Own-brand medicines
Buy generic medicines. A 16-pack of Anadin Ultra Ibuprofen capsules costs £2.99. Own-brand aspirin from Sainsbury cost 33p.
Compare these headache tablet prices, all sold at Boots:
Anadin Paracetamol £2.29 Panadol Original £1.79
Boots Paracetamol £0.39
Value Health Paracetamol £0.16
Guess what? They all contain only one single active ingredient: paracetamol, and in the exact same concentration: 500 mg. There are no other active ingredients (such as codeine, aspirin or ibuprofen).
So what are you getting for the pricier options? Pick and choose from: prettier packaging, 'easy to swallow', tasty coating, interesting shape, or a recognised brand through advertisting campaigns (that is recouped through the unit price). But that's all - nothing that will have any more impact on your headache.
So, when buying common medicines, check the active ingredients and compare the prices. In the above example you would be paying an amazing 14 times more for Anadin over Value Health, for the same result.
Dental Treatment
The best way to save money on dental treatment is to avoid it. Clean at least twice a day and eat a teeth-friendly diet. A spoonful of sugar in your tea causes your teeth to decay for two hours. And salt is a greater cause of tooth decay than sugar. Never add salt to your food, add herbs instead.
When you need proper dental treatment, the cost can be a shock. Treatments including crowns, dentures and bridges are typically around £200 on the NHS. More complex work can get to four figures. So are you eligible for free treatment? You are if you are:
Under 18
18 years old and in full time education
Pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months
Receiving certain benefits
Or
On a low income
If none of these apply to you then be aware of two options open to you to reduce costs: Go abroad for treatment. Hungary has become a popular choice for cheap but quality treatment. Search the net or ask around for recommendations. Or look for your nearest UK 'dental hospital'. These offer dental care performed by students under supervision by senior dental staff. Each hospital operates its own booking and payment structures, so contact your nearest one and enquire.
Eye tests
If you work on a computer as a substantial part of your employment, or if tasks you do require you to use a high level of concentration when transferring/inputting data to a computer, your employer is obliged under health and safety legislation to pay for an annual eye test. If your optician says that you need glasses SPECIFICALLY for computer work (i.e. not just for reading or driving or general wear), your employer is also obliged to part pay for the glasses. They can nominate specific opticians or even bring eye-testing on-site.
Otherwise, it's possible to get a free eye test at Boots by joining the Boots Health Club online (which is free to join). Sign up here and fill in your details. Included in your welcome pack is a free eye test voucher (usual cost £20).
Glasses
Wear glasses? Check out Goggles4U for over 2000 frames for $25.99 including lenses, case and shipping. That's just £13 all in. How come so cheap? They are distributed from Pakistan and sold on-line for a low cost base - but they are reputable and good quality. If there is a problem with your glasses they offer a free replacement. Even better: enter this promotional code - y58767 - in the shopping cart at checkout to get a further 5% off. Then for every repeat order you can get a 15% discount.
The drawback of ordering online is that you cannot try the glasses on, but at an opticians you can expect to pay 10 times the price for the privilege. Buy 3 pairs from Goggles4U and you have still only spent £40.
Here's how to order:
(1) Find a frame of your size by using their search by size option.
(2) Enter your prescription online or fax or e-mail your presciption to them.
(3) Purchase your eyeglasses using paypal or credit card
Prescriptions
If you have to pay for your prescriptions and are paying regularly for two or more prescriptions per month then you can save money by purchasing an NHS Prepayment Certificate (PPC). A 4 month PPC is £34.65 and a 12 month PPC £95.30. Two prescriptions per month may cost around £160 per annum - buying a 12 month PPC would save £64.
Condoms for free
All family planning clinics and sexual health clinics give out free contraceptives as standard. Some of them just leave the open box in the waiting room and you can help yourself. Student Unions also normally have something similar. Stop buying them and locate your nearest clinic.
Hair and Massage
Fancy a haircut or massage for just £4?
Colleges that offer Hair, Beauty and Alternative Therapy courses typically have a commercial salon on their permises which they use to let students loose on the general public. The students get on-the-job learning, the college gets some income and the customers get treatments for one tenth of normal salon prices.
Check your local college of higher education for availability.