Amazon Prime Day shopping guide: Best bulk buys to save big on essentials

Amazon Prime Day is finally here, offering customers exclusive markdowns on heaps of items across the e-commerce site. While many may be looking to snag deals on pricey TVs or cutting-edge tech gadgets, my focus will be securing mega-value packs of core household items.

These are not thrilling purchases like a brand-new mobile phone. Mostly, they're basic essentials which need to be restocked each month.

Buying these items in bulk allows me to make significant long-term savings, often beating the prices at Tesco, Waitrose, and other supermarkets.

Andrex Gentle Clean Toilet Paper - 45 Rolls

The well-known toiletry brand characterised by its adorable puppy mascot and luxurious soft tissues doesn't come cheap in supermarkets. In the face of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis that saw prices escalate, bulk-purchasing emerges as the best money-saving strategy - especially now with the mega 45-pack discounted to £19.69.

Judging by the 48,000 global reviewers, consumers seem generally content with their purchases. One buyer expressed: "Speaking of value, the quantity provided in the pack ensures that I never have to worry about running out at the most inconvenient ties. The compact packaging makes it easy to store and saves space in my bathroom cabinet.", reported Wales Online.

Another user chimed in: "The tissue rolls hold more than other brands and are gentle and absorbent, which is ideal for babies and toddlers."

Some expressed frustration over the item being "always out of stock", and in such instances, Ocado could be an excellent alternative - currently offering discounts on a 16-pack Cushelle Toilet Rolls for £15.

Fairy Non-Bio Platinum PODS - 120 Washes

Laundry is one of those never-ending tasks, and rather than grabbing a small pack of these pods every other week, why not stock up and save nearly £10?

The Fairy Non-Bio Platinum PODS are perfect for sensitive skin, tackling tough stains while keeping your clothes super soft. With a 24% saving, the XXL pack gives you 120 pods in two lots of 60, all for just £24.55.

A satisfied customer left a glowing five-star review: "These pods are great. The pack size has lasted us six months. Easy to use. Gets the stains out."

However, another buyer experienced issues, noting that the pods didn't always dissolve properly, leading to comments like: "You'll probably need to use two each time."

"Also, several times now after washing I've found a sticky gelly mess embedded in a particular bit of clothing."

For those who prefer a different brand, Ocado offers 102 Ariel Original All-in-1 Pods (2 x 51 Washes) at the competitive price of £22.

Twinings Strong English Breakfast Tea - 320 Tea Bags

Tea lovers, rejoice. Amazon has cut the cost of Twinings' beloved English Breakfast tea. For the bargain price of £13.30, you can secure four boxes containing 320 tea bags - that's approximately 4p per cuppa.

Praised by over 21,000 customers who've mostly given it five stars, this tea is celebrated for its "good quality" and "strong flavour".

"I'm a big tea drinker but not a big 'labels' buyer ... However I can confirm after trying many brands/ supermarkets own, nothing beats this! Because of this I constantly have them on subscription and thanks to Amazon save lots of shopping around trying to find them on offer. We shop on a budget but these are something I've not been able to find a cheaper alternative to, nothing quite beats the taste of Twinings," one mentioned.

For speciality tea, Whittard of Chelsea offers a lot of variations that are great for self-use and for gifting. You can enjoy black tea with a hint of English roses for £9 per 100g or their own blends like 'Covent Garden blend' with cornflowers, bright safflowers and marigolds.

Nestle Kitkat and Friends Big Box 69 Biscuit Bars

For those who like biscuit with their cuppa, this biscuit variety box is a must. With five options - Toffee Crisp, Kit Kat Milk, Dark, Orange, Blue Riband - Amazon shoppers can get a box of 69 chocolate bars for £15.84, which makes the price of one bar just 23p.

It's great for sharing with colleagues in the office, or you can offer them to your guests when you host a party. One customer wrote: "Enjoyed all the flavours and ideal size for that cup of something in the afternoon. I would buy again."

Some customers have expressed disappointment with the variety in the biscuit mix, lamenting: "Far too many of just plain KitKat. I thought it would be a better selection of each biscuit shown on the box. I should've noticed the name better. KITKAT and friends!OK if you like KitKat."

In contrast, Hotel Chocolat offers a Dunking Biscuits Selection Box for £10.95, boasting an assortment of 10 different biscottis drenched in rich chocolate, with nutty and fruity undertones.