Your worst enemy on Prime Day is an impulse purchase.
Amazon knows that it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of limited-time offers –and it’s counting on you to fall into that trap. While some deals might look too good to pass up on something you have a questionable need for, a little self-restraint and patience can ultimately save you a substantial amount.
Sometimes, the prices on Prime Day aren’t the lowest an item will hit before the end of the year. And if you’re using this shopping holiday to get a jump start on holiday shopping, it helps to know which categories are more likely to see further price drops later in the year.
Here’s what’s worth a click – and what’s not.
Buy these items on Prime Day 2024
Electronics
Savings will vary from item to item, but on the whole, if you’re looking for a gadget, Prime Day is a good time to buy. Apple iPads and AirPods are often discounted and you can snag a good deal on a robot vacuum. Don’t expect the hottest tech gadgets to have deep discounts right now, but on the whole, you can expect solid savings.
Clothes
Back-to-school is right around the corner, so Amazon typically offers discounts of 50% or more on clothing. You can get even better deals by shopping Amazon-branded apparel products.
Don’t buy these items on Prime Day 2024
TVs
If you can get one of the super-cheap FireTVs, go for it. Otherwise, resist the urge to buy. Savings during the Black Friday time period can range upwards to 40%—and you’ll have a much wider selection of offerings from top-end manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.
Toys
Prices in the pre-Christmas period are typically lower than they are on Prime Day, so it’s best to hold out any early holiday stockpiling, unless you see something that’s a hot toy your child is certain to want. Prices will start to fall about the time the temperatures do.
One other note: If you’re on the fence about an Amazon product, such as an Fire Stick or Kindle, and you don’t need it now, it won’t hurt to wait. Those products are reduced for every major sales event the company hosts. The prices fluctuate somewhat, but your savings shouldn’t vary by more than a couple dollars whether you buy now, during whatever fall shopping event Amazon drops this year, or on Black Friday.