Prime Day Game Plan: How I’m Tackling the Sale on a $100 Budget

I’ve never been the type to set an alarm for a sale. But this year, I’m giving myself a $100 budget and a mission: tackle Amazon Prime Day like a parent with a plan.

Between holiday gifts for my two kids, back-to-school gear, and a few kitchen upgrades I’ve been eyeing, I’m hoping to stretch every dollar and maybe let myself dream a little, too (if that stroller wagon or coffee maker drops into budget-friendly territory).

I already told myself 2025 was my low-buy year. I’m taking steps to make the most of Prime Day while staying true to my budget and my goals.

Step 1: Check prices before the sale begins

“I would consider what I really want and need right now and look at prices ahead of time,” Samantha Gordon, deals editor at Consumer Reports, suggested to me in an email interview. “A lot of ‘discounts’ get a ‘Prime Day’ label even though the price stayed the same.”

My prep has already started. This year the sale runs July 8-11, but in the days before I used AI tools to research product prices, curate my list and set my shopping strategy.

Gordon’s pro tip: Know what something costs before the sale starts. It’s the best way to ensure you’re actually getting a good deal.

I created my list with Gordon’s advice in mind. It has everything I’m hoping to buy in one place, making price-monitoring during the sale easier. Because I know what the prices were last week, I know what’s actually a deal during Prime Day.

Step 2: Add essentials to the cart first

Between two kids' birthdays, the holidays looming and my youngest child starting preschool, my priority list was starting to grow. I popped my core items into my Amazon cart to get a running subtotal.

I used ChatGPT to help divide my budget: $45-$60 on back-to-school items like a lunchbox and backpack and $30-$45 on toys and art supplies for my kids, looking for combo sets or bundles where I can. I’m aiming to find one special item for each child to store away for the holidays.

I have exact brands in mind that I know and trust, but I’m going to try to be open to well-reviewed alternatives.

“You can always look for different brands, as there are often lower-cost versions of products that work similarly to those higher-end models,” Gordon said.

“In some cases, they may even perform better or have certain features that outrank their pricier competitors,” she said.

Step 3: Save ‘wants’ to a wishlist and let deal alerts do the work

After prioritizing some essential and time-sensitive items, I have around $20 to spare.

I put a few more small toys onto an Amazon wishlist so I could easily monitor prices in the days before the sale.

I also added a few specific bakeware items to my wishlist to keep an eye on, plus some household and beauty items I frequently purchase. If I can make smart swaps or catch a Lightning Deal with my essentials, I’ll have enough room to add some of these “wants” to my cart.

To help monitor prices, I downloaded Honey, a browser plugin that alerts me to deals on items on my list and automatically applies coupon codes. With this tool, I’ll get information about competitor pricing during the sale without having to constantly refresh my browser.

Step 4: Only splurge if prices hit historical lows

I’d be willing to go over budget if there are good sales on a few pricier items I’ve had my eye on for a while, including a ceramic slow cooker, a stroller wagon and a fancy coffee machine.

If one of these items is deeply discounted, I plan to pull from one of our sinking funds — savings buckets dedicated to certain spending categories like holidays or home costs — to cover the expense.

Luckily, because I’ve done my research ahead of the sale, I won’t be fooled by fake deals. But I’m also balancing a little anxiety about the future. I know Black Friday sales are around the corner, but it’s hard to know if now is the right time to exceed my budget to make sure I get exactly what I want.

“This is a tricky question right now because of tariff uncertainty,” shopping expert Trae Bodge said in an email interview.

“Typically, Black Friday discounts are deeper than Amazon Prime (except on Amazon’s proprietary brands), but prices might be higher later in the year because of tariffs. I would say that if you see a decent sale on something on your list over Prime Day, it would be a wise move to buy it now.”

Step 5: Take a breath. Better deals may be ahead.

Prime Day can be a moving target. Between lightning sales and that feeling of FOMO you get when those Lightning Deals hit, it can be hard to stay strong. It seems like everyone is shopping and every deal is made to feel like a “now or never” proposition. My goal is not to get caught up in the hype.

“This is not a time to panic buy, but rather, to methodically go through your list to see if anything is discounted for Prime Day,” Bodge said. “Take your time and breathe!”

Remember, there’s likely to be another sale around the corner.

“You'll get another chance in a few months,” Gordon said, when pre-Black Friday sales emerge in October as they have in previous years.

“So if anything else, you can take note of the sale price now and you'll have a better idea if the price gets better in the fall. If it stays the same, you can still buy it knowing you didn't miss out on better savings even if you had to wait a little longer.”