I’m a Shopping Expert: 5 Drugstore Buys That Can Save You Big Money

You might think that the drugstore is only good for getting a prescription filled or to grab a quick over-the-counter pain reliever. However, your local drugstore can actually be a one-stop shop for some truly useful goods at some truly great prices that fit within your budget. Surprisingly, you can grab many of the same health, wellness and beauty items you’d expect to see on the shelves of many elite beauty boutiques, big-box grocery stores or department chains. 

To get a perspective on the kinds of finds you can seek out at your local drug store, GOBankingRates turned to Alejandra Rojas, founder of The Money Mindset Hub. Rojas used her own insights, along with some tips from her clients, to share the best drugstore buys that will help you save money. 

Investing in proper dental care can start with something as simple as buying a package of floss at CVS for $3.59, with the store sometimes offering special discounts such as buy one, get one for 40% or even half off. In fact, for National Oral Health Care Month, CVS offered a BOGO for 50% off select oral care products. 

Spending $5 on a toothbrush at the drugstore now can help spare you lengthy and expensive dental procedures in the future. According to Cigna, the average cost of filling a cavity is roughly $160. 

“Dental care is a big expense even if you have insurance. That’s why, with the group of clients and pool I drafted, we believe durable toothbrushes (like electric), floss, and mouthwash are important to have. There are even more savings when you buy these in bulk,” Rojas said.

Rojas knows the value of eye health first-hand: She’s had astigmatism and other eye conditions since she was very young. She makes sure to buy eye drops regularly to maintain her eye health, which has alleviated the amount of time she’s spent at the optometrist’s office or changing a prescription. 

A box of eye drops at Walgreens costs $11.99, with some stores offering a BOGO 50% off deal. According to Glasses.com, it can cost up to $200 to get a prescription without insurance. 

Sometimes, you just need to buy something that makes you feel luxurious. Treating yourself to the sumptuous smells and skin-nourishing elements of essential oils can be a boost to your mental and physical health. 

At CVS, you can find a lovely lemongrass essential oil on sale for about $8.29, while a lavender and eucalyptus body oil at Ulta will set you back by roughly $38.

An apple a day might not really keep the doctor away, but taking vitamins regularly just might help keep you from shelling out those copays on the regular. 

One bottle of Nature Made multivitamins from Rite Aid can cost $11.99 compared to the average copay for primary care visits, which comes in at about $26 for primary care and $44 for specialty care, per USA Today.

Living in New Zealand for a while taught Rojas the value of having a strong sunscreen. She said that getting sunscreen and other skin protection products at a drugstore can save you big money, compared to the more complicated and perilous health situations that can arise if you don’t shield your skin from the sun’s rays. 

At Rite Aid, you can get a Neutrogena sunscreen with SPF 55 protection for $13.99. Conversely, Help Hope Live, a medical fundraising firm, reported, “One study revealed that the average treatment costs for skin cancers range from $1,732 for stage I to $56,059 for stage IV.”

Prices and availability are accurate as of June 14, 2024, and are subject to change.