11 things youre paying way too much for (and how to save instead)

11 things youre paying way too much for (and how to save instead)11 things youre paying way too much for (and how to save instead)When it comes to buying everyday necessities, you rarely question the prices because theyre must-haves in your life. Even when an item isnt a necessity, you may still want a specific thing and dont think twice about what youre paying. However, there are a few things that youre definitely paying way too much for. Keep these seven overpriced items on your list because you can save a lot of money on them every time you head to the store.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and mora1. IbuprofenAccording toGoodRx, the average retail price of Ibuprofen is about $13.89. If youre constantly reaching for personenname brand bottles like Advil or Motrin, you could save bybuying the generic brandinstead. The ingredients are often exactly the same, yet name brands often mark u p the price by15 to 30 percent. So if youre tired of overpaying for no reason, talk to a pharmacist and find the cheaper brand thats right for you.Pro tipGoodRxhas a ton of coupons that you can quickly download to save on both over-the-counter and prescription medicines.2. Laundry DetergentLike ibuprofen, name brands often mark up their prices on laundry detergent, so you might be overpaying on those bottles and pods. To save, buy in bulk at awholesale club store like Costcoor on Amazon, and always use a coupon. Even better,consider making your own laundry detergentat home to save over 25 cents per load.3. ToothbrushesLets be real - paying for a toothbrush could be one of the biggest wastes of money ever. If youre good about going to the dentist at least two times per year, then you should be getting a free toothbrush every six months. Even though you should really be swapping it outevery three months or so, only needing to buy two toothbrushes per year instead of four can help sav e you money.Pro tip Ask your dentist for two free toothbrushes at your six-month checkup to save even mor.4. WineIts no secret that wine by the glass at a restaurant is often insanely overpriced. In fact, it can bemarked up 400 percentper glass compared to the price youd pay if you bought the bottle yourself at a store or from a distributor. Save by buying wine in bulkandthen bringing it to a BYO restaurant.5. ElectricityWhile it may not feel like it, youre most likely overpaying for your electricity. From leavingenergy vampiresplugged in to forgetting to turn off the light when you leave a room, it can add up. Simply upgrading toLED bulbs, smart plugs and other techcan save you hundreds of dollars over the next several years.6. JewelryDiamonds can costbetween 50 and 200 percent morethan their wholesale prices, so be prepared to drop a pretty penny at that jewelry store. If you can buy directly from a wholesale company, go for it. Other ways to save include compromising on the vario us factors that determine the diamonds worth or even buying them online.7. MakeupThat concealer you love could actually be worth78 percentless than youre paying for it. Makeup is often marked up a lot and it might not always be worth it. So dont hesitate to try lesser-known, budget-friendly brands that may have the same ingredients in them and stock up on free samples.8. BooksIt really onlycosts a few bucks to print a book, so paying full price for a brand new paperback could be a total ripoff. Instead, sign up for your local library and pay nothing to read the latest work from your favorite author. If youre more of a digital person, Amazon offers a ton of e-books for a third or less of what theyd cost in print.9. Clothes And ShoesDesigner jeans can often be marked upmore than 80 percentfrom what it actually costs to make them, while sneakers might only cost$15 to makewhen theyre sold for $70 or more. Save money on both clothes and shoes by shopping sample sales, usingChrome extensi onsfor the best coupons or evenbuying items gently used.10. ProduceYour local grocery store might be ripping you off by marking up the prettiest produce byas much as 75 percent. Yep, people will pay more for the prettiest produce, while the oddly-shaped rejects can be bought for50 percent off. Save by seeking out the ugly fruits and veggies. If you cant find them, ask the manager. There might be budget-friendly bananas in the backPro tip Dont even think about going for the pre-cut stuff. Its even more overpriced11. CardsIf youve gone to the store to buy a birthday, anniversary, graduation or greeting card lately, then youre well aware that they arent cheap. Cards can often cost upwards of $6 even without the fancy music playing from them. So head to the dollar store instead, where you can end up paying at least 80 percent less on one card.Before buying anything, do your research to see what it actually costs to produce it and then what the average retail price is at the store. You c ould save a lot of money by buying items with smaller profit margins and lower markups. However, not every item will have a more budget-friendly option for sale, sostick to couponingand shopping with a smart strategy, too.This article originally appeared on Swirled.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from jngste Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people