I’ve never been the type to set an alarm for a sale. But this year, I’m giving myself a $100 budget and a mission: tackle Amazon Prime Day like a parent with a plan.
Step 1: Check Prices Before the Sale Begins
- “I would consider what I really want and need right now and look at prices ahead of time,” said Samantha Gordon, deals editor at Consumer Reports.
- “A lot of ‘discounts’ get a ‘Prime Day’ label even though the price stayed the same.”
I already told myself 2025 was my low-buy year. I’m taking steps to make the most of Prime Day while staying true to my budget and my goals.
My prep has already started. This year the sale runs July 8-11, but in the days before I used AI tools to research product prices, curate my list and set my shopping strategy.
Gordon’s pro tip: Know what something costs before the sale starts. It’s the best way to ensure you’re actually getting a good deal.
Step 2: Add Essentials to the Cart First
- “Between two kids’ birthdays, the holidays looming and my youngest child starting preschool, my priority list was starting to grow.”
- “I popped my core items into my Amazon cart to get a running subtotal.”
I used ChatGPT to help divide my budget: $45-$60 on back-to-school items like a lunchbox and backpack and $30-$45 on toys and art supplies for my kids, looking for combo sets or bundles where I can.
I’m aiming to find one special item for each child to store away for the holidays.
Step 3: Save ‘Wants’ to a Wishlist and Let Deal Alerts Do the Work
- “You can always look for different brands, as there are often lower-cost versions of products that work similarly to those higher-end models,” said Gordon.
- “In some cases, they may even perform better or have certain features that outrank their pricier competitors,” she said.
After prioritizing some essential and time-sensitive items, I have around $20 to spare.
I put a few more small toys onto an Amazon wishlist so I could easily monitor prices in the days before the sale.
I also added a few specific bakeware items to my wishlist to keep an eye on, plus some household and beauty items I frequently purchase.
Step 4: Only Splurge if Prices Hit Historical Lows
- “If one of these items is deeply discounted, I plan to pull from one of our sinking funds — savings buckets dedicated to certain spending categories like holidays or home costs,” I said.
- “Luckily, because I’ve done my research ahead of the sale, I won’t be fooled by fake deals.”
“This is a tricky question right now because of tariff uncertainty,” said shopping expert Trae Bodge.
“Typically, Black Friday discounts are deeper than Amazon Prime (except on Amazon’s proprietary brands), but prices might be higher later in the year because of tariffs. I would say that if you see a decent sale on something on your list over Prime Day, it would be a wise move to buy it now.”
Step 5: Take a Breath. Better Deals May Be Ahead.
Prime Day can be a moving target. Between lightning sales and that feeling of FOMO you get when those Lightning Deals hit, it can be hard to stay strong.
“This is not a time to panic buy, but rather, to methodically go through your list to see if anything is discounted for Prime Day,” said Bodge.
“Take your time and breathe!”
Remember, there’s likely to be another sale around the corner.
“You’ll get another chance in a few months,” said Gordon.
“So if anything else, you can take note of the sale price now and you’ll have a better idea if the price gets better in the fall. If it stays the same, you can still buy it knowing you didn’t miss out on better savings even if you had to wait a little longer.”
Amanda Barroso writes for NerdWallet.