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Why We Decided to Keep Our Amazon Subscription

March 6, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Man with a surprised expression on his face holding a stack of Amazon boxes

As prices jump, my husband and I debate renewing our annual Amazon subscription each year. Two years ago, the decision was easy. One of the biggest perks was free delivery on Whole Foods orders, which I used extensively during the pandemic. However, Amazon took away free delivery last year and instituted an eight-dollar delivery fee, so we no longer had that perk. Even without it, we still have several reasons why we decided to keep our Amazon subscription, but the perks are getting smaller every year.)

Reasons We Used to Keep Our Amazon Subscription That No Longer Apply

As I mentioned above, Amazon no longer offers free Whole Foods delivery, which was one of our most important reasons to keep our Amazon subscription. However, other perks are no longer as relevant.

Free Two-Day Delivery

Amazon used to be well-known for its two-day delivery, but that happens less often. Not only are deliveries taking longer, but for the first time since we began our subscription ten years ago, Amazon lost several of my packages at Christmas time. I found the process of reporting my packages missing time-consuming. Getting ahold of a human to help me was difficult!

Why We Decided to Keep Our Amazon Subscription

Even though I feel Amazon’s quality and offerings for subscription holders have declined in recent years, there are four reasons why we decided to renew our subscription again this year.

Audible

I listen to Audible when I walk on the treadmill. I pay $14.99 for the service, so it’s not included in an Amazon Prime subscription, but I need the subscription to access Audible. With my monthly fee, I get one free book a month. To save money, I put my Audible subscription on hold for three months every year to have more time to listen to the books I’ve already bought.

Whole Foods Discount

Photo of a brick building with "Whole Foods Market" written in green

Whole Foods is one of many stores we frequent. I don’t go there regularly because the store is too expensive for our budget. However, we are on a gluten and dairy-free diet, so I shop at Whole Foods when the specialty foods we need are on sale, such as Daiya Cheese or dairy-free butter. My Amazon Prime subscription gives me an additional discount at Whole Foods, making the prices even cheaper.

I haven’t calculated it, but I conservatively estimate that my Whole Foods discount adds up to at least half the price of my yearly Amazon subscription price.

Subscribe and Save Discount

Life has gotten busier for us this year, so I now use Amazon Subscribe and Save for our toiletries, vitamins, and some foods. I have those items delivered once per month, which saves me five to 15 percent depending on how many things I have delivered for the month.

Amazon Prime Videos

We use Amazon Prime videos frequently for two reasons. First, we homeschool, and Amazon has many educational shows my kids watch. Second, we like to watch Japanese shows, and Amazon has a fair amount of Japanese programming that we can view.

Not all videos are free on Amazon Prime, but I frequently agree to have my Amazon orders delivered on the same day, a few days out. As an incentive, Amazon often gives me digital credit. I can use those credits to watch shows that cost money on Amazon for free.

Final Thoughts

We had many reasons to keep our Amazon subscription a few years ago. We don’t have as many reasons now, but currently, the benefits outweigh the price of a subscription. However, in future years, that may no longer be the case.

Read More

5 Ways to Save on an Amazon Prime Membership

Is It Worth Paying for an Amazon Prime Membership?

Start the New Year by Finding Money

MelissaB
MelissaB

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.

www.momsplans.com/

Filed Under: budget Tagged With: Amazon Prime membership, Amazon Subscribe and Save, Audible, Whole foods

Products That Save You Money

March 8, 2021 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Products That Save Money

Every year, there seem to be more and more expenses competing for our money.  But rather than spending money on disposable or one-use items, consider investing in some of these products that save money.

Around the House

There are so many products that save money for around the house!  This is only a small sampling of what is available:

Deep Freezer

Investing in a deep freezer can save you a significant amount of money because it allows you to buy foods in bulk when they’re at their lowest prices.  Using this method, you never pay full price for food.  Our family has a deep freezer, and we buy a ¼ side of beef every six months to one year.  We get a wide variety of meat at a much cheaper price than we could buying it retail at the store.

Just make sure to keep an inventory of freezer contents and rotate your foods regularly so nothing goes to waste.

Drain Snake

If you have a plugged drain, there is no need to call the plumber if you have a drain snake.  We have three girls in our home with long hair, and the drain snake has kept us from having to call the plumber more times than I can count.

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat allows you to reduce your heat or air conditioning when you’re not home and then automatically increase it 30 minutes or so before you return home.  This lets you return to a comfortable home.  Programmable thermostats can easily save you hundreds of dollars every year in energy costs.

Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls take the place of dryer sheets.  These balls only cost about $10 to $12 for a six pack, and they will last for months.  These are definitely much cheaper and more eco-friendly than buying dryer sheets.

Vinegar

Products That Save Money
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Vinegar may be the item that saves you the most money on this whole list.  Vinegar can be used to replace so many cleaners and other items you may currently buy.  We use vinegar to clean our toilet and bathtub.  We also use it as a weed killer.

Food/Drink Consumption

Food is most people’s largest expense behind a mortgage/rent or a car payment.  But there are many, many products that save money in this area.

Coffee/Espresso Maker

If your Achilles’ heel is coffee, don’t run to the coffee shop every day.  Instead, invest in a coffee or espresso maker and make your brew at home.  (Plus, you’ll save time not waiting in line at your favorite coffee joint.)  The savings here are significant.

Herb Garden Kit

Buy a herb garden kit and set it on your window, and you’ll never need to buy fresh herbs again.  Not only does this save you the expense of buying herbs (that often come in packages to big to be used before they go bad), but it will also improve the taste of your food, which may make you less likely to go out to eat.

