How to Save Money in Your Daily Routine with an HSA or FSA

It feels like every time we turn a corner, another basic has shot up in price (eggs for $6? Seriously?). So while we’re managing the skyrocketing cost of living, we’re hunting for any way to free up some space in our budget. One option is an HSA or FSA account, which could make it easier to afford daily essentials (plus some wellness nice-to-haves) with pre-tax funds. 

With that in mind, we’ve gathered up some HSA/FSA-eligible finds that fit within your everyday routine. If you’re going to have to purchase them anyway, why not use your pre-tax dollars and save a little cash?

Skincare Basics

You can use your HSA or FSA for skincare products used to prevent, treat, or diagnose a medical condition. That might sound like a narrow selection, but it encompasses a surprising amount of products, including sunscreen, acne treatments, creams for skin conditions (like eczema or psoriasis), and even some skincare tools used to manage pain, muscle tension, or inflammation. 

Stridekick Shop Picks

Whether you’re a skincare junkie or just trying to remember to use moisturizer, your HSA or FSA can help make your routine a little more cost-effective. Here are some eligible options from the Stridekick HSA/FSA Shop: 

• Soleil Toujours Face Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF 50 with Vitamin C & Niacinamide is a vegan, reef-safe mineral sunscreen with broad-spectrum sun protection, plus vitamin C to help brighten your complexion, hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, and niacinamide to fade discoloration. It has a sheer golden tint to help blur imperfections on mornings when your skin needs a little extra help.
• Gladskin Biome Balancing Gel is a lightweight, fast-absorbing hydrator formulated to balance the skin microbiome with Micreobalance®, Gladskin’s proprietary enzyme. It’s intended for full-body use and comfortably layers beneath makeup and clothing. 
• Proactiv+® 3-Step Routine is an acne treatment system formulated for skin that tends to dry out with more potent topicals. It contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to prevent dryness and irritation, while salicylic acid treats and prevents breakouts. 
• Celluma HOME is an FDA-cleared LED light therapy panel that emits red (640nm) and near-infrared (880nm) light to reduce inflammation, calm muscle and joint pain, and boost collagen production for smoother, more youthful-looking skin. 

Period Care

Women spend upwards of $20,000 on period care over the course of a lifetime. That’s a lot of cash for an essential expense. While an HSA or FSA won’t remove these expenses entirely, it can make them a tad more manageable.

Period products (including tampons, pads, liners, cups, discs, and period underwear) are qualified medical expenses, meaning you don’t need a Letter of Medical Necessity from a doctor to purchase them with your HSA or FSA. 

Stridekick Shop Picks

The Stridekick Shop now offers a range of period care products from today’s leading brands, including:

• Flex is a brand of period cups and discs designed to help you stay active, worry-free, and leak-free. It offers a collection of products to suit different needs, including: 
  
  • Flex Disc, a disposable menstrual disc that holds over five super tampons' worth of flow, with ComfortSeal™ technology for 12-hour protection (you can wear it during exercise, sleep, and, yes, even sex). 
  • Flex Reusable Disc, made of medical-grade silicone with a patented notch for easier insertion, a leak-free rim, and the ability to hold over six super tampons' worth of flow.
  • Flex Cup, a reusable menstrual cup with over 12 hours of protection and a game-changing pull-tab to break the seal and majorly simplify removal. 
• Popmask is a brand of self-heating masks and patches with a line of products designed specifically for period cramps and other PMS symptoms, including:
  
  • Big Hug Pop Undies, Popmask’s period underwear designed for easy use with their heating patches and comfy all-day wear
  • Big Hug PMS Care Pouch, a bundle of heating patches and pre-PMS pimple patches in a convenient pouch for use at home, at your desk, in your car, or on the go.
  • Small, Big, or Even Bigger Hug Self-Heating Patches to manage cramping—they activate with air exposure and adhere to clothing, not skin, for comfortable, discreet wear

Eyewear

Prescription eyewear, including glasses, contacts, and sunglasses, is HSA and FSA-eligible, with no Letter of Medical Necessity required. If it’s about time to upgrade your eyeglasses, or if you could use a stellar pair of sunglasses to make it through summer, your HSA or FSA can make your glasses glow-up a little gentler on your wallet. 

Stridekick Shop Picks

If you’re like us and get bored with your glasses design the second you’re home from the eye doctor, you need to check out Pair Eyewear, the brand behind infinitely customizable eyeglasses. The secret is in the magnetic top frames that snap onto a base frame, allowing you to change up your look with every shift in your mood, without having to splurge on brand-new lenses each time. They even offer polarized sun tops (in tortoise and black styles) for prescription sunglasses in a snap. 

Footwear

Footwear is HSA/FSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity to confirm they’re needed to diagnose, treat, or prevent a medical condition (like bunions, plantar fasciitis, diabetes, etc.). So if you struggle with foot discomfort and need some comfy new kicks, your pre-tax dollars could be well-spent on supportive footwear. 

Stridekick Shop Picks

Stridekick’s HSA/FSA Shop offers a handful of footwear options for everyday support and recovery:

• HOKA is known for its ultra-comfy cushioning and rocker-style soles, with styles including:
  
  • The Bondi 9, HOKA’s most cushioned everyday running shoe with a bouncy foam midsole to keep foot and leg fatigue at bay. 
  • The Men’s Clifton 10, a favorite among runners for its lightweight, breathable construction with an updated design for an even comfier feel, whether you’re running, commuting, or just hanging out. 
  • The Speedgoat 6, a technical trail running shoe designed to handle rugged terrain with ease and stability
  • Ora Athletic Slide, a recovery slide for everyday wear and post-run relief, with cloud-like cushioning and a robust rocker sole
• Clove designs work shoes that provide the support healthcare pros (and pretty much anyone who moves) need to get through the day comfortably. They’re fluid-resistant, squeak-free, and supportive enough for ultra-long shifts. Options include the Men’s Classic, Women’s Classic Core, Men’s and Women’s Strada, and Men’s and Women’s Supercrush Forte 2.

Bedding and Sleep-Supportive Tools 

While not automatically HSA/FSA-eligible, certain types of bedding may become eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity for conditions like insomnia or even anxiety, in some cases. So if your sleep is about as reliable as an airport’s public WiFi, you might want to consider a bedroom refresh. 

Stridekick Shop Picks

We love our sleep over here at Sidekick, so you’ll have no trouble finding sleep-focused products in our HSA/FSA Shop. A few of our faves include: 

• The Baloo Living Weighted Blanket, the only quilted weighted blanket made entirely of natural cotton (no polyester here) with lead-free glass microbeads that feel like a hug. 
• The BedJet 3 Dual Zone Climate Comfort Sleep System, the solution between you and your partner’s fight for the ideal sleeping temperature (you can thank us later) with independent temperature control for either side of the bed.
• Ozlo Sleepbuds, the tiny, all-night-wear-friendly earbuds with passive noise isolation and streaming of any sound you please (ocean waves, white noise, true crime podcast, you do you) for transformative sleep, especially if you deal with a noise throughout the night

If you’re ready to use up those pre-tax funds on HSA/FSA-eligible finds, head over to our HSA/FSA Shop to find your must-haves. We’ve made it easy by partnering up with Truemed for a streamlined shopping process, even if you need a Letter of Medical Necessity. Happy shopping!