Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days will arrive on Oct. 10–11, and while the sale gives you an excellent opportunity to grab that fancy TV or stand mixer, it’s also the perfect time to load up on the less-flashy essentials.
Below, CNBC Select offers four tips for how to maximize your money when shopping for everyday items during this fall’s sale.
What we’ll cover
1. Get rewarded for your purchases
No matter what you plan on buying during Big Day Deals, you’ll want to get the most rewards possible for your shopping. The Prime Visa credit card is one of the best ways to pay for Amazon purchases since it lets cardholders earn 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods Market — the highest cash back percentage of any other Amazon rewards credit card.
You also get a sweet welcome bonus of a $100 Amazon gift card when you’re approved for the credit card. There is no annual fee for this credit card but a Prime membership is required.
Prime Visa
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Rewards
5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market; 5% back on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; 1% back on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $100 Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval.
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Annual fee
$0 (but Prime membership is required)
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Intro APR
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Regular APR
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
The Amazon Visa card gives you an even bigger welcome bonus of a $200 gift card upon approval, but you’ll earn less cash back compared to the Prime Visa credit card. With the Amazon Visa card, you can earn 3% cash back on purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market.
Amazon Visa
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Rewards
3% cash back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market; 3% back on purchases made through Chase Travel; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting; 2% back on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 1% back on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 Gift Card instantly upon approval.
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Annual fee
-
Intro APR
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Regular APR
19.24% to 27.24% variable
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Balance transfer fee
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Foreign transaction fee
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Credit needed
2. Stock up on your favorite essentials
Now’s a great time to stock up on any of your favorite beauty, skincare, home, pet and baby brands that you see on sale. After all, you know you’ll always need toilet paper (unless you go the way of the bidet) so why not buy in bulk if you see your brand on sale? Purchasing a few months’ worth of paper towels or coffee filters may not give you the same thrill as a high-end appliance, but it’s a smart way to save money.
The flip side of this coin is that the sale gives you a chance to try a new brand you’ve been eyeing. Since a cheaper price lowers the stakes of buying a product and hating it, now’s the time to take the plunge on that new makeup set or whatever else has caught your interest.
3. Make a list before you shop
This old-school advice has stood the test of time for a reason — it’s a surefire way to save you stress and money. Shopping Amazon’s sale can sometimes feel hectic, especially if you’re trying to make a grab for a lightning deal or you’re worried something will sell out before you get the chance to checkout. Plus, there are always so many deals to sift through.
Going in knowing exactly what you’re looking for can help make the process more manageable and help you avoid overspending. Again, this takes some planning ahead but it can be well worth it, especially if you end up with big savings.
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4. Shop around for better deals from other retailers
This tip may apply more to big-ticket items like kitchen appliances and furniture, but it’s still good to keep in mind as you’re stocking up on the essentials. Other retailers, like Walmart and Best Buy, will sometimes have big deals during Amazon Prime’s sales, so make sure to engage in some comparison shopping to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Sure, it requires more effort and energy on your part, but it could also mean saving a significant chunk of money
Bottom line
Whether it’s called Amazon Prime Day or Prime Big Day Deals, the online retailer’s sales have become highly-anticipated events for shoppers. These sales are also an opportunity to stock up on everyday essentials you know you’ll have to buy eventually.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
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Source link: https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-save-everyday-essentials-prime-day/