Amazon Prime - kicking the habit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have kicked the habit of ordering on Amazon and shopping at Whole Foods.

Costco, Ace Hardware, CVS, and Staples are all substitutes. Yes, it takes more planning and thought and time but I am glad I did it.

Now, I haven't been able to kick my Kindle Unlimited addiction. I set it up to send me an email three days before it expires - that's in 2ish week - so I don't renew. This is going to be the hardest thing to do.

I have had kindle unlimited. It was extremely easy to give up. Most of the available books were crappy and a library card and access to Libby was far better and free of charge. If you live in DC you have reciprocity with VA and MD public libraries and can have multiple public library account borrowing privileges online.

[Anonymous]

OP your original post says that you found some of your subscription items directly through the vendor and where able to set up subscriptions there. Would you mind sharing for those of us who are trying to quit or cutback too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think the key is to find ways to stop relying on "convenience" as the key. I think the whole system is built around this idea that we, as Americans, have that we need to maximize our time, that we must be "productive" at all times and minimize the time we spend on things like caring for our homes, making meals, shopping for basic items, etc. In theory we do this so we can spend more time with our family or relaxing, but how do we actually spend that time? Working, scrolling our phones, engaging in social media (like DCUM), etc.

I quit Prime and the first step for me has been slowing the eff down. My DC needed a special item of clothing for a performance this week. Previously, I would have ordered it on Amazon or elsewhere and had it in hand in a couple days. Instead I called a store to see if they had what we needed in stock, asked them to hold it for us, and drove to the store after picking my DC up on Tuesday to pick it up. It took longer but it was better. We interacted with multiple people and those interactions were positive. The item fit DC correctly because we were able to look at it/try it on before buying. The activity made DC more enthusiastic about their performance, and I think it was mentally useful to slow down and undertake that task in person in preparation. I also spent close to an hour 1:1 with DC while DH had 1:1 time with our other child at home and made dinner.

I know this sounds dumb to people but the truth is that I think we need to change our culture. I think we prioritize the wrong things. Efficiency and minimizing human interaction and maximizing technology reliance are not good for us. We need to slow down.

Also the longer it takes you to buy things, the less you buy. Which is bad for the people who hold onto all the profits from what you buy but better for your bank balance and the environment.

I agree with you, but don't think this model works with two full time WOH parents. Amazon ordering is a response to the problem of not having time to go anywhere, and especially not having time to go to stores where the selection sucks because of Amazon competition and so you find nothing even after spending that time.

I'm actively trying to reduce my use of Amazon. DD needs a white dress for an event. I checked 5 different store websites, found nothing, and eventually had to order from Amazon. It's almost Easter, so white dresses should be everywhere, but no.

I’ve been able to mostly give up Amazon, which is better than nothing. I started pre-Trump because I was so sick of all the off-brand Chinese brands that came up in searches. Just really cheap stuff. Amazon ships toilet paper, toothpaste and anything else. You can order books from Barnes and Noble and pick them up the same day. You can get instacart to delivery cardboard and markers for your kids projects (CVS). I’m not perfect, but our Amazon usage has gone down.

[Anonymous]

Sorry meant to say COSTCO ships TP, toothpaste, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have kicked the habit of ordering on Amazon and shopping at Whole Foods.

Costco, Ace Hardware, CVS, and Staples are all substitutes. Yes, it takes more planning and thought and time but I am glad I did it.

Now, I haven't been able to kick my Kindle Unlimited addiction. I set it up to send me an email three days before it expires - that's in 2ish week - so I don't renew. This is going to be the hardest thing to do.

If you haven’t, join your local library and figure out how to read books for free on your phone/kindle from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I have kicked the habit of ordering on Amazon and shopping at Whole Foods.

Costco, Ace Hardware, CVS, and Staples are all substitutes. Yes, it takes more planning and thought and time but I am glad I did it.

Now, I haven't been able to kick my Kindle Unlimited addiction. I set it up to send me an email three days before it expires - that's in 2ish week - so I don't renew. This is going to be the hardest thing to do.

Get library cards and borrow kindle books. Lots of libraries allow you to get a card even if you’re not in the county/city.

