Saving Money Using Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime is fast becoming my favorite way to shop.  At first I didn’t think that it would be cost effective, but the more I research ways to save, the more I do save using Amazon Prime.  The Amazon Prime (One Year Membership)is $ 99.00, but I’ve already made that money back and saved more. Here is how I use it.

The main reason I got a membership was for free shipping.  During the holiday season, birthdays and other special occasions, we send gifts back home, and across the US to our family members.  In years past the total shipping costs for all the packages during Christmas time alone would range from $35.00 to $60.00.  This cost doesn’t include the gifts we would send the rest of the year.  This past year the shipping for every gift we sent was free!  I made all my purchases, and had them all delivered with guaranteed 2 day shipping.  Plus, I saved time, gas, and my sanity by staying out of the stores.  In my book, time is money, saving gas is money in my pocket, and keeping my sanity is priceless.   ;)

But all joking aside, I have been staying out of stores as much as possible lately, because I do love to shop.  Each time I step into a store, temptation to purchase items not on my shopping list is always there.  Shopping online has reduced that temptation a lot!   I’ve been purchasing my everyday household goods using Amazon Subscribe and Save. I can edit the frequency of when the products ship, and what day it is delivered each month.  I can edit my order to add or remove items from delivery too.  The best part is I can save up to 15% and I get free shipping too! This is the first year I’ve been using Amazon Subscribe and Save, but I’ve been contemplating not renewing my Costco membership if all keeps going well.  

For my fellow moms out there you can save a little more if you sign up for Amazon Mom. Amazon Mom is a Prime Membership aimed at helping parents save even more on products their kiddos need.  I save 20% on diapers through program. I pair it with the Subscribe and Save program.  Plus, some months I can save even more if there is an Amazon Coupon available.  This past week I saved an extra 3 bucks off the box of Pampers. Try it herefree.

Perhaps my favorite perks is that all Amazon Prime members have access to the Kindle Owners' Lending Library (if you have a Kindle), and unlimited Amazon instant video. There are money saving ways to use these too.  For example: If you have Netflix, utilizing Amazon Instant Video and getting rid of Netflix could save at least 95.00 a year.

Overall Amazon Prime has saved my family far more than their yearly membership fee.  If you’re curious, try it out herefor free.

Also if you are a college student, Amazon offers their Amazon Prime membership at a 50% discount with Amazon Student  Plus, when you sign up your first 6 months are free.    I wish I knew about this one when I was in college. 

Thanks for reading!

The Reformed Shopper, and The Reinvention of a Blog

Five years ago when I started this blog I was obsessed with makeup and shopping.  I thought posting about what I purchased and giving my reviews justified spending the money.  Truth be told I purchased a whole lot more than I ever reviewed or blogged about.  

A lot has changed since then.  The downturn in the economy hit my husband and I hard, and my shopping habits quickly stopped. Needless to say, so did my blogging. We moved to a new state, and after a while of rebuilding finances, we started a family.   I hadn’t given this blog too much thought over the past few years, until last week.

The title of this blog is still true.  I still do love to shop!  But, I like to call myself a reformed shopper.  There is a huge difference in how I shop, and how much spend.  Being in a financially difficult situation taught me how to be smart about my purchases, to prioritize what I need, what I can live without, and how to look for deals and sales. 

A friend of mine went with me on my last shopping trip because she said I’m the one who always finds the best deals.  That’s when the idea of my blog came back into play.  I want to be able to share my tips and tricks to shopping and saving money on my purchases.   I know that doesn’t sound as fun and exciting as blogging about a shopping spree, and posting all the cute expensive things I buy, but what if my ideas help someone save money?   

So, there you have it.  Welcome to my reinvented blog! Hopefully the money saving shopping ideas I post will help at least one person out there!  Thanks for reading.