Do you remember “way back when” before the days of Amazon? I do! It’s hard to imagine not being able to click on to that friendly yellow site now to check out books, kits, and gadgets to use in our home and homeschool. Being a Prime member opens a whole new world of savings and convenience!
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When Amazon Prime first came out, I remember thinking that it sounded too good to be true. Honestly, I thought it was just another way for the suits at Amazon to get more of my money. Surely Prime wouldn’t be useful in my homeschool…right?
Wow, was I wrong.
I’ve been an Amazon customer for years, but I first decided to try Prime a few years ago while my son was taking Dual Enrollment classes. College students receive a discount on Prime, so I figured it was worth a shot.
Today, it’s one of the few things that I am more than happy to pay for! Prime consistently saves me money, gives us access to all sorts of great products and services, and it’s just so easy to work with.
The free expedited shipping isn’t bad, either!
As a member of Prime, there are also several times per year that extra discounts and specials practically land in my lap. I don’t take advantage of every one of them, of course, but they are huge time and money savers!
There are so many choices available on Amazon. To help you navigate them, I’ve put together a list of the things I’ve found most helpful for our homeschool!
Prime Membership
Membership with Amazon Prime has been a huge benefit for us. Like most homeschoolers, we’re sort of addicted to books, so being able to get automatic discounts on them is definitely a benefit!
Now that my son is a college student, we have been able to find many of his textbooks at huge discounts with Prime…and if you’ve seen the price of college textbooks lately, you can imagine what a blessing this is! (By the way – if you have a college student in the house, check out Amazon Prime Student – it’s worth it!)
Prime members also get flash discounts, free two-day shipping (and, in some cases, same-day shipping), and much, much more. We save enough in the first month or two each year to pay for the membership!
Discounts and free shipping aren’t the only benefits of Prime, though…there is so much more to love.
Prime Reading offers thousands of books that can be read for free on Kindle (either the device or the free app). While I love holding a physical book in my hands, there are times that the instant download feature is just what we need! (This also helps reduce clutter!)
Freetime Unlimited gives you access to tons of kids’ content on Android and Fire devices. You can try it out with a 30-day free trial, and if it’s what you’re looking for, subscriptions start at only $2.99 a month. No more worrying about what type of content your kids are finding or the price tag that can go along with it!
Prime Video lets us access free documentaries, movies, and shows that add to our studies. My son is a military history minor and World War II buff, and he’s found some incredible series to add to his studies. (The Pacific is one of his favorites.) I’ll admit that I like relaxing with a free episode of Downton Abbey every once in a while, too!
Amazon Music lets us access over 2 million songs, ad-free, and Prime Photos offers us unlimited photo storage and easy searching. And with Prime Early Access, members even get access to Lightning Deals 30 minutes before they’re released to the public!
Prime Pantry can keep you stocked up during the weeks that you’re just too busy to add one more thing to your list. This can be a huge benefit!If you’re not a Prime member yet, I highly recommend it. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial and try out all that it has to offer!
Audible
Every week or so, I see a question on Facebook asking whether an Audible membership is “really worth it.” My short answer is a resounding yes!
My family has had an Audible membership for about a decade now, and it has remained one of our favorite resources. My son and husband are both dyslexic, and both are auditory learners. Needless to say, they both love audio books!
Each month, my son gets to download a book – any book he likes – for free with his monthly credit. After a decade of downloads, he has a library that many of us would love to just curl up and spend the day in.
Because his library is filled with audio books, though, all he needs to take it with him is his phone! Whether he’s traveling to another continent for missions or mowing the lawn, he has a collection of favorite books at his fingertips. He’s also found many of his college texts through Audible, which means that he can pick them up for free or at a huge discount!
Curriculum, Books, and Resources
This is what we all know and love Amazon for, right? It’s usually one of our first stops for Christmas shopping or a new book release. But have you thought about all the ways it can make your homeschool run more smoothly?
4M Crystal Growing Experiment
Learn & Climb Kids Science Set – Over 60 Experiments Kit, How-to DVD and Instruction Manual. 55 Pieces, Year-Round Fun Educational Science ActivitiesBe Amazing Toys Big Bag Of Science +70 Activities4M Solar Rover Kit
Think of all the time you probably spend searching down deals on texts and reading books. What about science kits and art supplies? Don’t forget planners, school supplies, and white board markers. (Where do all of those pesky markers go during the year, anyway?)
EXPO 80699 Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 12-CountExpo 80078 Low Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 1 Pack with 8 Markers, Total of 8 Markers
You could drag your kids all over town to try to see who has the best deals…or you could log on to Amazon, click around for a few minutes, and have your mailman deliver the goods straight to your door. (And if you’re a Prime member, he’ll deliver them for free!)
Crayola Inspiration Art Case: 140 Pieces, Art Set, Gifts for Kids and Adults, Styles May VaryMelissa & Doug Drawing PadWASHABLE | Dab and Dot Markers | 8 Colors Pack Set | Includes 200+ Fun Downloadable Coloring Sheets | Fun Art Supplies for kids and preschoolers| Preschool Arts and Craft
There are also some great organizational tools available – tools that can save you a lot of time and stress. Here are some of my faves!
Godery Premium Hanging File Folder Organizer, 10 Pockets, 3 Hangers Cascading Wall Organizer，Perfect for Home Organization, School Pocket Chart, Office Bill Filing. Wall or Over Door Mount
SimpleHouseware Mesh Desk Organizer with Sliding Drawer, Double Tray and 5 Upright Sections, BlackAmazonBasics DSN-02950 Mesh Desk Organizer, BlackHoney-Can-Do Rolling Storage Cart and Organizer with 12 Plastic Drawers
You can also get great deals on Fire Tablets, Echo and Echo Dot, and even the new Echo Show! There’s also the new Echo Dot Kids, which comes with a 1-year subscription to Freetime and tons of features your kids will love.
There are so many creative ways to use these devices to make life easier and make learning more fun.
Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet, 8Fire HD 8 Tablet (8Fire HD 10 Tablet with Alexa Hands-Free, 10.1Echo Dot (3rd Gen) – Smart speaker with Alexa – CharcoalEcho Show (2nd Gen) – Premium sound and a vibrant 10.1All-New Echo Dot Kids Edition, an Echo designed for kids, Rainbow
And if you’re looking for ways to make mealtime easier, I’ve found both my Instant Pot and my air fryer to be huge time savers. I purchased them both on Amazon for great prices and have found some fun accessories to try out as well!
Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and WarmerInstant Pot DUO Plus 60, 6 Qt 9-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and SterilizerAir Fryer XL by Cozyna (5.8QT) with airfryer cookbook (over 50 recipes) and a basket divider
What are your favorite deals on Amazon? I’d love to know – comment below!
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