Save Money on Amazon Prime Membership

Portions of this article about saving money on an Amazon Prime membership originally appeared on Parade.com.

In 2022 Amazon Prime’s annual rate increased to $139 from $119. Amazon hadn’t raised its fee for a couple of years now.

Being an Amazon Prime member means you get access to free two-day shipping, although many Prime members have shared on social media that their parcels don’t always arrive in two days. Nonetheless, there’s no denying Prime’s popularity.

Also, you get access to TV that others don’t, such as NFL’s Thursday Night Football. It will be broadcast exclusively on Amazon Prime.

Here are amazing things you can buy on Amazon.

Save Money on Amazon Prime Membership

So what’s a fan of two-day shipping to do? Well, if you’re committed to shopping on Amazon and having access to the nearly 600 million products it has for sale on its site, here are a handful of ways you can make Prime more affordable—and justify the hiked-up annual fee.

By the way, if you landed here, because you’re trying to figure out how to cancel your Amazon Prime account, I can help. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find my tips to do that.

1. Discounts at Whole Foods for Amazon Prime members

When Amazon bought Whole Foods Market last year, Prime members hoped there would be an offline benefit for them. Here’s the newest: Starting this week, Prime members get an extra 10 percent off sale items at the supermarket. This is in addition to the deep discounts on select best-selling items.

To get these deals, you’ll need to download the Whole Foods app to your smartphone. Then, log in using your Amazon Prime account, and show the app at checkout.

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Unfortunately, Prime Members used to get grocery delivery for free. No more. However, if you place a grocery order for more than $35 at Whole Foods and pick it up, that is still free.

2. Piggyback with Family Members

When you have a Prime membership, you are allowed to add more than one shipping address and name on the account. That means that family members can pool resources and share one account to save money.

Even better? If you have a student in college, you’ll pay even less. For Prime Student, the annual fee is only $59 (up from $49) for as long as the student has a university email address (i.e. one that ends in .edu). That’s a huge savings for a family that wants the benefits of a Prime membership without paying the $119 annual fee. With one child still in college, this is the trick our family uses.

Remember: you can always try an Amazon Prime membership for FREE for the first 30 days.

Check out this new amazing option when you sign up for a student Prime membership.

3. Discounted Prime Membership for Those with Limited Income

Amazon allows those with a limited income to benefit from a Prime membership at a discounted rate. Amazon extended the eligibility for the discounted Prime membership offer of $5.99 per month to qualifying recipients of Medicaid. Customers with Electronic Benefits cards will continue to qualify for this offer.

There is no annual commitment and customers can cancel anytime. Like with all Prime memberships, this one starts with the first 30 days free.

4. Prime Day in July

Each year since 2015, Amazon has held its own shopping holiday in July, the anniversary of the site’s founding. For one day only, on Amazon Prime Day, members get significant discounts on many of Amazon’s best-sellers.

If you prefer to do your holiday shopping in July, having a Prime membership in time for Prime Day might make a lot of sense for your bottom line. Here are some items that you can buy on Amazon using Prime that you might not know exist!

5. Shopping with Rewards Points

If you have a Discover Card and shop on Amazon, you can arrange to apply your Cash Back Bonus dollars to anything you want to buy on the site. In addition, Amazon has its own Visa card. This card offers a way to earn and shop with points, as well.

Shopping with points is how our family has bought everything from books to Bumble and Bumble hair products without incurring new debt.

6. SNAP EBT card holders get a discount

This article explains how to use your SNAP EBT card on Amazon to buy groceries online. One of the benefits of registering your card with Amazon is 50% off an Amazon Prime membership.

7. Get an online stylist without paying a styling fee

What I’m talking about is Amazon’s Try Before You Buy option.

Let me explain how it works.

Prime Try Before You Buy

Prime Try Before You Buy is a Prime-exclusive program where you can try on eligible items for sale on Amazon. Some items mentioned in this article qualify for Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy. That’s because you’ll discover that eligible items run the gamut and include women’s, men’s, kids’, baby clothing, shoes and accessories, plus more.

Prime Try Before You Buy is part of Amazon Wardrobe. However, it doesn’t just apply to Amazon brands.

For example, the Peloton clothing on Amazon all are a part of Prime Try Before You Buy.

How do you know if fashion items for sale on item are eligible for Prime Try Before You Buy?

You’ll see this toggle on/toggle off button on the shopping page.

peloton on amazon try before you buy circled

Try at home for free

Here are the best parts. One, you can try on up to six items at home for free.

Two, take seven days to try everything on. And, three, you’ll only pay for what you keep. Returns are free.

Sign up for Prime Try Before You Buy.

Other Ways to Save on Amazon

Beyond these money-saving tips for an Amazon Prime membership, there are other ways you can save money by shopping on Amazon. One of the big ways is by having a registry on the site.

Amazon wedding registry

With the Amazon wedding registry, you get bonus free gifts when you register for certain brands and, obviously, create an Amazon wedding registry. This is good to know if your bridal registry includes Calpahlon, Le Creuset and Cuisinart. You’ll also get discounts on shopping your registry to finish it out.

Here are 7 bridal and wedding registries that can save you money.

Amazon baby registry

Another Amazon registry that can save you money is the Amazon baby registry. It’s a great option now that Babies R Us is no longer available for a nationwide baby registry.

Like the wedding registry you can get discounts when finishing your baby registry shopping.

  • You’ll get 10% off across Amazon
  • If you have a Prime membership, you’ll get 15% off. Another great reason to join Prime.

Finally, here are seven things you may not have realized you can buy on Amazon. Hint: many of these do come free with that Prime membership, but if you’re looking to cut the cord, for example, they can be very beneficial for your bottom line.

How to cancel your Amazon Prime membership

To cancel your Amazon Prime membership, you need to go to your “Manage Prime Membership” page. Then, follow these steps.

One, look in the upper right corner of the page. It says “Membership” and then “Update, Cancel and more.” Click on the down arrow.

Next, a window will come up that says “End Membership.” When you click on that, you’ll be able to cancel.

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3 Comments

  1. Hi Leah! Thanks for these great tips. If we wanted to take advantage of the college student Prime membership, do you recommend that we first sign up our college student for a college Prime account and then cancel ours?

    1. Your student will need their email address ending in .edu to get that student membership. Then, yes, go ahead and cancel yours and use their account for your shopping. Happy to hear my tips helped.

      Leah