Creating an ‘Amazon wishlist’ is our go-to Prime Day shopping hack

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UPDATE: Jul. 14, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the lastest information regarding Prime Day 2024.

Amazon Prime Day is officially back for the tenth year running.

Amazon recently confirmed that the savings event will take place on July 16 and 17 in 2024, and early deals are already live. In the weeks leading up to the main event, Amazon devices and back-to-school gadgets have seen discounts of up to 70% — and that’s just the warm-up.

The event is for Prime members only, but all inflation-weary shoppers searching for deals can get their hands dirty by signing up for Amazon’s 30-day free trial.

We’re expecting a lot of great deals, but the mega-sale doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it sounds. Our pro tip for saving money, time, and sanity during Prime Day 2024? Organize (and actually follow) a shopping wishlist. Curating your personal list of must-have items and setting price alerts can help you stay on track with your spending. Don’t risk crossing into buyer’s remorse territory after a ravenous “add to cart” spree.

Get your scroll on and find out how to create an Amazon wishlist for Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day 2024: When it’s happening and everything else we know so far

Tip #1: Organize your Amazon wishlist

If it’s news to you that Amazon even offers such a feature, here’s how it works:

Every product page on the retail giant’s website has a little “Add to List” button right near the “Add to Cart.” Click on the list button and you can add said product to your personal Amazon wishlist, or any other saved list that you’ve created on your profile.

Do this with every gadget, gizmo, and knick-knack you think would make a worthy addition to your collection of goods. You’ll end up with an organized, definitive page of all that you desire. View it all at a glance, or even rank each item based on how badly you want it.

Then, and here’s the important part, be sure to check back on your wishlist when Amazon Prime Day 2024 kicks into high gear. You’ll be able to see which products have gone on sale and snatch them up before they’re gone.

WARNING: Only add the necessities to your wishlist or risk critical failure and end up with mass shipments of shit you don’t need, never needed, and will never need. (Did you *have* to get that life-size cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito? No. No, you didn’t. But now he’s standing there in the corner of your living room. And he’s watching you.)

Tip #2: Turn on wishlist alerts

That’s not where the perks of “wishlisting” cap out. If you download Amazon’s mobile companion app, you’ll be granted the added benefit of “wishlist alerts.”

These alerts notify you when an item on your wishlist becomes a “lightning deal,” as well as when a sold-out item on your wishlist goes back in stock.

This isn’t a notification setting that’s turned on by default, so you’ll have to go in and check it off yourself. All you have to do is open up the Amazon app, go into your settings, then to your notifications, and click on “your watched and waitlisted deals.”

It’s this one. Credit: Screenshot

Tip #3: Turn on Alexa’s advanced deal alerts

As it turns out, newer Echo smart speakers are good for more than just bumping out your playlists. They can also notify you of a sale on an item in your wishlist, shopping cart, or “saved for later” queue up to 24 hours before it even goes live.

• Open up the Alexa mobile app to turn on the advanced deal alerts feature. You’ll find it under More > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping

• Once you’re there, click Shopping Recommendations and then Deal Recommendations. Since you already have your wishlist organized and ready to go, that’s all there is to it.

• You’ll see a pop-up alert or a yellow ring light on your Echo device whenever Alexa finds out about an upcoming deal on products in your wishlist. Ask, “Alexa, what are my notifications?” to get the scoop.

You can either have Alexa let you know once the deal is live or even give her the go-ahead to order it for you (“Alexa, buy it for me”). Your default payment and delivery address on file will be used automatically.

Voilà — now you’ll never miss a deal for something you want. Your Amazon wishlist is one of the most useful tools that you have at your disposal to ensure a successful shopping experience.

When you’re done curating your list, you can even share it with your friends. You can also view wishlists created by other Prime members. Just click the “Invite” button in your wishlist or click over to the “Your Friends” tab in your profile.

Get ready for Prime Day 2024 with Mashable

Also, keep a watchful eye out for our Amazon Prime Day coverage, where we’ll be highlighting all the best deals. From record-low prices on AirPods to exclusive invite-only deals for Prime members, we’re bringing Mashable readers the very best deals.