Having essential items at the ready for your last-minute needs comes at a price. Researchers have found that convenience stores charge 11 percent more than grocery stores for the same item. Similarly, drugstores often charge higher prices than you’ll find for the same item at a supermarket or big-box store.
If you regularly find yourself popping into the convenience store or the pharmacy, take note of that spending and start planning ahead for those purchases. It may take a bit more energy to drop into the grocery store when you only need a few items, but the savings might be worth the tradeoff.