Bottle Emptying Kit

At first, this may seem like a silly purchase.  I regularly tip bottles upside down to try to get the remaining contents out.  However, frequently, bottles like dish soap can’t stand up when upside down.  Instead, they fall to the side.  As an alternative, attach a bottle emptying kit to the lid, and the stand holds the bottle in place while the ingredients run down for your use.

This kit can be used for condiments, oils, shampoos, hand soaps, dish soaps.  When you consider every item where you can use all of the contents instead of leaving a bit at the bottom, you will save money with a bottle emptying kit, though it may take years.

Female-Related Expenses

For female related needs, there are many ways reusable items can save you money.

Period Panties

Using period panties reduce the need to buy disposable tampons or pads.  While these panties cost around $20 each, they can be used for two to five years, if cared for properly, netting you a significant savings.  Plus, as part of the CARES Act, you can now be reimbursed for buying period panties by your FSA account.

Menstrual Cup

Likewise, a menstrual cup can be used for one to two years.  At $40, one of these could quickly save you money if you replace disposable tampons for it.

Reusable Bamboo Make Up Remover Pads

If you’re currently using disposable make up remover pads, consider switching to reusable bamboo make up remover pads.  You can buy a 20 pack for $3.99 on Amazon, and, according to Good Housekeeping, they can last you for over 500 to 1,000 washes!

Subscription/Membership Services

Some people adamantly refuse to pay money to save money when it comes to subscriptions and memberships, but I disagree.  Paying for these can be an excellent way to save money.

Amazon Prime

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

An Amazon Prime membership costs roughly $130 a year (including taxes).  While that sounds like a lot, our family finds that the membership pays for itself in many ways.  Many other Americans must feel the same.  As of 2019, there are over 90 million Amazon Prime account holders in the United States (Fortune).

For our family, the free shipping alone covers the cost of an annual membership.  However, an Amazon Prime account can also save you money on entertainment—take advantage of Amazon’s free movies and TV shows as well as music, books, and magazines.

Costco

Costco is another membership-based company that can save you money.  We save a lot on organic food and foods that cater to our many food intolerances including almond milk, gluten free pancake mix, and other items.

In addition, their clothes are very reasonable, as are their restaurant gift cards.  Don’t forget their discounts on car rentals or their discounted gas.  Also, one of my favorites is their two year warranty and concierge service on products like computers and televisions.  There are many, many ways having a Costco membership can save you money.

Final Thoughts

While most of these products that save money require that you spend money up front, the investment is worthwhile for the amount of money you’ll be saving over the next few years.

What are your favorite products that save money?

Read More

Costco Can’t Be Beat for Large Purchases

Is a Costco Membership Worth It When Living Alone?

5 Ways to Save on an Amazon Prime Membership

Free Alternatives for Things You Currently Pay For

MelissaB
MelissaB

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.

www.momsplans.com/

Filed Under: Frugality, Saving Tagged With: Amazon Prime membership, Costco, save money

5 Ways to Save on an Amazon Prime Membership

December 21, 2020 By MelissaB 1 Comment

save on an Amazon Prime membership

An Amazon Prime membership offers a number of perks such as free Amazon shipping, free movies and music, a discount at Whole Foods, and many more.  However, some people balk  at the $119 annual membership fee, which is understandable.  If you’d like to have an Amazon Prime membership but want to save money, there are a number of possibilities.

Split an Amazon Prime Membership

If there’s another adult family member that you’d like to split Amazon Prime with, you can.  And no, this isn’t like sneaking another family member into a hotel without telling the hotel staff.  Amazon has a whole page dedicated to how to split a membership, which they call Amazon Household.

how to s

Say your mother-in-law lives with you.  You’ll share a membership, each putting in a payment method to pay your portion, and you will have separate accounts.  If you can do this, you’ll automatically pay just half–$59.50 instead of the full price of $119.

Get a Student Discount

If you’re a college student with an .edu email address, you can get a discounted Amazon Prime membership by signing up for an Amazon Prime Student account.  The first 6 months are free, and then you’re charged $6.49 per month (equaling $79 per year, a $40 a year savings from traditional Prime)

EBT & Medicaid Discount

If you receive EBT benefits or Medicaid, you’re eligible for a special Amazon Prime membership for just $5.99/month.  You’ll need to verify that you actually receive benefits, and every 12 months, you’ll need to verify that you’re still eligible for this type of membership.  You are allowed this special rate for 48 months.

Credit Card with Prime as a Perk

save on Amazon Prime membership

Some credit cards offer an Amazon Prime membership, or a discount on the membership, as a perk.  For instance, the Uber Visa Card by Barclay offers $50 off an Amazon Prime membership after you spend $5,000 on the card each year.  This will take the Prime membership down to $69.

Likewise, the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card offers a $125 Amazon.com gift card when you’re approved for the card.

Amazon Prime Discount

Amazon Prime rarely offers discounts, but once a year, you can usually find them.  They may offer the deal in July during Amazon Prime Day, or when they have new shows to debut, or their shows, like Mozart in the Jungle, win awards.  You’ll just need to keep a close eye on Amazon to snag the discount when it’s available.

If none of these discounts applies to you or you just don’t want to spend the money, keep in mind, you’ll get free shipping from Amazon if your order is over $25, and you can always get a 30-day free trial membership should you want to binge watch a show or order a number of items, say around Christmas time.

Do you currently have an Amazon Prime membership?  If so, do you use one of the above strategies or another one to avoid paying full price?  Do you think Amazon Prime is worth paying the full price?

Read More

Is It Worth Paying for an Amazon Prime Membership?

5 Ways to Save on Utilities and Amazon

Free Alternatives to Things You Currently Pay For

 

MelissaB
MelissaB

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in New York, where she loves the natural beauty of the area.

www.momsplans.com/

Filed Under: Frugality, Saving Tagged With: amazon, Amazon Prime membership, discounts, subscriptions

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