Feeling bogged down by the cost of contact lenses?
A quarter of young adults wear contact lenses, as well as people in other age groups, too. But although contacts are popular, they can start to get pricey. Luckily, there are ways to save money on contact lenses – and I’m here to show you how to do it.
Ready to start spending less on contacts so you’ll have more money for other things? Keep reading for my top tips to save on the cost of contact lenses!
1. Shop Online
One of the best ways to spend less on your lenses is to do some online shopping. Nearly everything is available at low cost online, and contacts are no exception.
Even brand names like Acuvue contact lenses can be found online. If you buy your contacts in bulk or join a membership club on many websites, you can save even more.
When you shop online, you can also easily track your spending by saving your emailed receipts. Look for online discount codes to see if you can save a bit more – for example, your favorite brand might go on sale.
However, you should make sure that you know the brand you’re buying online. Different contact brands can affect your eyes differently, so get recommendations from your eye doctor and then use those when you shop online.
2. Save Your Prescription
When ordering contacts online or from any store, you’ll need to have a copy of your prescription in hand. Make sure to save your latest prescription so you won’t need to go through the trouble of getting your eye doctor to give you a new one.
3. Consider Using FSA Money
Some employers will offer an FSA: a flexible spending account. If yours does, you can put money in the account and then use it for certain health expenses, including prescription contacts and necessary accessories.
With FSA accounts, the most important thing is that you use up your saved dollars before they reach their expiration date. You should use them throughout the year, rather than hoarding them until the end of the year, when you’ll struggle to actually use them all.
FSA accounts work in different ways. Some will let you use a prepaid debit card, while others have you pay the money up front and then reimburse you. Make sure to find out how your account works so you can factor that into your budget.
4. Ask About Price Matching
Buying contacts at your eye doctor’s office can be a convenient one-stop option. However, if their lenses are more expensive than the ones you find online, ask if they will do a price match.
You can also ask a local optical shop if they’ll match the prices you find online. You’ll save on shipping costs if you can get the same prices in the store, and you won’t have to plan ahead to make sure your contacts arrive on time.
Many stores are willing to price match rather than risk losing you as a customer, so make sure to ask any time you find a lower price online
5. Ask for Samples
Your eye doctor might be able to give you a free sample of a brand you’re thinking about trying. Not only is that a free pair of lenses, but you’ll also be able to try out new brands that you’ve seen online and see if they’ll work for you.
6. Try a Less Expensive Brand
The more expensive brands aren’t necessarily better for your eyes. Compare reviews online to see if there’s a less expensive brand you should try. You can also ask your eye doctor if there’s a cheaper brand that they recommend for you.
Of course, if the cheaper brand isn’t comfortable or doesn’t seem to work as well, you don’t have to stick with it. But it never hurts to give one a try.
7. Use Coupons
Coupons aren’t just good for the grocery store. You can also redeem coupons for contacts at many different retailers.
Many online coupon sites aggregate coupons for all kinds of different products, including contacts. You can also use coupons at chain stores and big box stores. You can even see if your vision insurance company has any discounts available. Contact solution can get expensive, but you can often find coupons for that, too.
8. Try Big-Box Retailers
It’s good to support local retailers. However, they often charge more than the big stores. To save money on contacts, consider buying them at Costco, Target, or a similar big store.
They can also give you eye exams and write prescriptions, often for less than your local doctor. This saves you time since you’ll probably be able to afford to get your prescription and your lenses in the same place.
9. Take Care of Your Contacts
The more you take care of your lenses, the longer they’ll last. This ensures you won’t have to replace them as often, so you’ll be able to save money.
Make sure to clean and store them properly, according to what your eye doctor recommends. This doesn’t mean you should keep wearing contacts after they’re damaged or worn out, though. Eye problems will cost a lot more than the cost of a new pair of lenses. Stretch your contacts as long as you can, but not so much that your eyes will be compromised.
Ready to Save on the Cost of Contact Lenses?
Saving on contact lenses is easy, and worth it. With these simple tips, you can save on the cost of contact lenses, so you’ll have more money for other things you need.
If saving on contacts is part of a bigger strategy to get your finances in order, that’s great! An expense tracker can help you stay on track: find out more here.