NP- But you still have to go through Amazon to download the book. I only get mine through the library and Amazon is used to download to Kindle.

When I borrow the book on Libby, it asks me if I want to use Kindle or use Libby to read it on my device. I choose the second option.

On your Kindle? I can only use that option to read on my phone, which defeats the purpose (I can't read on my phone, vision problems)

Yes, you can send library books you borrow via Libby to your kindle. There are some books that don't come in kindle format and you have to read in the libby app, which isn't a big deal. But that's mostly old classics.

For what it's work, Kindle Unlimited is how indie authors pay the bills, so you aren't really sticking it to Bezos if you cancel. If you read 10+ books a month, you might actually cost Amazon more in payouts than you pay for KU.

[Anonymous]

[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry meant to say COSTCO ships TP, toothpaste, etc.

Costco shipping is THE WORST !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry meant to say COSTCO ships TP, toothpaste, etc.

Costco shipping is THE WORST !

Really? I just ordered more soap for the kids and it arrived quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[youtube]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry meant to say COSTCO ships TP, toothpaste, etc.

Costco shipping is THE WORST !

I don’t go to store. I order COSTCO online - and that’s what we were talking about. Their packages don’t arrive at 4 AM less than a day later. But they arrive a couple days later with lots of tracking info. That works for me.

[Anonymous]

Shopping or shipping:

COSTCO SUCKS !!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shopping or shipping:

COSTCO SUCKS !!

Hi Bezos. I didn’t think you would be worried yet. I guess you didn’t like today’s economic blackout.

[Anonymous]

It took awhile to kick the habit, but there's nothing better than needing less.
I didn't return things too often, but disliking it helped.
Also, stores are my storage. I don't need a medicine at hand and I will be fine without paper towels for a few days.
I went from boxes coming to my house giving fuzzy feeling to being annoyed by the waste.

[Anonymous]

What are some more good alternatives to Amazon? I feel like I read Walmart and Target are just as bad. I looked at my purchases over the last 6 months and would love some advice on good alternatives to think about shopping. I think mainly Costco and the commissary/PX (we are an active duty family) could cover a lot of what I buy on Amazon. I've just fallen out of the habit of shopping on base because it's kind of a long drive for me.

home cleaning supplies and paper products - Costco already covers most of this for me

What about beauty/hygiene items? They are really expensive at drug stores and grocery stores from what I've seen. Costco doesn't have a big selection. I used to buy these things at Target, but that's apparently on the "do not shop" list.

What about random things like a basketball pump, inexpensive house planters, chair cushions, throw pillow covers - I think this is hardest for me to think about replacing amazon for

Which store for clothing basics, like underwear, t shirts, socks, pj pants? Maybe Costco, but, again, not the best selection

[Anonymous]

I can't quit. I order stuff for my elderly parents who cannot order for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some more good alternatives to Amazon? I feel like I read Walmart and Target are just as bad. I looked at my purchases over the last 6 months and would love some advice on good alternatives to think about shopping. I think mainly Costco and the commissary/PX (we are an active duty family) could cover a lot of what I buy on Amazon. I've just fallen out of the habit of shopping on base because it's kind of a long drive for me.

home cleaning supplies and paper products - Costco already covers most of this for me

What about beauty/hygiene items? They are really expensive at drug stores and grocery stores from what I've seen. Costco doesn't have a big selection. I used to buy these things at Target, but that's apparently on the "do not shop" list.

What about random things like a basketball pump, inexpensive house planters, chair cushions, throw pillow covers - I think this is hardest for me to think about replacing amazon for

Which store for clothing basics, like underwear, t shirts, socks, pj pants? Maybe Costco, but, again, not the best selection

Beauty/hygiene - Get a CVS card, check weekly ads sales, and use coupons (manufacturer's coupons + store coupons)
Random things - eBay/FB marketplace/thrift store/consignment will be a huge savings if you buy used. Otherwise sporting goods stores/home goods stores for the things you mentioned.
Clothing basics - Amazon sucks for these anyway. I think Macy's has the best quality, but JC Penney is cheaper. Both have free shipping with a large enough order