A stop at the drug store can turn into a full-blown shopping trip, and while advertised deals may make it seem like you're saving money, are you really?
Turns out, there are some drug store "deals" to definitely avoid.
The first? Batteries.
"We all know, if you have children, they go through 10 trillion of them," says shopper Channelle Beller. "I have a teenage son. I think he eats them."
Batteries are expensive to begin with, but for the best savings you should try warehouse club stores.
Another tempting purchase worth skipping: holiday decorations.
You'll find something more affordable at stores like TJ Maxx or Ross.
Don't reach for that gift wrap either. Head to Dollar Tree to save money on gift wraps, bags, and even cards.
Then there are the "As Seen on TV" items.
"I wouldn't take the time to buy them online," Beller admits. "So if it happens to be in front of my face and I'm interested, I'd probably end of spending the extra money on it."
Tempting to buy in person, but if you really want it, you can probably get it for less on Amazon.
But there are some drug store deals out there to be had.
- Paper products, like toilet paper and tissues
- Pantry items, like cereal and peanut butter
- Photo developing
- Makeup
The bottom line with drug store deals is convenience, so sometimes spending a little more is worth the time saved.