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Making the Most of Amazon Subscribe & Save: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Savings

Making the Most of Amazon Subscribe & Save: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Savings

As we’ve shared Amazon Subscribe & Save Deals over the years, we’ve gotten a number of questions from people about how it works, how to use it, and if it really saves you money. In this post, I want to dive in-depth into explaining what Amazon Subscribe & Save is, how it works, how to save money with it, what to do if the price changes, and how to modify or cancel your Amazon Subscribe & Save subscriptions.

Amazon Subscribe & Save is one of the best ways to save money on Amazon. There are no extra subscription fees, no complicated terms, and you can easily cancel your subscriptions at any time for any reason. Plus, you get a nice discount just for subscribing, and an even bigger one if you have five or more items shipped in a month.

I’ve purchased dozens of items through Amazon Subscribe & Save over the years, and I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to get the best deals and avoid surprises. If you’ve ever wondered how to make the most of it (or if you’re thinking about trying it out), I’m sharing everything you need to know to save big without the hassle.

Amazon Subscribe & Save is pretty straightforward. Here’s how you take advantage of it:

Log into your Amazon account.
Search for items you regularly use (think cleaning supplies, pantry staples, personal care items, pet food, diapers, etc.).
When you’re ready to buy the item, click the “subscribe” button instead of “add to cart” button.
Choose how often you want the item delivered. You can set it for every two weeks, every month, every two months, and so on up to every six months (depending on how often you need the item).

The best part? You save 5% on each item just for subscribing. And if you have five or more items in your subscription that ship in the same month, that discount bumps up to 15%. It’s like getting a little reward for planning ahead!

And on top of that, there are often additional coupons and discounts for purchasing items through Subscribe & Save. You’ll only get the discount on your first order, so I always just cancel as soon as my order ships in order to get the one-time discount.

Psst! Be sure to follow along with all of our BEST Amazon Subscribe & Save deals for groceries, household supplies, pet deals, beauty & personal care items, and more! We also round up the top 60-70 stock-up deals every Friday!

Plus, there are no strings attached. You can cancel, skip, or adjust your delivery schedule at any time. Truly. It’s such an incredibly easy way to save without any commitment!

Tip: Keep a running list of items you buy frequently so you can easily spot what’s worth subscribing to. Stocking up on things that don’t expire quickly, like paper goods or cleaning supplies, is a great way to save without overloading your cabinets.

Not all Subscribe & Save deals are created equal. Here’s how to find the best ones:

1. Search for Multi-Packs and Bulk Items

Usually, the bigger the pack, the better the savings. When it makes sense, opt for multi-packs of things like shampoo, dish soap, mac & cheese, or trash bags. If it’s something we use often and it’s on a great sale, I’ll stock up!

2. Watch for Monthly Promotions

Amazon often runs special promotions for groceries and household essentials. These stack with your Subscribe & Save discount, so you’re doubling up on savings. Always check for these before adding something to your cart.

3. Browse Best Sellers & “Today’s Deals”

Some of the best deals are hidden right on the best-seller and “today’s deals” lists. Search for household items or pantry staples, and you might find Subscribe & Save options that are cheaper than buying one-off.

And of course, be sure to follow along with all of our BEST Amazon Subscribe & Save deals each week! We do the work for you!

One of the biggest questions I get is, What happens if the price of my Subscribe & Save item changes? Here’s what to know…

For any new subscription that you sign up for, you lock in the price for your first delivery when you first subscribe. For future deliveries, though, Amazon unfortunately doesn’t lock in the price until your delivery is prepared, which means the price could change quite a bit between your first and sequential deliveries.

That means if the price goes up right before your next shipment, you might end up paying more than you planned. But there are a few tips for what to do if the Amazon Subscribe & Save price changes:

Monitor your subscription prices – Amazon sends you an email a few days before shipment, so always check that email to make sure the price hasn’t spiked. (I put the date on my monthly calendar to check my Subscribe & Save items and make sure I like what’s going to ship, move items around, cancel what I don’t need, etc.)
Use a price tracker – Websites like CamelCamelCamel can alert you if the price drops, so you can decide if you want to continue, cancel, or pause the subscription.
Pause or adjust as needed – If the price jumps and you don’t need the item right away, you can always cancel or skip that month without any fees.

Managing and Modifying Your Subscriptions

One of the reasons I love Amazon Subscribe & Save is how flexible it is. You can:

Skip a Delivery – If you don’t need something one month, just hit skip. You won’t lose your subscription or your discount.
Change the Frequency – If you need toilet paper every two months instead of every month, you can change it with just a few clicks.
Cancel Anytime – There’s no penalty for stopping your subscription. You’re not locked into anything. (In fact, I often subscribe to an item to get the discount and then immediately cancel the subscription after it ships!)

How to cancel Subscribe and Save: To do this, just head to Your Subscribe & Save Items in your Amazon account. Everything is editable with just a couple of clicks. Just go to Subscriptions > Edit (for the subscription you want to cancel) > Cancel Subscription.

Potential Drawbacks to Watch Out For

While Amazon Subscribe & Save is amazing, there are a few things to watch out for:

Price Fluctuations – Prices aren’t locked in, so it’s good to keep an eye on them.
Over-Stocking – It’s easy to end up with way more than you need. I suggest setting reminders to check your inventory before each delivery.
Out-of-Stock Issues – Occasionally, Amazon runs out of items you’re subscribed to. If this happens, your order may be delayed, so always keep backups if it’s something essential.

Final Thoughts

Amazon Subscribe & Save can be a lifesaver for busy families who want to save time and money on the things they use every day. In addition, it can be a great way to get highly-discounted prices on items on your first order (and then just pause or cancel your subscription until a similar deal comes around!).

With a little planning, smart shopping strategies, and knowing how to cancel/skip/edit your subscriptions, you can maximize your savings with Amazon Subscribe & Save and avoid common pitfalls!