You can see the entire stock up prices series here.
I wrote a post on Stock Up prices for Meat this weekend and now its time for toiletries. I wrote this post over a year ago and some prices have changed a bit.
Today, I am going to cover toiletries. Toiletries can mean alot of things, so I am going to cover a wide variety of items. Also, I will list my stock up prices vs. my buy prices for these.
Also, remember these prices are for items bought at drugstores, not high end products.
The buy price is the absolute max I will pay for the product. (unless there is an absolute dire emergency, but when you have a stockpile like mine, that doesn’t happen often) The stock up price is my normal buy price – meaning this is what I would normally pay and I would buy more than 1. Of course, there are always opportunity to do better than these prices. Your prices may vary.
Toilet Paper Double Roll $.50 buy price, $.25 stock up price (toliet paper is such a pain. It is not all created equal and it is hard to compare)
Shampoo (Regular Price $4.99 and under) $1.00 buy price, $.50 stock up price
Shampoo (Regular Price $5.00 or more) $1.75 buy price
Conditioner (Regular Price $4.99 and under) $1.00 buy price, $.50 stock up price
Conditioner (Regular Price $5.00 or more) $1.75 buy price
Soap $.50 a bar buy price, $.25 stock up price
Shower Gel $1.00 buy price, $.50 stock up price
Deodorant: $1.00 buy price, $.50 stock up price (does not include Suave)
Suave Deodorant: $.50 buy price, $.25 stock up price
Toothpaste: $.50 buy price, FREE stock up (You can always get free toothpaste!)
Mouthwash: $1.50 buy price, $1.00 stock up price
Toothbrush Manual; $.50 buy price, FREE stock up
Toothbrush Disposable Electric: $2.50 buy price, $1.00 stock up price
Whitening Rinse: $2.00 buy price, $1.00 stock up price
Kotex: $1.00 buy price, FREE stock up(there are just too many opportunities for free Kotex)
Shaving Cream: $1.00 buy price, $.50 stock up price
Razors: (Disposable) $.50 each, FREE stock up price
Razors : (such as the Fusion, Venus regular price $9.99) $2.99 buy price, $1.99 stock up price
There are so many others, put a note in the comments to what toiletries you want to know my buy prices for!
Make sure you check out the Buy Prices for Meat as well!
Laurel H. says
I’d like to know if these are still your stock-up prices. It seems as if coupons are worth less now, than they were at the time you wrote this. Sales do not seem to be as good, as well.
anna says
I am so new and I need to know how to get these stock prices!. I do use coupons and watch sales but i must be missing something, if you can get all most all this for almost free.. I must need to take a class.
Shannon says
@anna,
Where do you live Anna?
Dawn says
Shannon, I know I’m late to the party with this one, but my hubby has to have Cottonelle wipes and I’d love to know your thoughts on buy/stock-up prices on those.
krissy says
@Dawn, i dont pay more than 50 cents for the cottonelle wipes but that is because i have gotten many catalinas lately for a free pack, I’ve gotten ones for $2 off which makes them about 50cents each with that coupon. They go on sale 2/5 alot..well atleast at my store. HTH
Sylvia says
Hi. I’m a newbie at serious couponing and reading your blog has been very helpful. Thank you for everything! Now, I’d like to know what would be your buy/stockup prices for Sure deodorant and Quilted Northern toilet paper? The hubby is very particular about the toiletries he uses.
Heather says
this is awesome! thanks! :)
Heather says
this is awesome thanks :)
Maria says
I just starting couponing in late October and already have a pretty decent stockpile. I share with my parents, brother, sister (who also coupons with me) and my mother in law. Its really great to be able to have a guide to know if I’m really getting a good deal. Thanks for all your help
Toni LaFrankie says
I have been doing this for about a year and half, following your posts. I did realize that each good sale will come again but if you don’t stock you may run out ( i have 15 toothbrushes, 10 toothpastes but I am out of shampoo!),
I am so excited that you have posted this cheat sheet it will make my shopping trip so much easier! Thanks~!
hazelann says
I find coupons for eucerin and aquaphor at the pediatrician’s office.
