How to Track Your Spending on Amazon Purchases

Quick answer

• Access your Amazon order history to review past purchases.
• Utilize Amazon’s “Your Orders” page for a comprehensive list of items.
• Filter orders by date range to pinpoint spending within specific periods.
• Download order history reports for detailed analysis and budgeting.
• Leverage third-party budgeting apps that can link to your Amazon account.
• Regularly review your spending habits to identify potential savings.

Who this is for

• Shoppers who want to understand their Amazon spending habits.
• Individuals looking to budget more effectively and control discretionary spending.
• Anyone who suspects they might be overspending on impulse buys through Amazon.

What to check first (before you act)

Goal and timeline

Before diving into your Amazon spending, define what you want to achieve. Are you trying to cut back on non-essential purchases, understand where your money goes each month, or prepare for a large financial goal? Knowing your objective will help you focus your review and make meaningful changes. For instance, if your goal is to save for a down payment, you’ll look for different spending patterns than if you simply want to reduce impulse buys.

Current cash flow

Understanding your overall financial picture is crucial. Before scrutinizing Amazon, have a general idea of your income and essential expenses. This context will help you determine how much discretionary spending is truly available and how your Amazon purchases fit into your budget. If your essential expenses are already tight, reducing Amazon spending might be a priority.

Emergency fund or safety buffer

Ensure you have a solid emergency fund in place before making significant changes to your spending. This fund acts as a safety net for unexpected expenses, preventing you from derailing your budget or going into debt. If your emergency fund is insufficient, prioritizing its growth might be more important than obsessing over Amazon spending in the short term.

Debt and interest rates

Assess any outstanding debts you have, particularly those with high interest rates. High-interest debt can quickly erode your financial progress. If you have significant credit card debt, for example, focusing on paying that down aggressively might be a more impactful financial move than reducing your Amazon spending, though both can contribute to overall financial health.

Credit impact

While tracking Amazon spending isn’t directly about credit scores, it’s related to responsible financial management. Overspending can lead to debt, which can negatively impact your credit if not managed properly. Understanding your spending habits helps prevent situations that could harm your creditworthiness.

Step-by-step (simple workflow)

Step 1: Log in to your Amazon account

• What to do: Navigate to Amazon.com and log in using your registered email address or phone number and password.
• What “good” looks like: You are successfully logged into your Amazon account dashboard.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Forgetting your password. Reset it through the “Forgot Password” link before you start.

Step 2: Access “Your Orders”

• What to do: Once logged in, hover over “Account & Lists” in the top right corner and select “Orders” from the dropdown menu.
• What “good” looks like: You see a page displaying your recent order history.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Clicking on the wrong link. Ensure you’re clicking the “Orders” option under your account settings, not a promotional link.

Step 3: Set your desired date range

• What to do: On the “Your Orders” page, use the filter options to select a specific time period (e.g., “Last 30 days,” “Last 6 months,” “Custom date range”).
• What “good” looks like: The order list updates to show only purchases within your chosen timeframe.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Not using the date filter, leading to an overwhelming list of past purchases. Be specific about the period you want to analyze.

Step 4: Review individual orders

• What to do: Scroll through the filtered list of orders. Click on individual orders to see details like the item, price, date purchased, and delivery information.
• What “good” looks like: You can clearly see the cost of each item and the date it was bought.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Only looking at the total, not the individual items. This can mask what you’re actually buying.

Step 5: Sum up spending for the period

• What to do: Manually add up the cost of items within your selected date range, or use the information provided if Amazon offers a subtotal for the filtered view.
• What “good” looks like: You have a clear total of your spending for the period you analyzed.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Inaccurate manual addition. Double-check your calculations or use a calculator app.

Step 6: Look for recurring purchases or subscriptions

• What to do: Pay close attention to items you’ve bought multiple times or subscriptions you might have forgotten about.
• What “good” looks like: You identify any subscriptions or frequently repurchased items that contribute significantly to your spending.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Missing subscriptions that auto-renew. These can be a hidden drain on your budget.

Step 7: Consider digital purchases and services

• What to do: Check for purchases of Kindle books, Amazon Music, Prime Video rentals/purchases, or app store downloads. These might be under a separate “Digital Orders” section.
• What “good” looks like: You have a complete picture including digital spending, not just physical goods.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Forgetting digital spending. It’s easy to overlook these small, frequent charges.

Step 8: Download your order history (optional but recommended)

• What to do: Amazon allows you to request a report of your order history. Look for options like “Download Order History” or “Request Report” within your account settings or order history page.
• What “good” looks like: You receive a file (often a CSV or Excel document) containing detailed information about your purchases.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Not knowing this option exists. This report is invaluable for detailed analysis and can be imported into budgeting software.

Step 9: Analyze your spending patterns

• What to do: Review the total spending and identify categories where you spend the most. Look for impulse buys, unnecessary items, or excessive spending on certain product types.
• What “good” looks like: You have insights into where your Amazon money is going and can identify areas for potential reduction.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Just looking at the total without understanding what you bought. Categorization is key to behavioral change.

Step 10: Adjust your future shopping habits

• What to do: Based on your analysis, make conscious decisions to curb spending in identified areas. Consider setting a monthly Amazon budget.
• What “good” looks like: You are actively making changes to reduce unnecessary spending and align with your financial goals.
• A common mistake and how to avoid it: Not making any changes after the analysis. The review is only useful if it leads to action.

