There is no way around the fact that privatized healthcare in the United States is downright expensive, whether you’re insured or not. This is true for everyone, but especially for seniors who typically have more medical needs on a tighter fixed income in retirement. Along with just general insurance costs, pharmacy prices have kept pace and steadily increased in recent years, making it harder for retirees to manage everyday health costs.
Read More: 17 Best Items To Buy at Dollar Tree for Less Than $5
Find Out: 10 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
From over-the-counter medications to essential personal-care products, many commonly used pharmacy items can quickly add up when purchased one at a time. That’s why knowing which products make sense to buy in bulk can lead to significant long-term savings.
To highlight the best deals, GOBankingRates found a dozen pharmacy items seniors should always buy in bulk, whether you shop at major chains, warehouse clubs or online pharmacies. These essentials reduce repeat trips to the store and help you stay better prepared year-round.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers You Use Year-Round
Getting older certainly comes with wisdom, but unfortunately, it also goes hand in hand with chronic aches and pains. Fortunately, there are over-the-counter remedies available at some of your favorite warehouse stores where you can really stock up for less. Costco is a great place to buy pharmacy supplies in bulk.
Here are a few Costco options where you can really pinch some pennies and not feel a thing:
- Tylenol Extra Strength Acetaminophen 500 mg Vials: You get 12 vials with 10 caplets each (120 Caplets total). This is great for traveling or having some pain relief in your bag, car and bathroom for only $23.99 for about $2 per unit or $0.20 per pill.
- Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch: The bulk pack comes with 140 patches that you can easily stick on a stiff neck, sore lower back or achy joint for immediate relief. It costs you $20.99 or $0.15 per patch.
- Neosporin + Max Strength Pain Relief Dual Action Topical Antibiotic Ointment: This $20.99 pain relief pack contains three tubes for home or on the go, as one is a 1-ounce tube and two are a .5-ounce tube (three tubes, two ounces total).
- Kirkland Signature Esomeprazole: This is a magnesium supplement that helps relieve heartburn and reduce acid. For only $14.99, you can get three bottles that each cover a 14-day treatment course.
For You: 4 Little Luxuries Even Responsible Retirees Buy From Costco
Daily Vitamins and Supplements With Long Shelf Lives
A vitamin a day can hopefully keep the doctor away or at least make you have to visit their office less frequently. The good news for your budget is that these items tend to have a longer shelf life, so buying in bulk just makes more sense for something you use daily. Here are some Sam’s Club items that are great for your health and your bottom line:
- MaryRuth’s Daily Liquid Hair Formula: Hair loss or thinning is common for seniors, but a great dietary supplement that can help with this blueberry pomegranate flavored liquid vitamin. You get a 2-pack of 22-ounce bottles for $44.98.
- Metamucil Psyllium 4in1 Fiber Supplement Powder: Getting your daily fiber intake is important, and you can stock up with this deal. You get two 55-ounce canisters, which will last you a while and only set you back $44.98.
- Nature Made Super B Complex: You get 460 tablets for $18.78. At just $0.04 a pill, this is savings that will last you over a year.
- One A Day 50+ Multivitamin Tablets: This specialized formula makes taking your daily vitamins much more of a streamlined process. You can get a 300-count bottle of either the women’s formula or the men’s formula for $19.98.
Cold and Flu Medications That Never Go to Waste
Just because it’s allergy season doesn’t mean you’re completely done with catching a cold or the flu. Luckily, you can stock up for less on shelf-stable medications that you can use throughout the year. Here are some Walmart finds where you can’t go wrong when it comes to what ails you:
- Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil Severe Cold and Flu Liquicaps: Nothing helps take out your headache, fever, sore throat or minor aches and pains like the one-two punch of Vicks. It’s the perfect combination to relieve your symptoms in a non-drowsy and regular formula. You get 48 capsules for $21.97.
- Alkalol Original Nasal Wash: This bulk deal comes with three 16-ounce bottles for $20.99, which is just $0.44 an ounce. Its patented solution is preservative-free, with natural extracts and essential oils, and provides natural relief from nasal congestion caused by colds, flu and allergies. It also helps dissolve mucus and clean and moisturize your nasal passage
- Theraflu Severe Cough Cold and Flu Day and Nighttime Relief Medicine Syrup : If you’d rather a spoonful of medicine than pop a pill, you can still find deals like this in a bulk duo set. You get a 2-pack of the day and night formula for $13.97, which is just about $0.84 an ounce.
- Equate Vapor Ice® Severe Cold and Flu Combo Pack: The Daytime formula relieves minor aches, fever, nasal congestion, sinus pressure, cough and sore throat while the nighttime formula targets minor aches and pains, fever, nasal congestion, sinus congestion and pressure. It also gives you some financial relief, as this set is only $7.97.
More From GOBankingRates
- Dave Ramsey vs. Ramit Sethi: Who's Actually Right About Buying Too Much House?
- 6 Costco Deals That Make Your Everyday Life Feel Slightly More Luxurious
- 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)
- 6 Safe Accounts Proven to Grow Your Money Up to 13x Faster
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Pharmacy Items Seniors Should Always Buy in Bulk
