I gave up Amazon for 90 days and here is what I learned....

Spoiler: I don't need it.

I quietly quit Amazon on Ash Wednesday. Briefly…let me explain.

There was no fanfare, no social media announcement. Just a firm yeah, it’s time.

I mean…if I can give up Target, Amazon shouldn’t be too hard right?

Yes, I still haven’t been in a Target since January 21st. ( 12 weeks and counting)

At one point, I felt like Amazon delivered to my house every other day. Whether it was that last-minute thing that could be delivered with same-day shipping, or that subscription order of my favorite chia seeds, or that random recommendation from a friend, to that random dress I saw some influencer wearing on IG.

My cart was always overflowing, waiting for me to hit buy or for my check to hit my bank account. In my brain, this was really for things I NEEDED. With some wants thrown in.

So it was PAST time really for a fast. Based on how entrenched our needs and conveniences were linked to Amazon, I didn’t know if I could do it. But spoiler: I did.

Now, before I tell you my conclusions, I will admit that I did not stop using my Kindle Unlimited Membership. For one, the membership had just renewed right before Ash Wednesday, so I felt ok about using something that was already paid for. I also pre-ordered a few things ( a gift card for my sister-in-law’s birthday and my specific brand of probiotics that I couldn’t find anywhere else).

Now let me tell you 5 things I learned:

1. I don’t need half the shit I used to put in my cart on a regular basis.

I looked at one random order back in June, and it included a tripod (I have about five), wet wipes, Oatmeal, a dress( that I just realized was delayed indefinitely, and that I never noticed), sea salt Edamame, and two of the same planners…

2. Almost everything can be found somewhere else…if I plan ahead.

In my chaotic perimenopause brain, I usually remember that we need things…at the last minute. Or I always thought that I could find things ONLY on Amazon. So, knowing that I was going to spend the next month and a half without getting some of my regularly used items from Amazon, I did my research. Turns out, most things can be purchased directly from the manufacturer’s website ( my Clean Skin Towels for example). Lots of cleaning stuff is at Lowe’s or Home Depot or Costco, Vitamins can be found at the grocery store and books can be bought…at an actual bookstore or bookshop.org.

3.I spend way too much at Amazon

I was planning out my budget for a paycheck and realized that my bank account was flourishing since regular $100 to $200 Amazon hauls weren’t on my to-do list ( even the little $20 ones here and there). I calculated how much I spent in February, and let’s just say…I’m embarrassed. It seems I had transferred the funds I wasn’t using at Target to Amazon…

4.Using Amazon for research purposes is clutch.

I didn’t abandon the website. I used to use it for research purposes instead. If someone mentioned something that was on Amazon, I would look at the reviews and prices, then look for it elsewhere. For books, I read the reviews and then either got them from my library or ordered them from the bookstore.

5. I didn’t miss it

It was easier than I thought to stop using Amazon for...everything.

I had one moment when I couldn’t find an audiobook anywhere but on Amazon that I considered breaking my fast, but I moved on (I am cancelling that subscription when the one book I preordered a while ago is delivered tomorrow ).

But on the whole, as I said above, it was easy to find everything I needed…with enough lead time, elsewhere.

And getting brands directly from the website really was easier and sometimes cheaper, as they offered coupons for signing up or regular discounts for being on their email list.

So the real question is: will I be going back?

Yes, but on a limited basis. I will continue my Kindle Unlimited subscription for now because it does help support some indie authors who otherwise are unable to make money. But I am about 75% sure that Amazon Prime is getting cancelled. Now that I’ve figured out where to get the majority of my regular products and how much lead time I need, I don’t need to rush.

I think I’m going to give myself a very small monthly Amazon budget and use on an as-needed basis.

I’m not buying physical books or ebooks from Amazon ever again, though. That’s a permanent thing.

Will I continue to share Amazon links?

Yes.

I realize that not everyone is me. Not everyone wants to or CAN give up Amazon. And I’m perfectly fine with that. Everything ain’t for everybody.

Ok. What do you think? Could you give up Amazon for 90 days?

Things from the internet this week

This list contains affiliate links. Meaning that if you click on a link and purchase something after clicking, at no additional cost to you, I might make enough to pay for gas and snacks while I’m being the teenager’s personal uber driver.

• Check out 100 ways to support your mental health that aren’t taking a walk and drinking more water

• Emily Henry’s New Book comes out tomorrow, and it might be one of my favorites of hers

• I love tulips and found this Guide to Tulips Helpful.

• If you do not know your history..it repeats itself. ( this gifted article is long, but knowing history is worth your time)

• This article is about the author of Fish Tales, the last book Toni Morrison edited when she worked for Random House. I have this on my list to order next week from Bookshop.org, OR I might buy it next weekend because…

• Independent Bookstore Day is this upcoming Saturday. Local Folks: join me on an independent bookstore hop all weekend in celebration. See the details here

• I firmly believe we are on the edge of, if not already in, a constitutional crisis right now. To get a rundown on everything that has been going on right now, Check out Joy Reid’s Substack and this post in particular( its free) .

And finally, I went to the Conyers book festival on Saturday here in the Atlanta Area. I sat in on a talk with Vanessa Riley. Even though I immediately got her book, what stuck with me the most was her talking about journaling.

She uses historical journals to write some of her historical fiction. It was a reminder that writing down what is going on in the world from our perspectives, ESPECIALLY in these times, is important. I’ve been tinkering with starting a photo journal for year 49 of my life( I’ve been taking photos every day), but I think having a combo of photos and actual journaling could be…cool? Even if it’s just ME looking back at it, say 20 years from now.

Ok, that’s all I’ve got this week, friends! The Podcast resumes tomorrow! It was a listener request, but it is actually on theme with today’s topic.

Stay tuned!

LaShawn