1) Stop Believing The Hype
There will always be a “must take” supplement on the market with a lot of hype behind it. If you believe that you need every one of them, you will go broke and will likely be taking dozens of supplements a month. Even worse, those newly hyped products come at a great cost. Because they are new, there are less competitors, allowing sellers to charge virtually as much as they like.
In truth, unless you have health issues, there are only a few supplements that you really need to take. One of those is a good multivitamin, which also happens to be one of the cheapest supplements on the market.
So, stop believing the hype and give new products a cooling off period. If, after 6 months, they are still being hyped and massively popular, give them a try. What you will most likely find though is that the “all new” product has lost popularity and a new product is on the market, claiming to be the next great thing. It is an endless cycle of hype.
2) Skip The Name Brand
Just like with groceries, the name brand is not necessarily the best choice. Most of what you will actually be paying for is advertising and a fancy label. Skip the name brand and instead go for a generic whenever it is available. If there is not a generic in the market, go with a well known brand that represents the best value.
One fun fact with supplements is that most supplement makers do not even make their own products. They give specs to a manufacturer who also makes supplements for dozens of other companies. What that means is that you could be paying a premium price for a product that is just as good in a generic bottle. It might even be the exact same product.
3) Purchase Supplements In Bulk
Most supplements are good for months if not years in storage, so why not take advantage of this fact? Buy them in bulk and cut the price by as much as half.
You have several sources for buying in bulk. The best source is the warehouse club, which you really should have a membership to. If you don’t, you need to find the money to sign up. Clubs like Sam’s and Costco can save you a fortune on not only your supplements, but also most of your other grocery needs.
Another source for bulk supplements is the online market, but you need to use caution. Primarily, you need to make sure that you really are getting the best price. For example, that big online retailer that everyone shops at does not always have the best price. Having thousands of different vendors means that prices can fluctuate greatly.
Besides finding the best price, you also need to make sure that the expiration date on your product allows for sufficient time to use the product. Unfortunately, you will be unable to check the date until you get the product home, but this is the first thing you should do, even before opening the product. If the expiration date is too close, you will need to return it, which is why you should look for a vendor that pays return shipping.
4) Get A Prescription
Depending on the supplement or supplements you are taking, you may be able to get a prescription for it. This is most common with a product that you would use to treat a disorder such as a vitamin deficiency, but you might as well check with your doctor about all of the supplements you are currently taking.
If you end up with a prescription, you could end up having insurance cover the bulk of your costs. As a side benefit, the part that you do have to pay for could go against your out of pocket maximum. The only thing that you have to be careful about is making sure that your prescription out of pocket is not more than the retail price of the supplement. Paying a 10 dollar copay on a 5 dollar product is not such a great deal.
In Conclusion
While the cost of supplements might not be on your radar, perhaps it should be. It is these types of expenditures that can add up big in the aggregate. A few dollars here and a few dollars there can easily wind up being hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.
