How To Cut Back On Your Amazon Shopping

It’s effortless to click “add to cart,” especially with Amazon Prime’s fast deliveries and 1-click ordering. However, these conveniences can lead to overspending and make it too easy to give in to impulse buys. With the holiday season approaching, learn how to reduce shopping temptations and limit unnecessary Amazon purchases.

1. Add Items To Your Wish List

Instead of immediately purchasing new Amazon finds, add them to a wish list. Wish lists serve as a reminder to consider the item later. This strategy delays gratification and provides time to decide if you truly need the purchase.

2. Turn Off 1-Click Ordering

One-click ordering cuts back on the amount of buttons you need to click to make a purchase. When you hit “Buy Now,” Amazon takes that click as your verification that you want the item and uses the information on your profile (card information and address) to complete the purchase.

Did you know you can go to your Settings to disable this feature? Disabling this feature takes away your ability to “purchase without thinking.”

3. Delete Your Card Information

A really effective way to curb your online shopping is to delete your card information from your Amazon profile. This will force you to find your card and enter the details manually every time you want to make a purchase. After doing that a couple of times, you may decide the item you are trying to purchase isn’t worth the hassle.

4. Opt Out Of Deal Alerts

Everyone wants to take advantage of a good deal, but not at the expense of our accounts. Amazon is great at sending us deal notifications… almost every day. All the notifications can tempt us into making purchases we don’t need in order to “get a deal.”

Turning off these deal alerts can save your mobile device from all the notifications and erase the temptation.

5. Research Alternatives

Amazon is not the be-all, end-all to online shopping. While they have gained a reputation for “having everything” and usually are cheap compared to other retailers, that isn’t always the case anymore. Before making a purchase, do some research. Many retailers have had to “up their online game” to compete with Amazon. Now, retailers like Walmart have conveniences and prices similar to Amazon. If you need to make a purchase, research all the alternatives available to you.

Cutting back on Amazon shopping will improve your overall spending habits and let your budget stretch. Adding a few obstacles, like opting out of deal alerts and disabling one-click buying, can help curb your shopping temptations. With the holidays coming up, really research your alternatives and find the best bang for your buck!