8 Amazon Products To Avoid While on a Retirement Budget

Angela Mae
Daria Nipot / Getty Images
Daria Nipot / Getty Images

Amazon has a lot to offer when it comes to everyday household items, tech gadgets, entertainment products and more. But when you’re living on a retirement budget — whatever that may look like — you might want to be careful with the things you add to your online shopping cart. After all, not everything’s a good deal on Amazon, nor is it always worth the cost.

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While everyone’s needs are different, certain things might not be worth getting. For those of you who are shopping on Amazon, here are the main things you should avoid buying while on a retirement budget.

Multipurpose Cleaning Supplies

  • Estimated Amazon price: $14.99

Cleaning supplies, even multipurpose ones, aren’t usually good buys on Amazon.

“Rarely will you find cleaning supplies priced competitively on Amazon, so the only reason to buy something there is if you literally can’t find it anywhere else,” said Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews. “Instead, stick to shopping big-box stores for your regular cleaning needs to ensure you aren’t overspending.”

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iPhones

Amazon sells many tech items, like the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. But if you’re on a retirement budget, you might want to keep your money for things you really need rather than the latest gadgets.

“Paying a lot of money for the latest tech isn’t usually a great investment for anyone, but it’s even harder to justify on a retirement budget,” said Todd Stearn, founder and CEO of The Money Manual. “If the reviews indicate that an affordable phone will let you call, text and surf the internet hassle-free, that’s what you want.”

Vitamins and Supplements

  • Estimated Amazon price: $8.15

“Although Amazon has some great deals for retirees, some products are best to avoid when you’re on a retirement budget,” said Ann Martin, director of operations at CreditDonkey.

In particular, Martin suggested avoiding vitamins and supplements. These are risky purchases since you can’t always tell how fresh or effective they are.

“This is especially true for supplements since the sheer volume of available brands makes it challenging to find truly high-quality options,” she said. If you are going to buy vitamins or supplements from Amazon, go with a brand you recognize and trust.

Body Wash, Shampoo and Hand Soap

  • Estimated Amazon price (body wash): $9.47

  • Estimated Amazon price (shampoo): $9.29

  • Estimated Amazon price (hand soap): $4.59

You might be tempted to buy certain bath and body products, like body wash and shampoo, online. But you’ll typically spend the same amount of money as you would at a regular store. Plus, you have to be careful with which seller you go through.

“Buying necessities like body wash, shampoo and hand soap on Amazon may seem like a good idea, but it can be tedious to sift through multiple sellers to find a good price,” Ramhold said. “Instead, relying on generic brands from stores like Walmart will help you save on these kinds of items.”

If you do choose to buy name-brand bath and body items, try to go through the official seller. Also, wait until those items are on sale for the best price.

At-Home Hot Tub Spa

“Retirement can be a great time to convert your backyard into an outdoor oasis that you’ll spend a lot more time enjoying now that you’ll have more free time. But between the maintenance and upkeep, the potential need for repairs, and the fact that you may get bored with it and then find it a chore to get rid of, you’re probably better off leaving a hot tub off your outdoor oasis shopping list,” Stearn said.

Exercise Bike

If you’re thinking about setting up a home gym to stay active, make sure it aligns with your budget. The cost of certain exercise equipment can be high, and when you need to add multiple items to your gym, you could be looking at hundreds or thousands of dollars.

“Working out at any point in life is a terrific idea, and it can help prevent chronic disease that often occurs in your golden years, like heart disease and diabetes,” Stearn said. “Amazon has some great deals on workout equipment, but most of those won’t come close to the deals you can score on used items.”

For example, this multifunctional home gym costs $699 when not on sale. To save money, check out used fitness equipment shops and Facebook Marketplace to see what’s available. You might be able to score some great deals on these machines. Even if you shave off only $50 or $100 from the price, those savings could be key to ensuring you have enough money left at the end of the month.

Keurig Coffee Maker

If you’re trying to save money by cutting down on your daily cafe runs, then you might want to get an at-home coffee maker. But steer clear of more expensive machines like those offered by Nespresso and Keurig. Even if the baseline price tag isn’t that high, you’re still going to need to spend money on coffee pods.

Instead, stick with an old-fashioned French press or drip coffee maker. They don’t require coffee pods and can still get you a mean cup of joe.

Bulk Pantry Staples

  • Estimated Amazon price: Varies

Ramhold suggested avoiding bulk pantry staples, such as rice, pasta and cereal, from Amazon.

“When you’re on a fixed income, it’s tempting to buy these kinds of items in bulk, and it can make sense to — just not from Amazon,” she said. “If you have a membership to a warehouse club, definitely lean into your options there for buying in bulk as the prices on Amazon leave a lot to be desired.”

If you don’t have a warehouse membership, see if your local Walmart, Target or grocery store offers bulk pantry staples and compare their prices with Amazon’s. You could end up saving a lot of money over time.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Amazon Products To Avoid While on a Retirement Budget