Everything is going up in price these days, from milk at your corner grocer to the eye makeup you grab at the pharmacy. One of the easiest ways to drain money from your budget is by letting little purchases get out of control. But with a little foresight, you can save money on personal care items for your family.

If you have the storage space, buy in bulk. Join warehouses like Costco or Sam’s Club and take advantage of bulk pricing, especially for items like toilet paper and paper towels. Consider shopping online for your personal care products. Websites like drugstore.com are a great resource for getting the best bargain on products.

Take time out of your Sunday morning rituals to cut coupons out of the newspaper’s circulars. Almost every Sunday you can find coupons on personal care items such as deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. You can save even more by checking out the sale circular of your local pharmacy or discount store such as CVS or Wal-Mart. Don’t forget rebate offers- many companies will pay you back the entire price of their product just by mailing in a qualifying receipt.

Take advantage of products that do double duty, such as 2 in 1 shampoo + condition, body wash that can be used as shaving creme, face lotion with anti-aging products, or body lotion that contains sunscreen. Most of these products are much cheaper than buying the two items separately- it’s almost like “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” promotions!

When it comes to makeup, resist purchasing name brand beauty products at department stores where one container of lip gloss can cost upwards of $15. If you’re not ready to make a total switch, at least reduce the number of brand products you are currently purchasing. For everything else, peruse the aisles of your local pharmacy or retail outlet in the Beauty section. Brands such as Cover Girl, Revlon, and Almay have a great reputation and offer products at less than half the price you were paying at department stores. Many stores have weekly sales on various makeup brands- be on the lookout for discounts and specials that will reduce the price even further.

If you currently get your hair color treated at an area salon, consider switching to boxed hair color that is sold at your local pharmacy or retail outlet. With the average dye job costing you upwards of $50 every three months, and a box of Natural Instincts Dirty Blonde retailing for $5.99, it doesn’t require a mathematician to see that savings can quickly pile up.

Check out your local dollar store (such as Dollar General) for great deals on healthcare products such as shampoo, conditioner, makeup, body wash, and much more. They usually carry the same brands that retail for twice at much on the shelf at Wal-Mart, and it doesn’t require a special sale to get a great deal.

Posted in Home Budget

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