15 Easy Ways to Save Money on Amazon

You know the feeling: you hop on Amazon for “just one thing”, and somehow the basket turns into a full-blown stock-up. The good news is you don’t need to stop using Amazon to spend less on it—you just need a few habits that stack savings quietly in the background.

This is a practical, UK-focused guide on how to save money on Amazon without turning every purchase into a part-time job. Some tips are instant wins; others help you avoid the sneaky overspends that creep in over a month.

How to save money on Amazon without trying too hard

The easiest savings come from setting up a few defaults: price checking, smarter delivery choices, and knowing when to wait. If you only do three things, make it these: don’t assume the first price is the best, don’t pay for convenience you don’t need, and don’t buy today if tomorrow is likely cheaper.

Amazon’s prices move a lot. That can work in your favour—if you treat the price you see as “today’s price”, not “the price”.

1) Use “Subscribe & Save” (but only for true staples)

For household essentials (think nappies, detergent, coffee, pet food), Subscribe & Save can be a real winner because it discounts repeat deliveries.

The trade-off: it’s only a bargain if it stops you paying more elsewhere and you actually use the item at the pace you’ve set. If you subscribe to something you don’t get through, you’re not saving money—you’re just filling cupboards.

A good approach is to subscribe to one or two reliable staples, then adjust delivery dates as you go. Amazon usually lets you change quantities or skip deliveries, so treat it like a flexible plan rather than a commitment.

2) Check “Other sellers” before you click Buy Now

A common overspend happens when we assume the default “Add to Basket” option is the lowest price. Sometimes it is; often it isn’t.

For many branded items, multiple sellers list the same product. The overall best deal depends on the item price plus delivery, and whether Prime delivery is included. If you’re not in a rush, a slightly longer delivery option can be much cheaper.

Be picky about seller ratings for higher-value items. Saving a couple of quid isn’t worth the hassle of a poor return experience.

3) Don’t sleep on Amazon Warehouse (especially for electronics)

Amazon Warehouse (returned, used, or open-box items) can be a brilliant way to cut the cost of gadgets, small appliances, office kit, and sometimes even furniture.

The key is reading the condition notes properly. “Used – Like New” is often an opened box with little to no wear, while “Acceptable” can mean visible marks.

The trade-off is peace of mind: if you’re buying a gift or you want everything pristine, Warehouse isn’t always the right move. But for a family printer, a set of headphones for commuting, or a spare hoover for upstairs, it’s one of the quickest ways to save without changing brands.

4) Use vouchers and tick-box coupons on the product page

Amazon hides a lot of savings in plain sight. Many listings have a small voucher box (for example “Save £2” or “10% off”) that you need to tick before checkout.

Make it a habit: whenever you’re on a product page, scan for voucher text near the price. It’s a 2-second check that can beat any complicated strategy.

5) Time your buys (and know what’s actually worth waiting for)

Yes, big event sales matter—but not every “deal” is a deal. The best times to find genuine price drops tend to be:

• Prime Day-style events for Amazon devices, tech accessories, and household bits
• Black Friday/Cyber Monday for bigger-ticket electronics
• January and late summer for home organisation, fitness bits, and general clear-out pricing

But here’s the nuance: if you need something now (a replacement charger, school supplies, a last-minute birthday present), waiting can cost more in petrol, stress, or buying a pricey alternative locally.

A simple rule that works: wait for sales on “nice to have” items; buy “need to have” items when the price is within your normal comfort range.

6) Compare pack sizes properly (Amazon loves a sneaky unit price)

Bulk can be cheaper, but it can also be a trap. Bigger isn’t always better value, especially for toiletries and cleaning products where pricing can be odd.

Before you commit, do a quick mental unit check: cost per 100ml, per roll, per wash. If you’re buying for a household, bulk usually wins. If you’re buying for one person in a smaller flat, bulk can turn into waste (and waste is expensive).

7) Consider Prime only if it pays for itself

Prime can save money if you order frequently, but it’s not automatically a bargain. The membership cost only makes sense if you’re regularly using the benefits: delivery, streaming, and the occasional Prime-only price.

