Amazon Prime Day is a two-day sales event that can save you a lot of money on both big and small items. However, it’s definitely a consumer holiday. If you aren’t careful about your spending choices, then you can get lured into wasting a lot of money. You really have to go into the sales with a plan. In particular, you’ll want to plan ahead to discern which big-ticket items are worth buying on Prime Day.
What is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day is an annual “holiday” that the company has created. It’s time when you can get amazing deals on all different types of items on the site. Here are some important details about this event:
- Amazon Prime Day starts July 15th at 12 am PT. It lasts for 48 hours. Therefore, even though it’s called “Prime Day,” it’s really a 2-day event.
- There are many different sales and deals across all different categories on the site. You can get discounts on everything. However, not every item on the site will be discounted.
- There are pre-deals leading up to the two-day event. There are also special events and deals on all Prime tools such as Prime Video.
- You need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of these deals.
Why You Have to Plan Ahead for Amazon Prime Day
Yes, much like Cyber Monday (the digital equivalent of Black Friday), you can definitely get some great online deals with Amazon Prime Day. However, you have to be careful. After all, the company didn’t create this event out of the goodness of their hearts. They did it because it stimulates sales on the site. No matter how much money you save on a particular deal, you’re wasting money if you aren’t shopping smart.
If you’re going to make the most of shopping on Amazon Prime Day, then you really need to plan ahead. Technology is designed to make us feel addicted, confusing our brains so that we make impulse decisions and poor choices. Planning ahead and shopping with a list can help prevent that problem. This is particularly important during quick-countdown shopping experiences such as Amazon Prime Day.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy on Amazon Prime Day
Before you even begin brainstorming your Amazon Prime Day shopping list, it’s important to ask yourself a series of questions. This will help you get in a savvy shopping frame of mind. Start with these questions:
- Do I usually shop on Amazon? If not, perhaps you should skip Prime Day altogether.
- Am I an Amazon Prime member? If not, would it be worth it to sign up for the annual membership?
- What types of things would I most want to buy on Amazon Prime Day?
Then if you decide that you’re going to shop for Amazon Prime Day, make a list of everything that you’re thinking about buying. Once you have that list, ask yourself the following items for each question on the list:
- Is this an item I buy regularly?
- Do I need this item?
- How long have I wanted this item?
- What would it be like if I didn’t buy this thing right now? Would I end up buying it later?
- Is the Amazon Prime Day deal the best deal I can find right now?
- How does making this purchase impact my personal budget and spending/savings goals?
Thinking carefully about those purchases can help you make the right decisions in advance. Narrow down your list to just those items that are right to buy this year on Amazon Prime Day. Then stick to that list when you shop.
Big-Ticket Items Worth Buying on Amazon Prime Day
With all of that in mind, you’ll have to decide for yourself what is and isn’t worth purchasing on Amazon Prime Day. You’ll probably find it easy to figure out which small items are worth it. For example, if you’re an Amazon Prime member who regularly orders your toilet paper and other paper goods through the site then why not stock up if they’re on sale on Prime Day, right? However, it’s the big ticket items that can really wreck your budget, so that’s where you want to be most careful.
It’s Worth Buying if You’ve Wanted it for a Long Time
The only expensive Amazon Prime Day deals that are really worth buying are ones that you’ve been coveting for a while. They’re the ones that you’ve said to yourself, “I want to get that someday.” However, you’ve held off, because you know that they aren’t in your budget. If ever there was a time to satisfy a small longing to get one of those items, sales day is the day to do it. Examples of items that people often think about in this category include
- Genetic testing kits for humans and pets
- Creative work from artists and artists (shop Amazon Handmade for that)
- Electronic gadgets, particularly Amazon’s own Echo products, but also including kitchen gadgets
- Complete sets or collections of things that you love (such as DVD sets)
- Stuff for a new hobby, such as an automated beer brewing system
Pricier Items You May Need to Replace Soon
We all have certain expensive items in our home. We try to take good care of them so that they will last. However, planned obsolescence is a very real thing. Items just aren’t made to last forever these days. So we do have to replace them. Go through your home and figure out which expensive items are on their last legs. If there’s a good chance that you’ll need to replace an item within the next year, then it might be worth it to get the replacement now.
Examples of big-ticket items to consider replacing:
- Mattress
- Camera
- Laptop
- Musical instruments
- Television
- Vacuum
- Furniture
- Smart-technology appliances
Bulk Items: Spend Now to Save Later
Amazon Prime Day is going to have a lot of deals on items that you purchase in bulk. Make sure that you only purchase non-perishable goods. Don’t get tricked into getting items that you wouldn’t normally purchase for your home just because they’re a good deal. However, do look for the things your family uses and loves. If those are available in bulk, then check the price carefully. If you see a good deal, you might want to spend the money now. You can use those bulk items all year long.
Read More:
- What to Buy on Amazon Prime Day (and What to Skip)
- Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
- Amazon Prime One-Day Shipping Is Coming Soon
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
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