21 Easy Ways to Stop Spending Money on Amazon
Oh, Amazon Prime. Love it or hate it, it’s a huge part of today’s society and something most of us have used quite often. It’s hard not to take advantage of the fast delivery and convenience of Amazon. All you have to do is click a button and boom, it’s heading your way. But, is it good for your finances? Probably not.
I know I can’t be the only one who has bought stuff and a few days later when the package arrives, not even remember what it is. Fortunately, I’ve been able to drastically cut back on my Amazon purchases since last year which has saved me a lot of money. Here is a list of different tips and tricks that I’ve personally used to stop spending money on Amazon along with a few others I’m planning to try:
1. Enact the 24-48 Hour Rule
This is a great tip that I’ve been using for awhile. It has significantly decreased the amount of impulse purchases I make which has saved me a lot of money. When I want to buy something that is not a necessity, I put it in my Amazon cart and wait 24-48 hours before I allow myself to purchase it.
Putting space between the impulse and the action gets rid of the dopamine hit with get from instant gratification dopamine. When we delay making purchases, our brain has more time to determine if it is really something we want. It’s amazing how many things I end up not purchasing after waiting a day or two.
2. Delete Payment Methods
Taking away the ease of shopping on Amazon by deleting your credit card information is another method you can use to stop spending money on Amazon. I am way less likely to buy something if I actually have to get my credit card and enter in all of the info.
3. Turn Off 1-Click Buying
If you don’t want to delete your payment methods from Amazon, you can still make things a little bit harder by turning off 1 click orders. The more steps we must take to buy something, the less likely we are to buy it.
4. Use the Wish List Feature Instead of Buying Immediately
This is a great tip for any non-essential items and can significantly cut down on impulse purchases. Periodically review and update the list. I end up deleting so many things from my list because after some time has passed, I realize I either don’t want or need whatever it was.
5. Unsubscribe from Amazon Emails and Notifications
Unsubscribing from Amazon marketing emails and push notifications helps reduce the temptation of daily deals and other promotions. This will definitely help you stop spending money on Amazon if you struggle with impulse control. As they say, “out of sight, out of mind.”
6. Delete the Amazon App
Deleting the app is a good option if it is the primary way you use Amazon. I usually shop on the website instead of the app, so it wasn’t super effective for me, but many people have had success by doing this. You could even take it a step further and delete your entire Amazon account if you really struggle with impulse control.
7. Do Not Browse Amazon Out of Boredom
I am guilty of this as I’m sure many others are as well. It’s easy to find things you never even knew you “needed” when you’re browsing the site. This is especially true because the site knows your purchase history and specifically shows you products you’re likely to be interested in. There are a million other things to do when you are bored, browsing Amazon should not be one of them.
8. Use the Library
The library is the best way to get your hands on free books, audiobooks, ebooks, and other digital media. Apps such as Libby, OverDrive, Kanopy, and Hoopla make it easy and convenient. This has saved me so much money on books.
9. Look Around For a Better Price
Surprise! Amazon doesn’t always have the lowest prices. I always check Target and a few other stores for household items and even toys. There have been so many times when I can find the item I want for less money somewhere else.
There are also various free websites and browser extensions which will do the work for you and compare prices across different retailers and tell you the price history of items. Some of the most popular ones right now are Google Shopping, Pricegrabber, Honey, and CapitalOne Shopping.
10. Be Careful with Lightning and Prime Day Deals
Oftentimes, these are actually not great deals. The original prices shown have been inflated to make the discounts look more attractive. The sales only last for a short time so people feel an urgency to “buy it now” before it’s too late.
Other retailers can be guilty of this as well. Just like the tip above, look around at other stores and compare prices. You’d be surprised how many times you can find something for the same price as the lightning deal without the urgency to purchase immediately.
