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Buying Guides

If you're like most of us, you probably have something of a love-hate relationship with Christmas shopping. We all enjoy the challenge of hunting down those perfect gifts to show our loved ones how much they mean to us, but nobody enjoys the hefty price tags that often come along with them. Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way. Shopping on Amazon not only makes it easier to find most of your gifts in one convenient place, it can also help keep more money in your wallet when you're done. Before you start your Christmas cyber-shopping this year, check out these hot tips to discover how you can save money on Amazon while still checking off everything on your list.

Peruse the Amazon Warehouse

Every store occasionally has items that are returned for one reason or another, and they're often resold as pre-owned or open-box items. As the largest retailer in the world, it's no surprise that Amazon has a whole lot of returned items that can no longer be sold on their primary website. That's where Amazon Warehouse Deals comes in. The Amazon Warehouse features all the items that have been returned by their previous buyers, and their loss can be your gain. Each item is thoroughly inspected and assigned a condition, so you'll always know what you're buying. Many "Like New" items are flawless except for the box being opened, and the price is often much lower than identical brand new items.

Clip Some Coupons

When it comes to being frugal, there's nothing better than coupons. Unfortunately, many people don't even realize that Amazon makes coupons available on their website. Before you start your shopping, simply head over to the Amazon Coupons page and check to see whether you can cash in on some quick savings. Best of all, the coupons are convenient and easy to use. All you need to do is clip whichever coupons you'd like and they'll automatically be applied on checkout.

Take Advantage of Trade-Ins

Most of us have old books, video game systems, smartphones and other electronics that we no longer use, but the idea of trying to sell them for extra cash seems like a hassle. With Amazon Trade-In, that doesn't have to be the case. Amazon Trade-In, as the name suggests, is a trade-in program that allows you to swap many thousands of different items for Amazon gift cards. There's no fee for shipping, and Amazon accepts a wide assortment of items in varying physical conditions. If you need a bit of extra cash to finish off your shopping list, it's worth checking to see if you have any unwanted items to trade in.

Save on Shipping

Everyone knows that one of the things you need to be aware of when shopping online is shipping charges. Even if an item appears to be a great bargain, high shipping and handling costs can quickly turn it into a bad deal. Fortunately, there are several ways to save some cash with shipping from Amazon. If you have an Amazon Prime account, you'll already receive free two-day shipping. If you can wait a bit longer for your purchases, however, you can select the no-rush shipping option. Your order will take longer to arrive, but you'll also receive a small promotional credit that can be applied to future purchases. It's not much on its own, but it can add up over time! If you don't have a Prime membership, keep in mind that you can still receive free shipping for orders that total $49 or more. It's even easier if you have a bookworm on your Christmas list, as just $25 of eligible book purchases can snag you free shipping as well. Finally, if you're having trouble meeting the free shipping threshold, remember that you can also add preorder items to your cart - they'll count toward your total, but you won't be billed until they ship.

More and more people are opting to do their Christmas shopping online, and Amazon's massive inventory makes it a go-to option for many shoppers. You're likely to find low prices on many items, but for those of us who enjoy the challenge of frugal shopping, there are plenty of ways to get even better deals on your purchases. By following the tips laid out above, you can be confident knowing that you're getting the most value for your money this Christmas.