It’s bad enough you have to pay high premiums for health insurance, but you get doubly frustrated when you have to shell out a lot of money for prescriptions on top of that.

But there are ways to save money on those prescriptions if you look hard enough. Here are some simple ways to do it.

Search for Coupons

Even medications occasionally issue coupons. EpiPens, for instance, routinely give you coupons you can use to take up to $100 off each set you buy. While they can be expensive to buy, if you have a life-threatening allergy you have to have one to potentially save your life.

But those coupons can save you a chunk of change each time you use them.

Look for Generics

Everyone seems to think name brands are better, when it comes to clothes, food, and even medication. But the truth is many generics are just as good as the name brand medications they’re imitating.

Let’s pick on EpiPens again. There are generic epinephrine injectors that are a fraction of the cost of EpiPens. Ask your doctor to rewrite your prescription to include a generic epinephrine injector and you’ll save hundreds of dollars.

Never be shy about asking for generics – otherwise you’ll be practically flushing your money down the drain.

Maintain a Good Weight

This may seem like a surprising thing to include on this list. But your weight is important because it can influence how much medication you take. If you’re overweight, you might need medication for Type 2 diabetes or you might develop high blood pressure.

Those extra pounds can really add up. By getting some exercise daily and watching your portion sizes, you might be able to drop or reduce your medication levels. That would not only save you money but also make you feel better about yourself.

Eat Healthy

By eating healthy you can influence how much medicine you take. Your cholesterol levels are impacted by what you eat, in addition to any heredity factors that might make you prone to increased bad cholesterol levels.

Fruits and vegetables are known to lower cholesterol levels and so is eating fish a couple times a week. By cleaning up your diet, you might be cleaning up your financial worries as well.

Don’t Use Insurance

This tip might shock you, but sometimes you can buy your medications cheaper without using insurance.

Next time you fill a prescription, ask the pharmacist how much it would cost if you weren’t carrying any health insurance. For some of the medications, the cash, uninsured price will be cheaper. It may seem crazy, but it’s true.

To better protect yourself from this type of price gouging, you should learn to ask questions and educate yourself as a consumer. If you wait for companies to do the right thing and play fair, you may lose a small fortune before that happens.

If your savings could use a serious boost, but you don’t want to pick up any extra hours at work, it’s time to get creative. Saving or bringing in more money isn’t impossible – in fact, it’s downright easy to do sometimes.

Here are a few methods you can use to improve your bottom line.

Use Cashback Credit Card Rewards

If you’re going to use a credit card, you might as well use one that benefits you. Cashback credit cards offer the most bang for your buck.

If you use these credit cards for purchases, you can receive anywhere from 1 to 5 percent of your purchases back in cash. You get that for doing nothing more than shopping! How’s that for a deal?

To truly benefit from these types of credit cards though, you want to make sure you’re paying your balance off in full each month. If you’re carrying debt on that credit card from month to month, any savings you earn would be eaten away by the interest you’ll have to pay to your credit card company.

So use your card for groceries, gas, and anything else you would normally debit or pay cash for. And then when your bill comes around, pay it off.

Don’t Make Your Grocery List Until After You Review the Sales

If you prepare a menu each week to cut your grocery costs, congratulations! You’re already taking one of the most important steps you can to save money. But with a little more effort, you can take your savings to the next level.

Check out the weekly sales flyer before you prepare your menu. Try to use the most steeply discounted foods to make up the bulk of your menu. That will lock in even more savings for you.

Asking For Generics

If you’re on any medication at all, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is a generic alternative you could be using. By taking generic medication, you could save hundreds of dollars a year.

But prescriptions aren’t the only place where you can save on generic medications. It will also work with over-the-counter medications. Even brand names like Tylenol can be a dollar or two more than the generic medications that contain the same active ingredient.

Shopping Out Your Insurance

From time to time, you need to review your insurance needs. They don’t always stay the same year after year. Maybe you could get by with decreasing your life insurance a little as you get older, particularly if you’re starting to build up a sizeable amount of money in a 401k.

If you’re reviewing your insurance needs anyway, it’s a great time to shop around to see if you can find lower rates. Instead of just going with brick and mortar insurance companies in your city or town, you might want to consider purchasing your insurance online.

Are you saving for a big goal that’s rapidly approaching? Haven’t gotten as far on your savings as you’d hoped by now?

It’s not too late. There are always cost-saving measures you can take that can help you out of a jam quickly. Whether you have a vacation coming up or a big bill you’re worried you won’t be able to pay, try to cut corners using these methods.

Use a Coupon

If you’re going grocery shopping, look for any coupons that go with what you want to buy. Even if it saves you 50 cents per item, it can add up. Take that money you saved and set it aside for your goal.

Live Off the Pantry

When money is really tight and you’re trying to reach a short-term goal, live off the food you already have in the freezer or the pantry. It might not be your top pick, but you won’t spend anything extra to have your meals.

You may have to get creative to make all the ingredients come together, but it could be a fun challenge.

Use Your Feet

Try to avoid driving or taking public transportation as much as you can. Walk to your destinations instead. It’ll save you on fare money or on burning up gas.

Sell Something

If it’s been a while since you looked through your closet, take stock of what you have and what you no longer need. Then get busy trying to sell it online.

Take On Extra Hours

Ask your employer if there is any way you can pick up an extra shift at work for the week. Explain that money is really tight and you could use the overtime. The answer might be no, but you should at least explore that option.

Eat at Home for One Week

If you’re a fan of having meals out, try to eat all your meals at home for a week. You’ll be able to save a significant chunk of change.

Look for Free Entertainment

Make a vow you’re not going to spend any money on entertainment until you reach your short-term savings goal. There is always free entertainment you can find if you look hard enough.

Only Use Cash

You can be tempted to overspend when you carry your credit cards around. It can feel like you’re not spending real money and it’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve spent. Carry cash instead so you don’t get carried away. It’s a lot harder to part with cash.

Look At Your Budget

If you’re trying to cut corners, take a hard look at your budget. You might want to drop some extras, like Netflix or your gym membership. Be ruthless and think of your savings goal while you’re making decisions.

Skip the Booze

If you’re an occasional drinker or you like to hit the bottle almost every day, you can save a chunk of change by stopping, even just for a week.

Money adds up quickly when you’re buying alcohol. If you drink in clubs or bars, it can get expensive after your first drink. Even if you buy a cheap bottle of wine to enjoy at home, you can still save by skipping it for a while.