Common mistakes (and what happens if you ignore them)

Mistake	What it causes	Fix
Not setting a date range	Overwhelming amount of data, making analysis difficult and time-consuming.	Always use the date filter to narrow down your review to specific periods (e.g., monthly, quarterly).
Ignoring digital purchases	Incomplete understanding of total Amazon spending, missing out on potential savings.	Check “Digital Orders” or equivalent sections for Kindle books, app purchases, and subscriptions.
Failing to track subscriptions	Unnecessary recurring charges that drain your budget without you realizing it.	Regularly review your “Manage Your Content and Devices” or subscription settings for any auto-renewing services you no longer use.
Only looking at total spending	Lack of insight into <em>what</em> is being purchased, preventing targeted spending reduction.	Drill down into individual orders and categorize your purchases to identify specific problem areas (e.g., too many snacks, impulse electronics).
Not downloading order history reports	Relying on manual calculations or limited on-screen views, increasing error potential.	Request and download your order history reports. This data can be imported into spreadsheets or budgeting software for more robust analysis.
Assuming Amazon is the only spending source	Neglecting other online or offline spending habits that also impact your budget.	Use your Amazon spending review as a springboard to analyze all your financial outflows. This holistic view is crucial for effective budgeting.
Making no changes after the review	Repeating the same spending patterns, failing to achieve financial goals.	Implement a specific plan based on your findings. Set spending limits, unsubscribe from unnecessary services, or create a “cooling-off” period for impulse purchases.
Forgetting about returns and refunds	Overestimating actual net spending if returns are not factored in.	While your order history shows purchases, keep track of refunds separately or note them when reviewing your bank statements to get a true picture of net spending.
Not differentiating needs vs. wants	Overspending on non-essential items that detract from savings goals.	Categorize purchases as “needs” (e.g., household essentials) or “wants” (e.g., entertainment, convenience items) and set stricter limits on “wants.”
Not reviewing spending regularly	Allowing bad habits to creep back in unnoticed over time.	Schedule regular reviews (e.g., monthly) to stay on top of your spending and make timely adjustments.

Decision rules (simple if/then)

• If you find yourself spending more than 15% of your discretionary income on Amazon each month, then consider setting a strict monthly budget for Amazon purchases because it indicates a potential for overspending.
• If you discover multiple recurring subscriptions you don’t use, then cancel them immediately because they represent easy, immediate savings.
• If your order history shows frequent purchases of items you only used once or twice, then implement a 24-hour waiting period for any non-essential purchase over a certain amount (e.g., $50) because it helps curb impulse buying.
• If you are consistently buying convenience items that could be made at home for significantly less, then prioritize learning to make them yourself because it’s a sustainable way to save money.
• If your review reveals significant spending on impulse buys during late-night browsing, then avoid browsing Amazon when you are tired or stressed because your decision-making is likely impaired.
• If you notice a pattern of buying items “just in case” but never using them, then stop buying speculative items and focus on fulfilling immediate needs because it frees up cash and reduces clutter.
• If your Amazon spending is preventing you from meeting your savings goals (e.g., emergency fund, retirement), then drastically reduce your Amazon budget until your primary financial goals are back on track because essential goals should take priority.
• If you’ve identified a specific category of items (e.g., clothing, gadgets) where you consistently overspend, then try unsubscribing from marketing emails related to that category because it reduces temptation.
• If you are using Amazon for everyday essentials that are cheaper elsewhere (e.g., grocery stores, discount retailers), then switch your purchasing location because you can save money by shopping around.
• If you are frequently buying items that are readily available at your local library or through rental services, then explore those options first because they are often more cost-effective.
• If you are unsure if a purchase is a “need” or a “want,” then ask yourself if you would still buy it if you had to pay cash for it immediately because this can highlight discretionary spending.

FAQ

How can I see all my Amazon purchases?

You can view all your Amazon purchases by logging into your account and navigating to the “Your Orders” section under “Account & Lists.”

Can I filter my Amazon orders by date?

Yes, Amazon’s “Your Orders” page allows you to filter purchases by various date ranges, including custom periods, to help you analyze specific spending times.

Does Amazon provide a total spending summary?

While Amazon shows individual order totals, it doesn’t always provide a single, aggregated spending summary for all past purchases. You may need to sum them up manually or use downloaded reports.

How do I find my digital purchases on Amazon?

Digital purchases like Kindle books, apps, and video rentals are usually found in a separate “Digital Orders” section within your account, distinct from physical product orders.

Can I download my Amazon order history?

Yes, Amazon offers the ability to request and download your order history as a report, which can be helpful for detailed financial analysis.

What if I find subscriptions I don’t use?

If you discover unwanted subscriptions, you can typically cancel them through your Amazon account settings, often found under “Manage Your Content and Devices” or subscription management areas.

How can I track spending if I use multiple Amazon accounts?

If you use multiple Amazon accounts, you will need to log into each account separately and repeat the order history review process for each one.

Is there a way to see how much I’ve spent on Amazon in a year?

Yes, by using the custom date range filter on your “Your Orders” page for January 1st to December 31st of the desired year, or by downloading your annual order history report.

What this page does NOT cover (and where to go next)

• Detailed budgeting strategies: This guide focuses on tracking Amazon spending; for broader budgeting, explore resources on creating a comprehensive personal budget.
• Investment advice: Understanding your spending is a step toward financial health, but investing is a separate topic that requires different strategies.
• Debt management plans: While overspending can lead to debt, this article doesn’t offer specific strategies for tackling existing debt.
• Tax implications of purchases: This guide does not cover any tax-related aspects of your Amazon purchases.
• Advanced financial planning: For long-term financial goals like retirement or estate planning, consult with a qualified financial advisor.