Should you buy your drugs at a drug store? Probably not. What NOT to pick up there...

While a lot of drug stores carry just about everything – that doesn’t mean you should buy it there. 

Here is a list of items to buy elsewhere:

• Drugs: It may sound ironic but a recent secret shopper survey found that some of the chain drug stores actually had the highest prices for many of the most common name brand and generic prescription drugs. The same was true for over-the-counter medications.

• Food: Unless it’s on sale, that ice cream, milk, coffee and cereal will cost significantly less in a grocery store.

• Makeup: Prices may be as much as a dollar higher at a convenience drug store than at a big box retailer like Target or Wal-Mart. 

• Cleaning Products: That includes laundry and dishwasher detergent, spray cleaners and supplies. Those items are significantly less in most supermarkets.

• Office, school and gift supplies: These items can be up to 70% less in a discount store. 

If it sounds like just about everything costs more in a drug store - that is often the case. However, most chain drug stores do offer excellent rewards programs and may have unbeatable specials from time to time and it’s hard to compete with their convenience.