5 Ways to Save Money on Vitamins and Health Supplements

I will be the first to admit that I’m not the healthiest person in the world.  I don’t always make the best food choices, and I am pretty far away from consuming the perfect diet.  One thing that I use to help combat this is taking vitamins and supplements to help me get the nutrition I need.  But holy cow – vitamins and supplements can be EXPENSIVE if not purchased properly!  Check out this money saving guide I put together which highlights 5 ways to save money on vitamins and health supplements to see if you can save yourself a bit of coin:

1) Try Online vs the Grocery Store

You will very rarely find the best deal on vitamins and health supplements by shopping the grocery store.  They do have sales from time to time, but in general shopping online for your vitamins and supplements is the best way to go.  Here are a couple of great sites to check out to get vitamins and supplements for cheap:

• Amazon – Vitamins and Dietary Supplements – obviously Amazon is a great place to pick up your vitamins and supplements at a great bargain.  They have thousands of offerings, so you are sure to find what you are looking for.
• BulkSupplements.com – This is a great site to get all kinds of popular vitamins and supplements from a 100 gram quantity all the way up to a 50 pound bag!!  Shipping is free for orders over $49 and here’s a special coupon code for 6% off all products for MoneyAhoy.com readers !!

2) Wait for Sales

You can find brick-and-mortar sales from time to time that will give you a better bang for your buck vs. online.  The trick here is you have to be willing to wait for the right time to stock up.  I wait until the protein powder goes on sale at Sams Club and then stock up.  I will literally walk out with six jars of the 5-lb stuff!  OK, well my wife does since she does the shopping :-).

The only trick to this is you have to already know ahead of time what you are stocking up on.  Some of these vitamins, supplements, or protein powder may not be to your taste.  This brings us to our next tip…

3) Try Before You Stock Up

If you are going to stock up with several 5-lb jars (or a 50 pound sack from BulkSupplements.com for that matter), make sure you know what you’re getting.  Nothing is worse than having a whole shelf of supplements that you won’t be using.  We’ve had several of my wife’s friends just give her entire bags of protein powder because they bought the bulk size before testing it.  Not a good idea if you’re trying to save money!

4) Buy in Bulk

Now that you’ve verified your vitamin or supplement of choice is going to work for you, it’s time to stock up!  Let’s take Vitamin C, for example, from BulkSupplements.com.  If you buy the 500 gram bag, you end up paying $22.96 or $0.05 per gram.

Now, if you go ahead and buy the 25kg bag from BulkSupplements.com for $367.96, you are actually only paying a bit over $0.01 per gram!  I know it sounds kinda insane to buy a 55 bag or Vitamin C, but we’re talking money saving here folks :-)!  There are more practical examples, but I think you get the idea.

5) Try to Get Your Supplements as a Prescription

This one is kinda a neat idea for some folks with the right insurance.  If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, then you may want to consider asking your doctor for a prescription.  Often times, you can obtain vitamins or minerals in bulk as a prescription and your insurance will cover a LARGE portion of the cost.  You can even setup a prescription through the mail service to have your vitamins, minerals, or supplements delivered right to your door!

Final Thoughts to Save Money on Vitamins and Health Supplements

As you can see, there are tons of ways to save money on vitamins and health supplements out there.  These are just a couple of my best ideas on how to save money on health supplements, minerals, and vitamins – do you have others?

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How to Save Money and Time When Ordering Take-Out

We’ve all been there – it’s at the end of a long day and we really don’t feel like cooking anything.  The frugally minded among us would just tough it out and find a way to fix something anyway.  There has been a recent trend of ready-to-prepare meal kits that you can order, but if you’re exhausted who feels like taking that on?

If your willpower isn’t that strong, you may decide to head out to a nearby restaurant or just go ahead and order some take-out and splurge a bit.  If you do decide to go the take-out route, wouldn’t it be great to save a couple of bucks in the process or get your food on your table faster?   This is exactly the question that I wanted answered – how to save money and time when ordering take-out.  If you grab take-out from time-to-time (or all the time, really), then this article is for you.  Read on to learn about a new startup service that will help you save that precious money and time.

Home Food Delivery Services

If you live in relatively small towns like I have, you may not be aware of the recent trends in this area over the past 10-15 years.  There have been a slew of new companies in the area of home food delivery services.  These home food delivery companies partner with restaurants and other food providers to bring your food from the restaurant to you at your home or apartment.

