Amazon created Prime Day to celebrate its more than 200 million members – and to boost sales during a typically slow season. Now, it’s one of the biggest shopping events of the year.

This year’s sale, called Prime Big Deal Days, happens October 7 and 8.

“Amazon again has done it. They’ve created a lot of excitement around this time,” said Trae Bodge, smart shopping expert at TrueTrae.com.

Even before the sale begins, Prime members already have early offers — like $15 off at Amazon Fresh, four months of Amazon Music Unlimited, and $30 off a One Medical membership.

Many of the best deals will appear on Amazon’s Today’s Deals page, which also features limited-time Lightning Deals. Amazon says there will be millions of discounts across major brands like LEGO, KitchenAid and Bose. Still, the biggest price cuts are often on Amazon’s own items.

“They have Amazon Basics, Amazon Essentials, and other brands they own like Ring, Fire and Kindle,” said Bodge. “Those are where you’re going to be seeing the bigger, more generous discounts.”

I’ve been shopping Amazon Prime Day for 10 years, and my #1 tip is simple: Add the stuff you want to your cart right now. That way, you can watch for price drops easily during the 48-hour sale window.

You can also visit amazon.com/buyagain to find deals on things you’ve purchased before – it’s a quick way to restock everyday items or grab repeat buys at a discount.

“What are the things that I need, maybe for my home? What are the things that I may be thinking of buying for holiday gifts?” said Bodge.

Amazon flags deals with a red banner, but don’t assume everything’s a bargain. Tools like Yahoo Shopping, Google Shopping, PayPal Honey, and CamelCamelCamel can help you verify whether you’re really getting a deal.

You can even ask Rufus, Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, for price history and insights.

“They will give you a sense of whether it’s a good deal right now or not,” Bodge said.

Retailers including Target and Walmart are also expected to launch competing sales around the same time.

Just remember, to grab Amazon’s discounts, though, you’ll need to be a Prime member.

“It’s really important for Amazon and these other retailers to keep things fresh and exciting because then, of course, you do risk that fatigue if it becomes kind of the same old, same old,” said Bodge.

Personally, I’ve got my eye on a new cordless vacuum and a travel pillow – both sitting in my cart, waiting for price drops.

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Related: How to Save Money During Amazon Prime Big Deal Days