7 Tips to Save Money on Wellness Products
Apr 22, 2024
The good news is humanity’s knowledge about natural wellness continues to grow, and fewer barriers stand between you and the benefits. The bad news? Those walls often consist of dollar bills, as supplements and salves don’t come cheap. How can you save money on wellness products?
The right approach keeps more green in your wallet the next time you hit your favorite health food and supplement retailer. Here are seven tips to saving money on wellness products.
1. Go Back to the Basics
What do many folks do when they can’t afford a necessity? They go the DIY route. Far from a fallback plan, going back to the basics to save money on wellness products can sometimes produce better results than you’d see from commercial products.
You can select each ingredient with your unique needs in mind. For example, designing a homemade skin cream lets you choose between coconut or argan oil as a base or “carrier.” Coconut is richer and creamier for dry skin, while argan is better for those who worry about clogging their pores.
Taking the DIY approach also allows you to customize your blends for the fragrance or special effects you desire. For example, turmeric is a fabulous anti-inflammatory for inflamed scalps, but it also leaves an orange-gold residue everywhere. Redheads might adore it, but those who prefer the silver fox look are better off getting a similar perk from tea tree oil.
Going back to the basics lets you support small businesses, too. Your local farmer’s market offers low-priced organic goods that come from neighboring vendors making a buck from growing things on their land. You also lower your overall carbon footprint by reducing transportation needs, all while enjoying fresher salad greens with your other wellness purchases.
2. Minimize Packaging Waste
Are you spending money on what’s inside that pretty jar, or does the container itself cost the most money and resources to create? Minimizing packaging waste is good for your wallet and the planet.
Some packaging waste is unavoidable for safety reasons. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets strict compliance guidelines for many supplements to protect consumers from contaminated or expired ingredients. However, when companies go over the top with extravagant designs or wrap their goods in unnecessary packaging, they pass the cost of doing so onto you.
Unless you covet a jar encrusted with rhinestones for repurposing, seek minimal packaging. Look for recyclable and compostable containers to reduce your carbon footprint while saving cash. Additionally, buying nonperishable items in bulk saves a ton of packaging waste over individual-wrapped portions, so you can justify that Costco-sized 20-pack of lip balm when it feels like an indulgence.
3. Watch Out for Fillers
Buying generics can sometimes result in more green in your wallet. However, you must do so wisely, as such varieties may contain a higher percentage of filler ingredients that provide few health perks but take up space in the package. Artificial colors and flavors should concern you, as should hydrogenated oils.
4. Comparison Shop
You may have noticed supplement prices can vary widely from store to store. While some of the difference lies in the brands and how manufacturers created them, you can often find the same product for two different prices in competing shops.
It pays to comparison-shop and fortunately, technology makes it easier than ever. Most specialty stores now have websites where they list current prices, so do the heavy lifting before you get in the car to save time, gas money and emissions. You might find the most affordable products come straight to your doorstep via delivery, especially if you enroll in special savings.
5. Watch for Special Savings
Stores extend savings on select products in various ways. One of the newest for online shoppers is the subscribe-and-save feature. Once you find a brand of supplement or skin cream you can’t live without, locate the lowest average price and enroll in this option. You’ll also save stress, as a replacement shows up on your doorstep just as you run down to the dregs.
Many Sunday papers still have a coupon section or you can find store-specific numbers at the front of nearly every grocery if you don’t subscribe. Additionally, sites such as Rakuten and Slick Deals let you save when shopping on- or offline.
Some retailers offer rewards programs for frequent shoppers, so sign up and take advantage. The price of membership is little more than linking your phone number or email address to their system, and you can always unsubscribe from alerts while maintaining the savings benefits.
Finally, stock up when short-term deals strike. For example, are you a frequent flier? Establish a travel stash of the wellness products you typically pack and keep it in your suitcase. You’ll enjoy greater peace of mind each time you jet off in a hurry, knowing the necessities you rely on are already in your bag.
6. Consider Multipurpose Products
Buying one product generally costs less than three or four, especially if you must head to more than one retailer to find what you need. However, you can often find multipurpose wellness products that save you money.
For example, you probably do fine with a regular multivitamin unless you have a specific deficiency that results in health issues. Most formulas contain plenty of vitamin C and zinc, both of which only shorten colds when taken at the first sign of symptoms. Rushing out after you become sniffly to purchase separate supplements wastes your cash and makes you run an unnecessary chore when you already feel low.
Other examples include multipurpose shampoo, hand soap and body wash products. Some natural substances also perform multiple roles. For example, oatmeal provides filling fiber at breakfast while making a mild exfoliating scrub for dry skin.
7. Check With Your Insurance Company
Those with health insurance should check with their provider about available benefits. Some plans include wellness stipends for gym memberships or OTC wellness products. You may receive a special catalog for ordering or a physical card you can use for approved purchases.
Keeping Your Mind, Body and Wallet Healthy
While there are more OTC health items available than ever before, you can quickly go broke without a systematic approach to buying what you need. The above tips help you save money on wellness products so you keep more green in your wallet for living your life. Combine these approaches in any way that makes sense for you to maximize your well-being and reap more joy from each day.