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

Beat the virtual rush.
By Dylan Haas and Christina Buff  on 
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Illustration of people receiving floating packages
Be prepared for the deals. Credit: Bob Al-Greene / Mashable

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.

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.

Your Amazon wishlist is one of the most useful tools that you have at your disposal come Prime day.

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.”

Mashable Deals
Want more hand-picked deals in your inbox?
Sign up for Mashable's daily Deals newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Picture of Amazon "wishlist" alerts feature.
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.

Topics Amazon Prime Day

Frequently Asked Questions


Prime Day 2024 will take place on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17, with early deals going live up to three weeks ahead of the sale. In 2023, Prime Day took place from July 11 to 12, and the annual shopping event reliably falls somewhere in the mid-July stretch. The sale will officially end at midnight PT on July 17.


Yes, you need a Prime membership to take advantage of Prime Day deals. However, there's no need for a big commitment to shop the sale. You can schedule a 30-day free trial around the event and shop all the deals your heart desires, excluding some subscription freebies like GrubHub+. Just remember to cancel your trial after the sale to avoid automatic charges.


A standard Amazon Prime membership will run you $14.99/month, or $139 per year. Some folks can qualify for discounted memberships: If you're a student, you can sign up for Prime at $7.49/month (or $69 per year). If you're a recipient of a qualifying government assistance program like SNAP EBT or Medicaid, you can get Prime for $6.99/month, or just under $84 annually.

author photo
Dylan Haas
Lead Shopping Reporter

Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, pets, fitness, sleep, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.

When he's not writing or testing products, you can find Dylan playing lots of video games, working out, spending time with loved ones (especially his dog, Stevie), or watching reality TV. Follow him on X at @iamdylanhaas, or send him an email at [email protected].

Mashable Image
Christina Buff

Christina Buff is a Nashville-based freelance writer for who covers shopping with a splash of entertainment. If you’re ever wondering what streaming service you need to watch something (and the cheapest way to sign up for it), she’s your girl.

Christina received a B.S. in Business Communication (concentration in writing) from Stevenson University and began her professional journey writing and editing press releases. Since then, she’s written content for a marketing agency, blogged for celebrities, and covered local news, politics, women’s lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and just about everything in between for various publications.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably enjoying live music, studying human design, or embroidering and upcycling clothes. You can follow her on Instagram at @touchinfinity.


Recommended For You

How to use Apple Pay on Amazon ahead of Prime Day 2024
Apple pay icon

Prime Day 2024: 5 must-shop product categories
Miller holding up an amazon echo and ninja creami


When is the next Prime Day? Here's how long you have to wait.
a man holding amazon boxes against a blue background filled with confetti

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 25
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 25
A game being played on a smartphone.

Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 25
a phone displaying Wordle

Stephen Colbert brutally mocks Trump's running mate JD Vance
A man in a suit stands on a talk show stage.

Webb telescope snapped photo of huge world — in a distant solar system
An illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope as it orbits the sun in our solar system, 1 million miles from Earth.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!