How to Save Money on Toiletries

Toiletries make up a significant portion of our monthly budget for groceries. Soap, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, body powder, toothpaste, mouthwash and related items are basic necessities that we purchase on a regular basis. How to save money on grooming products? Here are some tips.

Things You'll Need

• Discount coupons
• Storage space

Instructions

1. Buy in bulk. You will always need toiletries. Instead of buying retail, which is more expensive because of the packaging, buy your toiletries in bulk. Family-size items are less expensive per unit of measure compared to regular-sized versions.

2. Minimize wastage. Wasting toiletries is wasting money. Know how much shampoo can adequately wash your hair, or how much liquid soap can adequately wash your hands. Pumping more than what you really need is literally throwing money down the drain. So is throwing out a tube of toothpaste that still has a good number of squeezes left.

3. Use discount coupons. Discount coupons for toiletries are everywhere--be sure to take advantage of them. Look in the Sunday paper. Check the weekly promotional flyers at the supermarket. Leaf through the junk mail that finds its way into your mailbox every week. Look inside the product packaging itself for discounts on your next purchase. Mind the store shelves--some supermarkets have coupon dispensers attached to the display shelves.

4. Buy sale items. Never buy toiletries at regular price. Always keep an eye out for promos, special sales and store discounts. If you stock up when the prices are low, you won't have to do emergency regular-price shopping when you suddenly run out of necessities like deodorant or razor blades.

5. Consider store brands. Compare your favorite name-brand lotions, feminine products and other toiletries with the store brand kind. If there isn't much difference in quality and performance, why pay more for the name brand?

6. Explore other brands and new products. Many of us are creatures of habit, sticking to one brand of aftershave, mouthwash or cotton buds. Meanwhile, toiletry manufacturers are constantly creating and refining product offerings to stay competitive. Find time to try different brands and new products--you might discover one better and cheaper than your current brand.

Tips & Warnings

• When buying in bulk, consider splitting the wholesale purchase with a friend or family member. This way you can avail of the discount, but not have to stock too much for a long time.

• When trying out new products or different brands, purchase a small container first. After you've decided that you're happy with your new discovery, go ahead and stock up with family-size containers or bulk quantities.

• Advise all members of the family to be conscious of wastage. Since toiletries are used and consumed daily, wasting a little a day adds up to a lot (and a lot of wasted money) in the long run.

Resources

• CosmeticsandToiletries.com