Big-box retailers and grocery stores have better deals

MarketWatch offers a handy guide for what not to buy at the corner Walgreens and other convenient ripoff shops. Chain drugstores’ ever-surging revenues—estimated to have reached $160 billion in 2013—are buoyed by huge markups on common items. Here are a few things you should be buying at big-box and grocery stores, whose prices are almost always lower.

Drugs

Consumer Reports found that both prescription and over-the-counter drugs are cheaper at stores like Wal-Mart and Target, reports MarketWatch.

Food

A pint of Ben & Jerry’s is priced at an average $5.52 at drugstores, but just $4.42 at grocery stores, a 25 percent difference. “Every item we looked at was more expensive at the drugstore,” MarketWatch quoted consumer lawyer Edgar Dworsky, who founded ConsumerWorld.org.

Makeup

Many popular makeup products have been found to cost $1 to $4 more at drugstores than other retailers.

Cleaning products

Drugstores generally charge more for laundry and dishwashing detergent, spray cleaners and other cleaning products than other retailers.

Office and gift supplies

Head to a dollar store to save up to 70 percent on gift-wrap, greeting cards and office stuff. Office supply stores also offer better deals than drugstores.