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Drugstore price check: Why you’re paying too much

Posted at 9:05 AM, Dec 26, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-26 09:05:52-05

Want to save hundreds of dollars buying your over-the-counter medicine, shampoo and vitamins?

Then pay attention: Depending on where you shop, you could be wasting a lot of money.

Many Shop For Convenience

When it comes to over-the-counter medicines, facial lotion, and soap, most of us shop wherever it’s most convenient at the time.

Many shoppers grab pharmacy items at the grocery store because it's so easy.

For Tammy Schutte, it’s easiest buying over-the-counter meds when she buys groceries.

"To be honest, I don’t really compare prices too much to CVS, I just pretty much get everything  when I go grocery shopping,” she said.

Which Store Costs the Most?

A new price comparison by the website cheapism.com found you may want to purchase your drugstore items at discount stores.

The survey compared a basket of non-prescription items like toothpaste and deodorant at Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Target and Kroger.

Walmart was the price winner at $50.47.

Target was just pennies away at $50.77.

Grocery stores (represented in the survey by Kroger) was $5 more expensive at $55.72.

                          Drugstore Chains Higher All Around

CVS was $60.72. Walgreens was $66.77. And Rite Aid, the most expensive, was $72.02 – $20 more than Walmart.

The problem, though, is many people don’t bother to compare, because they pick up these items with their prescriptions, which often cost next to nothing.

Bottom line: You could be paying hundreds more a year for convenience.

As always, don‘t waste your money.