How to Save Money at the Pharmacy

Start saving with these easy tips on how to save money at the pharmacy!

Being that I manage my own chronic condition and as well as my child’s, I spend a pretty good chunk of time in pharmacies. This has been a good thing for me because I have managed to turn it into something that helps our budget. Pharmacies can be great places to save money and have some unexpected ways to save on both prescriptions and household goods. Here are my tips on how to save money at the pharmacy.

How to Save Money at the Pharmacy

Buy generic when possible – Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the name brand. They are not lower quality, no matter what people say. The only differences are sometimes what they use for fillers. If you don’t have an allergy to any inactive ingredients, buy generic the generic versions for both over the counter(OTC) and prescription drugs.

Sign up for rewards programs – There are a lot of benefits to signing up for the reward program at your local pharmacy. You can get ‘cash’ to spend on future purchases and when you combine these rewards with coupons, you can actually get items for free or nearly free.

Buy groceries there – You probably don’t consider your pharmacy a place to get groceries because most of them have a limited selection. However, most pharmacies also have great deals on staples like milk, bread, and even coffee.

Check out the clearance section – My local Rite Aid has a section that is all clearance of discontinued items and I have found some phenomenal savings there. Some of the items were 90% off.

Ask your pharmacist for ways to save – Most people don’t realize their pharmacist is a great resource for information on saving on medications or cheaper substitutes for OTC treatments. Most pharmacists also know all the ways to get insurance to work for you and lower your costs as well as consumer prescription savings programs out there to apply for.

Stock up when you come across a sale – The thing about sales at pharmacies is that they often are short lived and have a limited supply. Make sure when you come across a sale you stock up. Just check to make sure there are no limits to how many items can be purchased to avoid embarrassment at the checkout counter.

Buy seasonal items after the holiday – Pharmacies are the best places to buy seasonal items and holiday decorations at a deep discount in my opinion. You can usually get these items for 50% off or more in the weeks following a holiday or season’s end. I have even bought items at 90% off. It’s pretty picked over at that point, though, so I suggest shopping earlier.

Consider shopping for plants there – Pharmacies have tried hard to bring in more shoppers and that means they have expanded what they carry. I have bought some great plants for my patio and vegetable starters the last couple of years. Additionally, they often run 50% off sales on garden supplies, decor, and pots throughout the season.