Did you all survive Amazon Prime Days?? I was amazed at how pervasive this sale for a single store was! There were temptations to buy things we don’t need everywhere I looked. Friends and influencers alike on Instagram were all rattling off deals. I saw news headlines covering it and promoting the top steals. It’s the new Black Friday!
We did consider buying something for our business, so I got sucked into the site for a little while. The item we really needed wasn’t on sale, so I didn’t end up buying anything. But I felt myself getting weak. I started considering items for Christmas gifts just because they were on sale.
Prime Days is a prime (ha!) example of when stores make things sound urgent and scarce and talk you into spending money you didn’t plan to spend. They add countdowns, show your percent savings, and then—this kills me—they break it down into monthly payments. I was thiiiis close to making some impulse buys. Very crafty, Amazon.
Intentional Shopping
One nice thing about Prime Days, however, is if you’ve been wanting something and it’s in your budget, you can snag it at a great price. I respect that. I love a good deal. My sisters and I can’t even talk to each other without pointing out a recent deal we got.
But I hate it when I justify making a purchase just because it’s on a clearance rack. As I’ve been de-junking our house, donating, and selling things, I’ve realized how often we buy things we didn’t really want or need. As they say, all that clutter used to be money.
I’ve started keeping a running list on my phone of things we’re in the market for. I add things that I feel like we really need, and then I keep them on there for a while so I can (a) look for the best price for it and (b) see if I still want or need it after a few weeks. It’s amazing how time makes the heart grow less-fond.
Also, my brother-in-law recommended we try Honey, this extension on your browser that looks for coupon codes and low prices as you shop online. When I finally decide to make a purchase for the right reasons, it automatically applies them at checkout. It’s come in handy a few times already.
Seeing Clearly Despite the Marketing
A few years ago, I read that it helps your kids if you teach them how marketers advertise to them. So now sometimes when we see a billboard or a commercial, I’ll ask my kids, “What are they trying to sell you? What do they want you to do?” It’s been a good exercise for me too. The typical answer? They want you to want and buy something.
We run a business so I get that marketing is part of the gig. I worked on marketing teams when I was a copywriter. So I understand that marketing is how businesses grow.
But I’m trying to check my personal spending more. Am I buying something because I’m bored? Tired? Stressed? Or it just seems like a good deal? Do I really need this thing, or should I use what I have? Is this really something I want to take care of and add to our house?
The holidays are coming, so the marketers are going to work hard on us. I’m going to try to think more for myself and shop more wisely.
Is anyone but me having trouble with this site? All messages on Hopes last post is gone and for almost two days I couldn’t get in. Sorry Sara didn’t know where I could post this. I agree with your post about not just buying during Prime days. Most of that stuff we don’t need.
I bought a few things for my craft room, but also found myself struggling. I would fill my cart up with things I really didn’t need. Then go in there, see the full total, and start deleting. I don’t need this, I don’t need this, I don’t need this. In the end I ended up with some items for my Cricut (vinyl, blades, and mats) and some shelves. I didn’t do too bad.
Having to wade through so much off-brand stuff actually helped me this year. Prime Day was basically wish.com but with better shipping. I did get a couple things. I got a cookbook that I had been wanting and a springform pan by USA Pan (they make good bakeware).
I was looking for a coffee machine but, what I want was not on sale. Then, I found myself looking for an air fryer which I absolutely do not need. I stopped myself thankfully.
We had a smaller drawer type one but upgraded to one with shelves. We also thought it was just another gadget we would probably never use but we use it most days of the week. It is great for cooking, reheating..we even cook our bacon in it!
I was tempted. But every time I thought about spending money or started adding items to my cart, I remembered that my Amazon cc is balance $0 and I like that a lot. Not to mention, I couldn’t find anything at all that my kids actually need or even really want at this time, so Christmas shopping was a no go via Prime Days.
We watch for items on camelcamelcamel and get notified when it hits our desired price point. It takes time and usually we only use it for items that we are planning on having for a long time and can wait to buy.
Sara, are you following the blog and instagram “Deeply in Debt?” Amber Masters and her dentist husband are paying off $650,000 of dental school debt. 3 young kids too. I think they are about half way now. Check her out!
Is anyone but me having trouble with this site? All messages on Hopes last post is gone and for almost two days I couldn’t get in. Sorry Sara didn’t know where I could post this. I agree with your post about not just buying during Prime days. Most of that stuff we don’t need.
It isn’t just you
Same here. I kept receiving a message saying that I had been blocked off of the site. I was wondering what I had done. lol
Thanks.
I bought a few things for my craft room, but also found myself struggling. I would fill my cart up with things I really didn’t need. Then go in there, see the full total, and start deleting. I don’t need this, I don’t need this, I don’t need this. In the end I ended up with some items for my Cricut (vinyl, blades, and mats) and some shelves. I didn’t do too bad.
Way to edit yourself! It’s always good to step away and come back. More often than I not I change my mind.
Totally agree. If you don’t need it, it doesn’t matter how good of a deal it is.
Amen!
Having to wade through so much off-brand stuff actually helped me this year. Prime Day was basically wish.com but with better shipping. I did get a couple things. I got a cookbook that I had been wanting and a springform pan by USA Pan (they make good bakeware).
That’s true! There were tons of mystery brands.
I was looking for a coffee machine but, what I want was not on sale. Then, I found myself looking for an air fryer which I absolutely do not need. I stopped myself thankfully.
Um..you absolutely DO need an air fryer! Haha
Ha! Tell me more about an air fryer. Do you use it regularly??
We had a smaller drawer type one but upgraded to one with shelves. We also thought it was just another gadget we would probably never use but we use it most days of the week. It is great for cooking, reheating..we even cook our bacon in it!
I was tempted. But every time I thought about spending money or started adding items to my cart, I remembered that my Amazon cc is balance $0 and I like that a lot. Not to mention, I couldn’t find anything at all that my kids actually need or even really want at this time, so Christmas shopping was a no go via Prime Days.
A $0 balance on a credit card is a beautiful sight.
We watch for items on camelcamelcamel and get notified when it hits our desired price point. It takes time and usually we only use it for items that we are planning on having for a long time and can wait to buy.
I’ve never heard of camelcamelcamel. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
I stayed away from prime days completely!
Sara, are you following the blog and instagram “Deeply in Debt?” Amber Masters and her dentist husband are paying off $650,000 of dental school debt. 3 young kids too. I think they are about half way now. Check her out!
No! That’s right up our alley. Thanks for the tip.
I had problems with the site too! Looks like they figured it out though.