Regardless of whether we avail ourselves of free nationalized healthcare or a private scheme, there is one thing that remains a constant source of annoyance, and that is the cost of prescription medications. Whether it’s something that has officially been prescribed or something suggested by the doctor, medicines are essential, which means they often come with a high and unavoidable price tag. That said, there are some commonsense steps we can take to drastically minimize the cost of prescription medication.

Buy Generic

Make no mistake, both doctors and pharmacies will try to encourage you to buy a name brand medication. Not only is it more money going through the counter at the pharmacy, but ethical considerations aside, many healthcare professionals will receive bonuses from wholesalers or manufacturers. However, according to the FDA, there is often very little apart from fancy packaging that differentiates generic and affordable medication from its branded counterpart, costing as much as 10 or 20 times the price. If a doctor prescribes a drug, it is worth jotting down the name of the active ingredient and insisting on the generic variant when making a purchase. Unless there is a different milligram or dosage amount, there is literally no difference between the two.

Is The Prescription Cheaper?

This is something we often take for granted. The doctor writes a prescription, then we take it to the pharmacy and go home. But we’re often paying an inflated amount for something we can actually just buy over the counter for a fraction of the price. Some doctors will even write a prescription for paracetamol, available for small change, yet often sold with an exorbitant price tag on a prescription basis. Of course, the majority of doctors will hopefully avoid this counter-productive activity, and pharmacies will often encourage customers to make a purchase ‘off prescription’ in order to save money. Unfortunately, however, there are some unscrupulous healthcare professionals who will happily let us pay over the odds.

Buy Online

This is something that many people do, yet others frown upon or simply do not consider. While in many countries with nationalized healthcare, the cost of a prescription is the same online or in-store, for private prescriptions or countries without free healthcare, the difference can be massive. Physical pharmacies have more overheads and often buy in smaller amounts due to limited space, sending the price tag skyrocketing. A quick online search will often find the same medication for a fraction of the price, from an accredited and legal online pharmacy that has far fewer overheads and sends thousands of units out every day. Furthermore, the wait times are only a fraction longer than a lot of physical locations. It’s not unusual to have to return later the same day or another day altogether, either because the stock is low or a pharmacist is not physically present. Most online pharmacies will have a ‘next day delivery’ option. No more trawling to the pharmacy with our ailments only to go home empty-handed.

Many online pharmacies, in a very convenient move, now also offer a repeat prescription service at no extra cost. This basically means that if we are expecting to have two renew our prescription for, let’s say, inhalers on a quarterly basis, we no longer need to visit our doctor to pick up a prescription and repeat the process every few months. The online pharmacy will either be proactively sent the order by the doctor, or their reminder system will ensure the doctor is contacted and the medication sent out promptly. They will also likely offer a volume discount on repeat prescriptions, so paying upfront will save a hefty chunk of change.

In summary, the days of wondering whether an online pharmacy is legitimate are thankfully largely behind us. For anyone looking to save money on healthcare, going online should be the first port of call.

In his seminal work The Art of War, Sun Tzu proclaims that battles are won or lost before they are even fought. Well, it’s admittedly a rather pedestrian application of this wisdom — there are no warriors, battlefields, or Hans Zimmer soundtracks in this scenario — but make no mistake: big box stores that claim to be our very best friends in the world have invested heavily in the science of getting us to buy more than we want or need to. Here are three especially insidious (yet also especially effective) tactics from the retail customer manipulation playbook:

1. Crazy bargains up front.

How many times have you wandered into a big box store, looked at a ridiculous, crazy bargain — like a top quality Sherpa throw for $10 or a great lawnmower for $100 — and said to yourself: “what’s the catch?” 

It’s like this: as far as these front-of-the-store bargains go, there’s (usually) no catch. And if you simply buy them and leave, then you’ll be in Sun Tzu’s winner circle. But guess what? The vast majority of people don’t buy these items. Instead, they think: “hey, since these items are so cheap, then this store must be full of deep discounts!”. Except, well, it really isn’t; at least, not to such an extreme extent. But once the perception is there, customers end up filling their cart with all kinds of stuff that they didn’t intend to buy. And speaking of carts…

2. Carts just keep getting bigger and bigger.

If you go back in time — and not centuries here, but just a couple of decades — and enter any big box retailer, you’ll be surprised by how tiny the carts were. Actually, back then they were normally sized. Today, however, they’re giant sized for the simple (and indeed, scheming) reason that some customers will literally keep putting stuff in their cart until it’s full; otherwise, they don’t feel that their shopping experience is complete. What’s more, some customers feel a sense of “cart inferiority” is they only have a few items, while the person in front or behind them at the checkout line has an overflowing cart.  

3. Putting basic items at the back.

Have you ever wondered why retailers put basic items way, way back in the store — like grocery staples such as milk and butter, or houseware staples like fuses and AC/furnace filters? Be assured that it’s not random. Retailers put this stuff in the back, so that customers are obligated to wade past aisles and displays. That’s why folks who only need to pick up a stick of butter end up coming home with all kinds of weird stuff, like a singing rubber fish or (yet another) power drill. 

The Bottom Line

Nothing above suggests you should live in fear of big box retailers — although frankly, you can buy everything from milk to furniture to lighting kits for a Ford Raptor online these days. Rather, you just need to be mindful and aware of the games that retailer play.  (and it doesn’t hurt to know where you can get freebies, either!).  

Every year, thousands of entrepreneurs decide to start new businesses. Some are successful; a good many aren’t. One of the key factors in determining business success is geographic location. Yes, the internet has changed the nature of commerce as we know it. Nevertheless, where your business sets up shop can have a big effect on its long-term viability. Additionally, business leaders must understand how to make the most of their given location. With that in mind, today we’re going to take a look at how ambitious entrepreneurs can launch a startup in a small town. Here are four tips worth remembering:

Engage with the Community

If you’ve ever lived in a small town, then you know the communities there can be extremely insulated. As such, it’s imperative for any new business owner to make connections with other business owners, local officials, and as many consumers as possible. This goes double for out-of-towners. Breaking into a small community can be difficult –– at first –– but once you’ve achieved this, you should be able to develop a loyal customer base.

Tailor Your Message

As marketing and advertising methods have grown more sophisticated over time, businesses have managed to tailor their brand message to their specific customer base. And it’s only natural that companies operating in a small town should craft a brand identity that resonates with the locals. Hiring a few professionals who are familiar with the area can help you court customers effectively. Lastly, business owners may also consider reaching out for professional market research help from companies like Communications for Research, for instance.

Diversify Marketing Efforts

Marketing to a small-town audience is quite different to marketing to a national customer base. Therefore, traditional marketing techniques — like billboards, newspaper, television, and radio advertisements — can have a big impact on your sales numbers in a small town. However, it’s also a good idea for new companies invest in SEO and digital marketing. That way, new consumers will be able to locate your business and patronize it.

Focus on Service

It doesn’t take long for word to spread around a small town. While all businesses should make the customer a priority and adopt a customer-first mentality, small businesses in tight-knit communities must treat their patrons with special attention. Remember, companies that are located in big cities have a better chance of replacing customers over time. Businesses in little towns don’t have that same luxury. So make it a point to focus on customer retention at all times!