Buying household basics with Subscribe & Save

For things you need to rebuy every so often, like laundry detergent, toilet paper, and diapers, Amazon has Subscribe & Save (定期おトク便). Pick Subscribe & Save on the product page, set the quantity and how often you want it, and from then on it orders automatically on schedule.

The discount depends on the item, up to 10%, and drinks and such are usually 5%; the product page tells you. From the second automatic delivery on, if three or more Subscribe & Save items are scheduled for the same day to the same address, you get another 5% off, for up to 15% total. So it's worth lining up laundry detergent, tissues, and dish soap on the same day. Shipping is free even if you're not a Prime member.

The price isn't locked in; each delivery is charged at the price just before it ships. Amazon emails you this round's price before delivery, so if it's gone up, just skip that one.

Big, heavy stuff like toilet paper and cases of water is the least hassle when it just shows up at your door on a schedule. With diapers, keep in mind that kids grow fast: when it's time for the next size, remember to change it on the Subscribe & Save management page, or you'll keep getting the small size.

If you don't want it anymore, you can skip or cancel anytime. There's no minimum number of deliveries.