This sort of service is great for those restaurants that don’t actually offer delivery.  You can get the food that you want with a modest delivery fee tacked on.  Many times you can actually get the food on your table faster than if you were to head out from your home or apartment and grab it yourself.  What’s not to love?

Downsides of Using Food Delivery Services

If all that sounds great, you may be wondering where the downside comes in.  Because the market for this sort of service is relatively new, it is still pretty fragmented.  What that means for the consumer is that there isn’t an easy way to find a one-stop-shop for all your take-out food needs.  One service may offer delivery from restaurants A, B, and C whereas another service might only offer home food delivery from restaurants C, D, and E.  It can all be quite confusing and time consuming to find exactly the food you are looking for quickly and inexpensively.

If you do find the exact restaurant and food that you’re looking for, how do you know you’re getting the best delivery prices and the quickest home food delivery times?

The Priceline of Food Delivery Services

All of these issues are being solved by a new food delivery aggregation service called Bootler.  From what I can tell, it really seems to be the first of its kind in this area!  The Bootler website (and soon to be released app) is like the Priceline of food delivery services.  It aggregates all the food delivery companies together so that you can compare prices and delivery times of your favorite restaurants.  This ensures you get the lowest food delivery prices and can find which food delivery service can get your order to your home the quickest.

If all of this is a little confusing, check out this quick Youtube explanation below:

How Much is Bootler?

Bootler does seem pretty cool, but you may be wondering how much this Bootler service costs.  I was in the same boat – “there’s got to be a catch, right?”  There literally isn’t one!  The service is completely free to you – Bootler makes all of its income through affiliate agreements with the food delivery services.

Bootler is just getting started in the Chicago area with plans to expand to NYC before the end of the year.  From there, it will expand to other major cities in the US.

How to Save Money and Time When Ordering Take-Out – Final Thoughts

With the advent of the internet and smart phones, it never ceases to amaze me at all the cool companies and services that are being created all around us.  Bootler is another example of an innovative service which brings lots of information together in a helpful way.  I found the answer to my question of how to save money and time when ordering take-out with Bootler – I just have to wait until it comes to my neck of the woods.  We cannot wait!

If you happen to live in Chicago (or soon to be NYC), then give it a look – it’s bound to save you time and money when ordering take-out!

While we’re at it, here are some quick coupon codes so that you can test-drive Bootler for yourself:

• Use coupon code “GOBOOTLER” to receive $10 off your alcohol order
• Use coupon code “Bootler” to receive $10 off your food order from Postmates

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10 Store Brand Items That Are Better Than Their Branded Counterparts

Many well-known retailers have their own store brands that are usually cheaper. Sometimes they’re made with the same ingredients, so you can’t tell the difference in taste, quality or other easy-to-recognize characteristics. Keep reading to get 10 suggestions of store-brand products that excel when compared to products with more famous names.

365 Everyday Value Mild Shredded Cheese

Shredded cheese can add a tang to everything from a bowl of soup to a plate of nachos. The 365 Everyday Value brand of mild shredded cheese from Whole Foods Market won consumer and editor taste tests, and it’s reasonably priced.

Archer Farms Balsamic Vinegar

Archer Farms is the store brand of Target Corporation. After grabbing a bottle of Archer Farms’ balsamic vinegar, you’ll likely love the tantalizing flavor that’s sweet with a slight zing. Also, it’s priced at just $7.99 for 16.9 ounces, so this garnish may become your new frugal favorite.

Smart Sense Cranberry Juice

Ocean Spray may be the most familiar brand of cranberry juice to your ears, but it’s also worth trying Kmart’s Smart Sense brand. It’s a little less bitter than Ocean Spray’s blend, and still retains an authentic cranberry flavor.

Great Value Real Mayonnaise

If you’re a steadfast fan of Hellmann’s when it comes to garnishing a burger with mayo, you might not be so loyal for much longer. The Great Value brand from Wal-Mart tastes just as good, but it’s about 30 percent cheaper than the name brand.

Trader Joe’s Frozen Mixed Vegetables

Many people who are pressed for time depend on Birds Eye frozen mixed vegetables to get some of their daily servings without a lot of prep work. The combination of peas, carrots, green beans and corn is very tasty.

However, you may find that the Trader Joe’s brand has crispier veggies that are slightly more appetizing. Also, the Trader Joe’s version has organic vegetables, which could be a plus if you’re concerned about how your produce is grown.

