If you have enough money to throw $18 per tube at the bike shop, then you should definitely consider buying a tubeless wheel/tire combination. Consider the up-front cost to be payment for many tubes in advance.

Otherwise, learn to change and/or patch your own damn tubes! It's something all cyclists eventually need to do themselves on the road anyways. Even at LBS-inflated prices of like $6.99/tube, that's a lot of savings.