11. Support Small Businesses
Amazon is a powerhouse and has had a negative impact on many small businesses. Not only that, many of their practices and business operations are unethical. When you stop spending money on Amazon and instead support small businesses and other online retailers you not only improve the economy, you improve the world. You might spend a little more money on an individual item, but you will probably spend a lot less in the long run.
12. Implement a No Spend Month
Commit to not purchasing anything from Amazon for 30 days. This can help break the habit of browsing and buying. If you are feeling super motivated, try going even longer than 30 days.
13. Get Rid of Prime
Okay this is definitely the most drastic tip, but is the one that will make the biggest difference. Now before you dismiss this idea all together because you “need” it, hear me out. Prime costs $139/year or $14.99/month (plus tax), so taking a break from Prime is going to save you money no matter what.
Now I know that many people say it is worth the price because you’d pay way more in shipping over the course of a year than you spend on a Prime membership. This isn’t necessarily true though because you can still get free shipping as long as you spend $25. One thing to be careful of though is that you don’t just buy extra stuff just to get free shipping (I was guilty of this a time or two).
14. Find Free Alternatives to Amazon Prime Benefits
There are many alternatives to some of Amazon’s most popular benefits. For instance, many retailers offer their own free shipping options when you spend a certain amount or join their loyalty program. Instead of Prime Video, you can take advantage of free streaming services such as Tubi or even YouTube. And if you have a library card from a participating library, Kanopy and Hoopla offer thousands of movies and tv shows to stream for free.
For music you can use the free version of Spotify or Pandora. If you need an alternative to Prime Photos, you can use Google Photos, iCloud, Dropbox, or OneDrive. They all offer free plans for photo storage. While the storage space is limited, you have the option to purchase additional storage at a cheaper price than what Prime Costs.
15. Adopt a Mindful and Intentional Spending Practice
Adopting a mindful and intentional spending practice will not only decrease the amount you spend on Amazon, but will cut down on your total spending overall. Being intentional with your purchases means you carefully consider the need, budget, and value. Understanding your values and being conscious of your goals and budget will help you avoid spending money on unnecessary items.
16. Adopt a Minimalist Mindset
Adopting a minimalist mindset will really help you stop spending money on Amazon. Before buying something, first ask yourself if the can be borrowed, reused, or bought secondhand. Remember that less is more.
17. Create a Monthly Budget for Online Shopping
Setting a monthly spending limit for Amazon is a great way to control your finances without depriving yourself of online shopping if that is something you love to do.
18. Buy Things Secondhand
I love to search thrift shops, Facebook Marketplace, and local buy nothing groups for stuff I need, especially baby and kid stuff. Children grow and change so fast that parents are often selling or giving away items that have been barely used. And since you’ll probably only be using these items for a short time too, it doesn’t make good financial sense to spend a lot of money.
19. Use Browser Extensions to Block or Limit Access to Amazon
Blocking or limiting access is a great way to break the habit of shopping on Amazon. This is useful if you usually shop on the website instead of the app. There are a bunch of different browser extensions which can do this. Some of the more popular ones are BlockSite, StayFocusd, and ColdTurkey.
20. DIY
Try DIY solutions for products typically purchased on Amazon such as homemade cleaning supplies, gifts, or decorations. You don’t need even need to be creative as you can invoke the power of Pinterest.
Pinterest has so many good ideas on there for beginners with easy to follow, step by step instructions. On top of saving money, homemade items are typically healthier, better for the environment, more unique, and more meaningful.
21. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Returns
If you’re like me, it is not unusual to buy something from Amazon and then when it arrives decide that you don’t want it anymore. If this happens to you, make sure you return it! Even if it only cost a few dollars, you want to get your money back.
One nice thing about Amazon is they make returns super easy. You typically have the option to drop it off at a Whole Foods, Staples, UPS store, or Amazon store for free without even needing to put it in a box.
Decreasing how much you spend on Amazon will give you more money to put toward savings goals or pay off debt. Want to learn even more ways to make paying debt off easier? Check out the article 12 Steps to Make Paying Off Debt Easier.
