you’ll be asked to choose a charity. But that’s it! When you check out, Amazon will automatically donate to your charity of choice.

Easy enough, right?

The bottom line

I really do like shopping at Amazon. I love the convenience of not having to leave my house, and usually finding exactly what I need. Use these little tricks to shave even more money off your bill when you shop at Amazon.

We want to know: How do you save money on Amazon?

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