If you’re a lighter Amazon user, you may do better by:

• bundling purchases to meet free delivery thresholds
• using slower delivery when it’s offered as cheaper
• planning a monthly “Amazon order day” so you don’t drip-feed small purchases

Prime is brilliant for busy families who order weekly. For occasional shoppers, it can quietly add to annual spend.

8) Choose slower delivery when Amazon offers rewards

Sometimes Amazon offers a small reward for choosing slower delivery (for example, a digital credit). If you’re not desperate for next-day, this is one of the easiest “free” wins.

The trick is to notice it at checkout. If you’re already planning ahead—birthday bits, pantry top-ups, routine household items—slower delivery is usually painless.

9) Build a wish list and let prices come to you

Impulse buying is the silent budget killer on Amazon. Wish lists are the antidote.

If something isn’t urgent, put it on a list and leave it for a week. Prices can drop, vouchers can appear, and you might realise you don’t want it as much as you thought.

This works especially well for:

• phone cases and accessories
• home décor
• storage and organisation items
• kids’ toys (where trends change fast)

10) Watch out for “Add-on” extras that inflate the basket

Amazon is designed to be convenient, and convenience can get pricey when you add “just one more”. Before you check out, scan your basket and ask: would I buy this item on its own?

If the answer is no, it’s probably a trolley-filler.

A helpful habit is to keep a separate “maybe later” list. It lets you scratch the itch of adding items without paying for them today.

11) Use price tracking (even if you keep it simple)

You don’t need to be a spreadsheet person to benefit from price awareness. If you buy the same brands repeatedly, you’ll quickly learn what a “good” price looks like.

For bigger buys—air fryers, tablets, headphones—give yourself a price target. When the listing hits it, you buy. When it doesn’t, you wait.

If you like the thrill of a genuine bargain (including the occasional weird price wobble), you’ll also enjoy deal-spotting communities like Price Glitches UK where shoppers share discounts and unexpected drops.

12) Use “Buy Again” carefully (it’s convenient, not always cheapest)

Amazon’s “Buy Again” makes repeat orders effortless. But the price can drift upwards over time, especially on household essentials.

When you’re reordering, click into the product and check whether there’s a voucher, a multi-buy, or a cheaper seller option. Convenience is great, but it’s worth a 10-second double-check.

13) Look for multi-buys and bundles (but avoid forced bundles)

Bundles can be excellent when they match how you shop anyway: toothbrush heads, razors, printer ink, pantry items.

Where it goes wrong is the forced bundle—two items together where you only really need one. If the bundle makes you buy something you wouldn’t normally choose, it’s not a deal.

The sweet spot is bundles of items you already use, in quantities you’ll realistically get through.

14) Return policies can save you money (when used responsibly)

Returns aren’t a “saving” in the traditional sense, but they can stop expensive mistakes. If you’re on the fence about sizing, compatibility, or quality, it’s better to check return terms before you buy than to keep something you won’t use.

Be mindful: frequent returns can be a faff, and buying with the intention to return is a bad habit. But using returns as a safety net for uncertain purchases (like a laptop stand that may not fit your desk setup) can protect your budget.

15) Avoid the “cheap now, pricey later” trap

Some products are cheap upfront and expensive to run—think printer ink systems, certain razor refills, and niche replacement filters.

Before buying, ask one question: what will I need to replace for this to keep working? If the refills cost a fortune, a higher-priced alternative with cheaper running costs may be the real saver.

This is where reading reviews for ongoing costs helps. Not the glowing one-liners—the practical reviews where people talk about replacements, durability, and how long things last.

A quick mindset shift that saves the most

The biggest Amazon savings usually come from slowing down by a tiny amount. Not hours of deal hunting—just enough time to compare sellers, tick a voucher box, and park “wants” on a list until the price is right.

Next time you’re about to check out, try this: take one breath, scroll your basket once, and see if anything doesn’t belong. Your budget will feel the difference long before your lifestyle does.