Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale is coming up— here's how to get a Prime membership for free

Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale is happening Oct. 8 and 9.

The two-day sales event is exclusively for Amazon Prime members — a membership that costs $139 per year, or $14.99 per month.

While we think Amazon Prime is worth having year-round for dedicated online shoppers, here are some ways to save money on your membership in time for this fall's big sale.

If you just want to sign up to take advantage of limited-time exclusive deals, a free 30-day trial is the way to go.

Those new to Amazon Prime membership, or anyone who hasn't been a member in the last 12 months, are eligible for a 30-day trial. Be sure to set a reminder for when your trial ends so you can cancel before it's up and you're charged for more time.

Note that you'll need to use a credit card to set up your trial membership.

If you're a college student (or a non-student between the ages of 18 to 24), you can sign up for a free six-month Amazon Prime Student trial. Students must be enrolled in at least one course at an institution in the United States or Puerto Rico, have a working .edu email address and be able to show proof of enrollment if requested. Non-students will need to prove they're between the ages of 18-24.

While the same cancellation reminder as above applies here, the six-month stretch is much more generous than just 30 days. After the trial ends, you'll pay $7.49 per month or $69 annually for your Prime membership as long as you still qualify for Prime Student.

Now might be a good time to apply for the Prime Visa card. Right now, get a $100 Amazon Gift Card (or more) instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

While there's no minimum spending requirement needed to earn the bonus, you must be an Amazon Prime member to get the credit card — the $100 bonus will take care of the first year of your Prime membership, which costs $139.

Some of our other favorite credit cards for shopping on Amazon include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for earning travel rewards and the Citi Double Cash® Card for cash back.

Thanks to Amazon Household, you can share the Prime membership access that your spouse, sibling or parent already pays for. Hey, that's what family's for, right? When shopping during the sale, maybe you'll find a deal they can enjoy, too.

Amazon Household just requires that two adults (ages 18 and over) each have their own Amazon account, though only one must have a Prime membership. Thanks to this benefit, household members, including teens and children, can share Amazon Prime benefits such as free one-day Prime Delivery and Prime Video.

Through Amazon Household, your Amazon account will be connected to give you access to, say, your spouse's Amazon Prime membership perks, but you'll still have your respective accounts.

If you have an EBT card or any valid qualifying government assistance documents, you can qualify for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, and afterward pay a discounted rate of $6.99 per month.

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