1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Frugal Living

How to Save Money on Amazon

By , About.com Guide

There are a lot of good deals to be had on Amazon.com, but first you've got to find them. Here's where to look if you want to save BIG:

Check the Gold Box Deal of the Day

Amazon offers an extra discount on one item each day, the Gold Box Deal of the Day, and that discount can be quite substantial – sometimes as much as 75% off. Get in the habit of checking the deal each day, and you may just find a bargain on something that you need.

Where to Find It: Roll over the "Today's Deals" tab at the top of any Amazon page, and select "Gold Box" from the drop-down menu. The Gold Box Deal appears at the top left corner of the page.

Look for a Lightning Deal

Be lightning quick and you'll be rewarded. Amazon's Lightning Deals promotion offers an extra coupon savings on a single featured item – but only for four hours or until all of the coupons are used.

Where to Find It: Roll over the "Today's Deals" tab at the top of any Amazon page, and select "Gold Box" from the drop-down menu. The Lightning Deal appears at the top right corner of the page.

Shop the Friday Sale

The Friday Sale is yet another opportunity to save. It offers special one-day-only prices on over 100 items each Friday.

Where to Find It: Roll over the "Today's Deals" tab at the top of any Amazon page, and select "Friday Sale" from the drop-down menu.

Take Advantage of Super Saver Shipping

Buy $25 in qualifying items (those marked as "eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping") and enjoy free shipping on those items.

Tip: If you find yourself a bit short of the $25 needed to qualify for free shipping, you can use the Amazon Filler Item Finder run by filleritem.com to search out an item that will bring you to the $25 threshold.

Sign Up for Subscribe and Save

Are there items that you buy from Amazon on a regular basis – shampoo or toilet paper perhaps? Then, schedule reoccurring deliveries through the Subscribe and Save program and you'll receive an extra 15% off the purchase price, plus free shipping.

Check the Deals and Bargains Section

The Deals and Bargains page is your one-stop spot for all of the latest information on sales, markdowns and special promotions. Be sure to check it regularly.

Where to Find It: Roll over the "Today's Deals" tab at the top of any Amazon page, and select "Deals and Bargains" from the drop-down menu.

Search for Clearance Bargains

Looking for a real steal? Then, check out grocerycouponguide.com. They maintain links to all of the 50-90% off pages in Amazon's groceries, beauty, gourmet food, health and pets departments.

Another good site to check: Brand-Name-Coupons.com. This site allows you to search for deals in all departments by the percentage off—anywhere from 10-90% off.

Buy Used

Find an item that you want on Amazon, but not thrilled with the price? Then, check to see if you can buy it used. Amazon allows private sellers to post their used items up for sale alongside the new items. Just look for the link that says "# used and new for sale" and click on it to see what's available.

Let Someone Else Track the Deals for You

Looking for an easy way to stay on top of the latest deals? Then, let someone else do the work for you. Several websites dedicated to bargain hunting track and post the best Amazon deals throughout the day. A few to try:

Shop the Outlet Store

Pick up merchandise at closeout prices by shopping Amazon’s outlet store. You'll save at least 25%; and, in many cases, more than 70%.

Where to Find It: Roll over the "Today's Deals" tab at the top of any Amazon page, and select "Outlet" from the drop-down menu.

Explore Frugal Living
About.com Special Features

10 Things You Can Do Today to Improve Your Credit

Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

  1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. Frugal Living
  4. Bargain Shopping
  5. Amazon Deals - How to Save Money on Amazon>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.