Unveiling Smart Savings: 10 Items Priced Lower When Marketed Differently

The prices of food and household items are experiencing small but steady price increases, putting a dent in the wallets of American consumers. Buyers search for bargains wherever they can and discover them in the unlikeliest places. Searching for smart savings, an online community of frugal shoppers offered their perspectives on how to save money by buying items with little to no advertising, and their responses can help save you money on your next shopping trip.

1. Pet Medications

Pet Medications
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Pet medications from a veterinarian’s office are often available at farming supply stores that sell livestock products. Not only is this medication of the same quality or identical to what vets sell, but it’s at a much lower price. Not all pet medicines are available over the counter, but many are. Why pay $50 for a medicine when it’s available for $10 or less?

2. Generic Medications

Generic Medicine
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Depending on their insured status, patients have to pay the whole cost or a copay when prescribed name-brand medications. Even with health coverage, there’s no guarantee the insurance company will cover the cost of the drug, which can run into thousands of dollars. The generic alternative to name-brand medication is just as effective but costs much less.

3. Chip Clips

Chip Clips
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Chip clips keep opened bags of potato chips from getting stale too quickly. Some models of chip clips can be inexpensive, but they’re not very durable, and the better-quality ones tend to cost more. This is a manageable expense to avoid easily by using clips already around the house: binder clips or large paper clips, which work effectively to keep the bags sealed.

4. Tee Shirts

Couples wearing same type of Tee shirt shocked
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

For some odd reason, men’s plain tee shirts of all colors and sizes sell for far less than tee shirts for women. There’s little to no discernible difference between them regarding their quality. So why do women’s tees cost so much more? It’s cheaper to buy tee shirts for guys. They’re the ultimate unisex item, so why pay more if you don’t have to?

5. Special Diet Foods

Cereals
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Many special diet foods, such as those marketed as diabetic-friendly, keto, naturally gluten-free, or diet, are often in their own separate store sections and are usually more expensive. But if you look in the aisles with regular foods, you may find these special diet items at lower prices. It may take a little extra searching, but those items are there.

6. Nautical Toilets

Nautical Toilet inside motor boat
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Boats or recreational vehicle (RV) owners know the value of having a well-functioning toilet system. However, there is a substantial difference in the price between two kinds of toilets that serve the same purpose. Nautical or marine toilets used in boats can be more than twice the cost of RV toilets, which are just as efficient, if not more.

7. Acne Patches

Woman puting a n acne patch
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The small spot bandages used to treat acne work well but can be costly for a single package. A more economical option is hydrocolloid bandages, which work on certain types of acne. These significantly larger patches can be cut into smaller pieces, offering users significant savings for the same results. A simple price comparison between the two products demonstrates that.

8. Pet Heating Mats

Cat standing on heating pad
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Heating pads used for pain or extra warmth during a cold winter’s night can be more expensive than you realize until you have to buy one and get a sticker shock. A cheaper alternative is in the pet care aisle of your favorite big box store. Pet heating pads cost less than those sold for human use and function similarly.

9. Reusable Makeup Remover Clothes

Woman removing makeup using remover cloth
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

These cloths are made from microfiber material, are cut relatively small, and have a rather hefty price tag per cloth. A cheaper and equally usable alternative is regular-sized microfiber cloths, which sell in bulk, or microfiber washcloths. Both are washable, reusable, and cost less per cloth. There’s nothing special about the reusable makeup remover cloths except the price tag.

10. Mineral Oil

Saleswoman demonstrating bottle of cream
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Mineral oil and baby oil are nearly the same product. When mineral oil is sold as a beauty product, the price is many times more than what a larger quantity of baby oil costs, and there may be some difference in the product’s scent. Still, paying exponentially more for mineral oil in the cosmetics aisle seems like a waste of money than you would spend on baby oil.

Source: Reddit.

17 of the Best Crazy Ideas to Make Money Legitimately

Crazy man Depositphotos 73937113 XL

Photo Credit: Deposit Photos

If you are always looking for ways to make money, I can assure you there are countless ways. It helps if you are creative and open to crazy ideas to make money legally, whether as a side gig or a full-time job. On a recent online forum, one user asked members, “What are the craziest ways you’ve heard of people making money?” The thread exploded with all sorts of suggestions that we share.

22 Dead Giveaways That Someone Grew Up Poor Long After Escaping Poverty

woman stressed shutterstock 192268697

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Being poor is not a choice but often a reflection of society and should never be a mark of shame. Those who grew up poor have a mindset that is not easy to shake long after escaping poverty. The residual effects of feeling hunger and cold bring back memories that spurred gratitude, resourcefulness,  and nostalgia by some who shared their experiences on a popular online community, answering, What are dead giveaways that someone grew up poor?” I recognized similar incidents familiar to me, bringing back memories from my upbringing.

11 Tiny Luxuries We’d Savor if We Struck It Rich

Woman with money

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

What small item of luxury would you buy if you won a multimillion-dollar jackpot tonight? What minor yet profound indulgence would you spend your newfound wealth on? Most people would want to jump out of debt and buy a posh house by the sea where the wind gently pushes off the window panes in summertime reverie, but if you were confined to only the little luxurious things, what tiny special treats would you savor if money stopped being an issue? Someone on a money forum wanted to know what small luxury people would cash in on if they suddenly hit gold, and we consider these the funniest and most thoughtful responses on the thread.

Baby On A Budget – How to Dodge 10 Costly Pitfalls

Happy new parents with baby

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Let’s be honest: Having a kid is becoming more expensive as the years go by! Recently, men and women met online to reveal how to dodge costly parenthood pitfalls. Whether it’s genius money-saving strategies, avoiding costly baby purchases, or simply purchasing sensible things for your child, here is how to be a parent and not go broke.

10 Things To Always Buy On the Cheap Because It’s Not Worth Spending More

Woman buying olive oil shutterstock MSN

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Every time you decide to leave your house to make a trip to the grocery store or eat out, you’re making a conscious decision: to save money or not. Thanks to inflation, a trip to the grocery store will cost you more than ever before, and that’s why it’s so essential to make money-savvy decisions every chance you get.

Leave a Comment