Kirkland Signature Vodka

Apparently research shows that binge drinking equates to binge spending – two things that I would never encourage. But hey, savings are savings. So if you find yourself pining for premium vodka every time you stock up on alcohol for yourself or before hosting a party, think twice and go to Costco instead. The Kirkland Signature brand of vodka is made by Grey Goose but packaged under the Costco name. It also costs half as much as the name brand that might be more familiar to you.

Market Pantry Thin-Cut French Fries

Another standout frozen food that tastes great and won’t break your budget, these French fries are sold under another one of Target’s brands. Once cooked, they’re crispy on the outside, but have a deliciously soft texture inside. A 16-ounce bag only costs $2, so that’s a great reason to choose the store brand over a more known name, such as Ore-Ida.

Great Value Breakfast Cereals

Walmart’s Great Value brand has a full collection of store brand cereals that taste almost identical to their national-brand counterparts. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to find one with nearly the same ingredient list as a leading brand. Plus, Great Value cereals are priced at under $3 per box, but national brands can be over a dollar more than that.

CVS Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Before you automatically make a beeline toward the row of Head and Shoulders or Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo to get rid of some troublesome flakes, try the store brand from CVS first. It’s highly rated by a company that ranks the social consciousness level of certain brands and contains ingredients that are similar to those popular brands, but the bottles are sold at a lower price.

Market Pantry Graham Crackers

Whether you’re packing for a camping trip where you plan to make s’mores, or just want a sweet treat that’s not terribly unhealthy, go with Market Pantry graham crackers instead of a brand like Honey Maid. You probably won’t be able to tell a difference in taste, and may even find you prefer the store brand.

10 Store-Brand Items That Are Better Than Their Branded Counterparts – Final Thoughts

Hopefully you’re now a little more encouraged to test a store brand instead of immediately going with what you know. Some people who tried both versions of a product couldn’t differentiate between them, and you’ll almost certainly save money by experimenting to see if you like a lesser-known brand enough to stick with it.

Anum Yoon is a personal finance blogger and writer. She created and maintains her personal finance blog Current on Currency. You can subscribe to her blog newsletter right here for her weekly updates.

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How To Save Money At The Grocery Store

The following is a guest post from Thomas over at wealthprep.ca

Groceries are expensive!  The average American household spends $546 a month on food, making it the second largest living expense. We spend money on food everyday, but we often ignore the opportunity to save. While eating at restaurants less frequently is a great start, there are opportunities to save on the food you eat at home. A few changes can help you save big on your grocery bill.

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Shop at a Discount Chain

Prices at discount grocery stores, such as Walmart and Save-A-Lot, are typically 10% lower than at big-name stores. Because individual grocery items are inexpensive, these savings can easily go  unnoticed. $1 or $0.90 for bananas may not seem like a big difference on the surface, but 10% off your yearly spending surely will make a difference!  The savings add up; shopping at discount stores  could save you over $655 a year!

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Make a List

According to University of Pennsylvania research, making a grocery list can save you 23% on your total grocery bill. When you visit a grocery store without a plan, it’s easy to make impulse purchases and overspend. This is especially important when making small trips to the market. If you go to the store to purchase ingredients for only a few meals, it is easy to spring for that expensive steak or a dessert dish you really don’t need. By creating a list and sticking to it, you can save up to $1,508 annually.

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Buy Company Brands

A lot of consumers are still hesitant to include no-name or store brands in their grocery routine. Concerns over quality keep these brands out of the American shopping cart. You may be surprised to learn that most of the store brands are produced by the same manufactures as the big name brands. Stocking up on these labels can save you 30%, according to a consumer reports study. For the average American household, this means saving $1,967 a year.

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Eat Healthier

Prepared and packaged foods are expensive. You can save money when you buy fresh and prepare meals yourself. In most states, produce and other healthy ingredients are tax-exempt. Stay healthy and save money by avoiding carb-filled packaged goods. Even cutting soft drinks from your diet can save you hundreds of dollars a year. A quick rule: avoid the middle isle at the supermarket – the foods you need are located along the outer walls of the store.

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Familiarize Yourself With Prices

Familiarizing yourself with the cost of a few common purchases can help you stay on top of your savings. Many grocery chains will reduce the price of certain items to attract buyers into the store, hoping that they will spend on other, more expensive, products. Knowing the price of the items you commonly purchase will allow you to get what you need, and get out.

How to Save Money at the Grocery Store – Quick Tip: Eat Before You Go

If I go to the supermarket hungry, I will come home with a cart full of snacks. If you eat before a trip to the store, you will be less inclined to spend money on unhealthy snacks and things you really don’t need.

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