Candice Hudson says
Dish Soap, Dishwasher Soap, Hand soap. You are right. Toiletries is a big category :) Unfortunately for me I have to have sensitive toothpaste and can’t stand it if it’s not a gel (I know.. picky), none scented lotion I have severely dry skin so I use Eucerin as I’m allergic to some other kinds (yes I just bought $20 worth for $10ECB’s from CVS! with $3 worth of coupons attached of course ) And starting out when you already need things and a limited budget is hard!
Andy says
@Candice Hudson,
Tell me about it, something smelly bc it is free will cost me tons more in meds; I c plp bragging about free gillette shower gel, free gain and I am like $100.00 on sinus meds and $100.00 on things to bring my skin back all from the free stuff I got and can’t use.
Lol
don’t fell bad my toothpaste is never on sale or there are any coupons for it.
I am getting an idea since I am not alone in my senssitivety.
Susannah H says
Thank you SO MUCH for doing these back to basics posts! I have just started using coupons seriously and really needed the best prices to stock up on everything. Thank you!
Jessica says
I was wondering about contact solution. I never see coupons for the kind I have to use since I wear rigid gas-permeable and can’t use the solution for soft lenses. Any suggestions on how to save? Or am I doing the best I can buying store brand (which still costs over $5 a bottle)?
ariana says
@Jessica, you best bet for that is to pay for it with ECBS, RR or Ups (any rewards) ALSO, check the MQR website or even calling CS. They sometimes will send you coupons- just gotta ask.
Marta says
As far as toiletries go, do you find that store brands tend to work just as well, or are there items that you will NOT buy if it’s store brand?
And thank you for all the helpful tips. As a beginner, the lessons are so helpful!
FrenchEmerald says
@Marta,
I used to only buy store brand dishwashing powder and would complain to my husband how ineffective our dishwasher was … then I started couponing and was able to purchase the Nice Expensive dishwasher tabs for less than the store brand price and guess what?? my dishwasher cleans my dishes like a charm now! :D … so IMO yes, there is Def a difference!
FrenchEmerald says
@Marta,
one other thing I’ve noticed is contact lens solution .. again, I used to buy store brand (Equate) b/c it was the cheapest .. now with my coupons I can get the more expensive contact solution for less than store brand and I have noticed a Big difference in how much longer I can wear my contacts on a daily basis and how much cleaner they stay during the day.
hth :D
Raina says
@FrenchEmerald, I found the same thing with contact solution. I used to buy brand name, then tried generic for while and found that the name brand does help your contacts to last much longer!
Marta says
@FrenchEmerald, ok, well that helps! and I’ve been using store brand contact solutions for about a year now…wonder what would happen if I switched back. I have a few coupons, so might as well realize what I’ve been missing :) LOL! Thanks!
Leanne says
Thank you for everything you do especially these back to basics series!
Sheri says
I’d love to see your buy prices on lotion. I know that they can vary widely but . . . . .
danielle says
Agree….She is great!!!! I have always used coupons and hunted the deals, but have gotten sooo much beeter w/ the help of this site :)
Mary says
Thanks! This is very helpful.
Samantha says
Love it! I’m right on target with your list.
Maybe it’s not toiletries, but what about OTC meds?
Shannon says
@Samantha,
oh give me some ideas.. like advil and stuff like that?
sandra says
@Shannon, I agree, I was searching for a good deal (like *good*) for tylenol or even offbrand for months and finally just got some on a bogo sale.
Samantha says
@Shannon, Yes things like that. Hmmm, guess that is a pretty wide topic since the prices vary so much brand to brand. Hardest thing I found to get was Infant medicine. Children’s OTC often have deals, but didn’t always include infant varieties. I guess we should stock up when we can during the Rite Aid OTC Free After SCR week or two! ;)
Laura says
Thank you! I am printing this off for my coupon book
Laura says
THANK YOU!!! I am printing this for my coupon book!
Hazel-Ann says
I have been couponing for 1 year now and there are a few items on your list that I won’t buy unless they are free. These are the toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash and deodorants. I’ll pay up to $1.00 for some hair products and body lotions, but only with “reward” money, like the UPs, RRs or ECBs, not real cash.
