Learn how to save time and money with Amazon Subscribe and Save. A step-by-step guide for small business owners and busy professionals to automate household supplies.
Today I’m going to show you a home supplies hack that has saved me hundreds of dollars and dozens of hours. It’s so obvious that you’re not going to believe you hadn’t started doing this earlier.
Odds are you’re already using this little service called Amazon. But what you probably didn’t know is that Amazon has a feature tucked away in your account menu that is a total lifesaver. It’s called Subscribe and Save.
If you’re like most small business owners and professionals, your days are already packed. You’re juggling work, clients, home, family, and then suddenly you’re making yet another random run to the store because you ran out of trash bags or shampoo. It feels like your time is being eaten away by these little errands. But what if you could buy back hours of your life and actually save money while doing it? That’s exactly what this hack is going to help you do.
Here’s the deal. With Subscribe and Save you select the products you already use on a routine basis, set your delivery frequency, and never have to think about them again.
That alone buys back your time. But Amazon takes it a step further. When you bundle your items, you can unlock up to 15% off. That’s real money when you think about how often you’re buying household items.
I actually stumbled onto this by accident years ago while clicking around in my family’s Amazon account. I’d never heard of it. Never seen it promoted. Never heard anyone talking about it. It just caught my attention in the dropdown menu and I thought… wait a second… this is huge. How is everyone not using this?
In case you’re new here, my name is Kevin Kamis. I run a marketing agency here in Grand Rapids, Michigan where we help local businesses with websites, photo and video, ads, and social media.
I’m also a total nerd when it comes to productivity and organization, so I make content like this to share tips and tricks I’ve learned. My goal is to help small business owners and busy professionals save time and stay organized so they can focus on growth and the things that actually matter.
Here are the four steps I use to save 15% and dozens of hours every year with Amazon Subscribe and Save.
First things first, you have to dig around to actually find it.
For me, in October I’m getting body wash, mouthwash, a fridge water filter, dishwasher pods, protein powder, Chemex filters, and deodorant. These are perfect candidates because I use them on a consistent basis.
Under each item you can choose the quantity, delivery frequency, and next delivery date. On the left side of the screen there is an important note that leads us to Tip #2.
This is the key:
Be strategic here. Don’t spread out a couple items every month. Instead, group them together every two or three months so you hit that 5-item threshold. You’ll have less cardboard to deal with and you’ll be saving more money.
For example, in March my account showed that if I added just two more items, I’d unlock the 15% discount. I could look at shifting items into that month or next time I add a new subscription, make sure it goes into March to reach my 5-item threshold.
At first I wasn’t sure what items I should enroll. Here’s the answer after three years of using this: enroll any item that you use on a recurring basis, daily or weekly.
Here’s a quick exercise:
Examples you might see in your kitchen:
Once you have your list, then hop on Amazon, look up each product, and instead of doing a one-time purchase, select Subscribe and Save. Set your frequency and you’re done.
You can even add backup items if your preferred brand goes out of stock. I personally haven’t needed that, but the option is there.
This part takes a little fine-tuning. There were times when I ended up with enough toothpaste and shampoo to stock an entire shelf at Meijer. Not the end of the world because this stuff doesn't expire, but I did have to slow down the frequency.
Here’s the trick. When your delivery arrives, check how much you had left before opening the new box. If you realize you still have plenty on deck, hop on Amazon and adjust your delivery to every six months instead of every three.
Once you dial this in, the system runs like a well-oiled machine. The truth is we humans are creatures of habit. You’ll be amazed at how consistent your usage really is once this system is running.
Look, I don’t mean to get too philosophical, but our time here on earth is limited. And my time is definitely not best spent walking the aisles at Meijer to buy toilet paper and dish soap. Sorry Meijer, love you guys, I still get groceries from you, but I can automate the household supplies.
Systems like this are the difference between spending your Sunday running mindless errands or spending your Sunday doing what you love with the people you love.
Too many people are stuck in survival mode, just reacting to life, instead of setting up little systems that free them up to actually live.
That’s why I recommend every small business owner, entrepreneur, or busy professional take advantage of Amazon Subscribe and Save. It’s a simple system that buys back time, saves money, and removes mental clutter.
So that’s how you use Subscribe and Save to save time and money.
If you like this idea of getting organized, I recently created a video walking through my to-do list system that helps clear your brain and keep everything in order. You can check that out here on my YouTube channel.
Thanks for reading, and now go enjoy the day.
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