Whether you just failed an eye exam and found out you need glasses, or you're just looking for a new set, you're probably wondering how to save money on glasses and contact lenses.
You have to pay money to be able to see, of all things. And, unfortunately, this is a cost that will need to be paid no matter how expensive the eye doctors and manufacturers make it.
So since you have no choice but to pay for the cost of glasses and contact lenses, we here at Money Goody would like to share with you some great tips for saving money on glasses and contact lenses that will save you some extra money.
Consider Buying Online
Here’s the secret to getting your glasses and contacts a whole lot cheaper. Because there’s technically no middle man involved in this (your eye doctor who has tons of bills to pay for himself), this option is a much better deal than what you’d find in a store.
All that you need for this is your glasses or contact’s prescription, your glasses size, and anything else that might be important to have with you before you decide to make the purchase online.
Obviously you won’t have the extra help of somebody in the office to size you up, but this option will most definitely save you a lot of money in the end.
A couple great online companies that sell glasses and contact lenses include:
Another great tip would be to Google any of these companies online to see if they are having any sort of promotion. Many online retailers will have certain promotional codes that will save you a percentage if you can find them! I’d check their specific website first, and then Google.
Start Becoming Coupon Crazy
Speaking of finding coupons or promotions online, we’d suggest looking for deals and savings in the mail or even in your local newspaper. Sometimes you can find a gold mine in places you never thought to look!
You know those Value Packs that come through the mail to almost everybody’s address at some point? If you scan through those booklets, you might find savings for places nearby your house or even through online companies.
As we mentioned above, you can also do a Google search to find specific coupons. If you have a certain company or brand that you like best, try a Google search with the words “coupons 2016” to see what comes up. You really never know what you might find.
Ask Your Insurance Company
You know that saying that is often thrown around, “If you don’t ask the answer is always no?” This is a situation where you have the chance to ask for something that could save you a lot of money. The worst that they can say is no.
If you pay for vision insurance every month, you might as well ask them to see if they have any special deals or rates for members.
Don’t expect to get glasses or contacts free from this, but you could be missing out on savings you never would have found if you hadn’t called.
Ask Your Eye Doctor
As we said before, if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. This particular bit of wisdom involves asking your doctor as well.
He or she makes a good bit of money from selling you lenses or frames; however, don’t cross them off of your list just yet in regards to helping you find cheaper options.
If you’ve been seeing the same eye doctor for a long period of time, you’ve probably built up some sort of loyalty with him or her and they know you much more personally. They will be much more likely to help you find a discount or a deal in this case.
Even if you just started seeing an eye doctor, we would still suggest that you ask. They know how expensive glasses and contacts can be and might understand the struggle of the price of these necessities.
Look for Sales
This advice goes for anyone looking to shop for just about anything. If you are looking for a deal and you have the opportunity to wait, try to figure out when certain offices or companies will have sales.
This could be at various times of the year. We recommend asking friends or family in the area to see if they know of any times when offices or companies generally have sales.
Don’t Buy More than What You Need
This might go without saying, but with eye-care you shouldn’t be spending more than what you have to on glasses or contact lenses. Make sure that you are buying only what you need.