Shannon says
@Hazel-Ann,
LOL Hazel-Ann at Rewards Money — right I use UPs for everything, but ultimately, I am still “paying” the $$ amount – we have learned how to roll our rewards – I think it would be unfair to say we got them totally free for a newbie – remember this is back to basics, for basic couponing– I think when you say you don’t pay for anything, it can make some people feel inadequate and I really hate when bloggers say they get everything for free.
We really are paying for it – in some way or another. The only way its free is if the purchase price and coupons and rewards all net to zero. (rewards from that individual item)
So while you are seasoned, many readers are just getting started and to say that I don’t pay anything would never encourage them.
Hazel-Ann says
@Shannon,
Oh..don’t get me wrong. I’ve spent real money on my adventure, and I couldn’t get here without spending $$. But now that I’ve built that stockpile, I can sit pretty and wait for that sale. Patience is not one of my virtues, and it did take ONE whole year but it was fun, fun, fun. :)
Shannon says
you know what is great.. I wish that you could explain that to everyone. It would make things so much easier.. Like trying to teach someone that they have to buy 10 deodorants when they see them for $.25 is such a hard concept to get through to be picky about what they pay?
What was the most helpful for you to make you understand that?
Hazel-Ann says
@Shannon,
Truthfully, one year ago I did not have a budget. I would buy what I wanted whenever I wanted. Only after my husband lost his job (the business place he worked at closed), I became aware that we had to be more frugal and I set myself a budget. I started shopping the “deals” only and was able to get free deodorant at CVS. I spent maybe 100.00 to get 200.00 worth of stuff in that first month, and messed up on a few scenarios at RA, but I was very excited to KNOW that this couponing thingamajig I heard about, read about actually worked. As the months went by I spent less and less, but got more and more stuff. I was also excited to share my new found skills with my sister who jumped right on board. It was a game to me and I loved winning. Only after I physically donated ALL my extras to a family who lost their home in a fire, my heart changed! (yes after!) I had an “OMG what did I just do” moment, but it felt great and I realized I could build this up again. I was very analytical, planned my scenarios and fell in love with RA. Oh..and I bought extra newspapers! :)
Anisa says
Now, now, now…you didn’t always win! Maybe at first but I’ve had quite a few victories ;) Luv ya sis and absolutely love this site…
Hazel-Ann says
@Anisa,
Of course Sissy! :)
Leighann says
@Shannon,
For me, it was simply doing the math. I saw that I could get 10 deodorants for 25c each all at once, or I could get 10 deodorants for $2.50 each spread out over a longer period of time. That meant that I’d have 10 deodorants in my house and NO chance of running out, but it also meant finding space to put them (in my less than 900 sq ft place with 4 people!). Overall, the savings won out.
Leighann says
@Shannon,
That’s one reason I love this blog so much. There are a couple other that I read that make a big deal out of getting items for free, but over here you always stipulate “free if….” It’s not exactly free if you paid out $10 to get all the items, got a $5 +UP reward for spending that, and got more items with the up reward. Your price-per-item just drops.
Marta says
would love to know prices for lotions. my girls have sensitive skin, so I have to buy Aveeno or Eucerin. What seems like a fair price for those?
Shannon says
@Marta,
Aveeno and Eucerin are tough – however, there are deals I would say it would be similar to a shampoos I listed above.. the cheaper lotions would be the same as cheap shampoo and the more expensive the same as $4.99 up shampoos. HTH.
Marta says
yep, thanks for the insight!
Erin says
This isn’t toiletries but what about paper towels and laundry soap? I need to buy unscented laundry soap (like All Free and Clear), Tide Free, etc. I wondered what your stockup prices would be for those.
Shannon says
@Erin,
coming next post :)
Monica says
@Erin,
I wanna know too, since it’s the only detergent my husband tolerates. He’s super picky about smells but also has a skin condition. It’s currently on sale at Albertson’s $6.99 for 64oz – $1/1 Q. I’m wondering if it’s a price worth buying or should I wait.
Thanks!
Cost Cutters on Facebook says
you’re great!