What to buy (and skip) on Prime Day, July 8-11

Published On: July 5, 2025

By NerdWallet’s Tommy Tindall

This year’s Prime Day is scheduled for July 8–11, so you might be trying desperately to find nice bargains before prices increase.

According to the Conference Board’s June Consumer Confidence Index, many consumers are most concerned about tariffs and the potential price increases that may result from them.

But don’t buy in a hurry.

Katherine Black, a partner at the international management consulting firm Kearney, who oversees mass market, food, and pharmaceutical retail, suggests power buying instead.

In other words, consider product areas that may see growth, purchase what suits your needs and budget, and take advantage of the offer to get ahead of future purchasing cycles.

Here are some buying recommendations, a short list of things to buy (and avoid), and a glimpse of what some of us nerds are thinking about this Prime Day.

Electronics purchases are on the down, according to the Consumer Confidence report, but you may want to reconsider that.

Targeting early discounts on back-to-school-related items is a smart Prime Day strategy, according to Black.

Even though your children aren’t ready for notebooks and bags just yet, they are most likely ready to get a new laptop or Chromebook if their schools require one.

During the sale, keep an eye out for products like Apple AirTags, smart watches, headphones, and calculators that are relevant to students.

In an email interview, money-saving expert Andrea Woroch, who offers budgeting advice on her website, andreaworoch.com, advised delaying summer-themed content for the time being.

Later in August, there will be clearance sales on beach products, patio goods, outdoor furniture, summer clothing, etc., she said.

Good discounts on Amazon’s own products are offered on Prime Day.

Woroch stated that, other from Black Friday, this is the ideal time of year to purchase Kindle e-readers, Fire TV devices, tablets, and Echo gadgets.

However, she continued, we might possibly see a modest increase in prices around November as a result of a larger influence.

The Amazon brands that are prominently shown on your homepage are Ring doorbell cameras and Blink smart home security devices, both of which are advertised as being on sale.

These days, prices are dynamic. Trust the data rather than the percentage off discount that is shown (e.g., lowest price in 30 days) to avoid a terrible deal.

You may monitor the pricing history of things sold on Amazon using the websites Keepa and CamelCamelCamel.

Here’s a great illustration of how it works: The well-known Bose QuietComfort bluetooth headphones are frequently on sale for $250, so you should never pay the $359 suggested price (as of this writing on Amazon). There might be even more off on Prime Day.

Restocking on necessities is an enjoyable way to take advantage of the deal without going overboard.

Woroch shops for the personal care items she uses frequently on Prime Day.

According to her, this covers everything, including toothpaste, hair care products, and makeup.

Sorting through items you frequently purchase is made simple by the “buy it again” feature in your Amazon basket. During the sale, I’m expecting to save a few dollars on tea tree shampoo and electric toothbrush heads.

Pet food and snacks, vitamins, socks, lightbulbs, batteries, granola bars, printer paper, and razors are some additional items that could be repurchased.

Although there are many opportunities for impulsive purchases during a 96-hour sale, you can take use of the additional days.

According to Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, a shopping and savings consultant at Rakuten, give yourself as much time as you can, particularly if it’s something that wasn’t on your pre-planned list.

She suggests using the 48-hour rule, which is to add something to your basket, hit stop, and then return a few days later to give that temptation time to subside.

If you can, try for at least 24 hours. Because deviating from the plan can lead to regrets on Prime Day.

It can be tempting to schedule purchases far in advance of all the trade war hype. Start your Christmas shopping over Prime Day if you’re feeling that way.

“But you don’t have to buy all the toys right away just because they’re made in China,” Woroch remarked.

According to Feinstein Gerstley, frantic buying like this can backfire.

We can’t obtain everything ahead of time, so we don’t want to put too much strain on our finances by buying a lot of goods in advance when we’ll only need to continue purchasing them at the current cost, she says.

In October, who knows what my children will be pleading for?

My colleagues authors are thinking about Prime Day, according to a short survey conducted around the NerdWallet office. The majority are keeping a low profile by adding a few items to their cart and waiting for a price reduction when the sale occurs.

Writer Kate Ashford is casually watching the Ninja Creami ice cream maker.
Writer Amanda Barroso s family is ready for the Radio Flyer Voya XT two-seater stroller wagon if the discount is good enough.
Writer Anna Helhoski wants a Nori Press Travel Steam Iron for her time on the road when the price is right.
Editor Karen Gaudette Brewer may splurge on a table tennis table for Prime Day, but also may not.
As for me, I m not sure the deals will be good enough, but I m after an outdoor griddle (because smash burgers are all I see on social media).

Additional Information From NerdWallet