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For someone on a budget, dollar stores can be a heaven sent, but there are some items that are not worth the four quarters. I recently read a story from Time Moneyland that delves into what to buy and what to avoid at dollar stores. (Julia is quoted!) Below I share items I’ve scored deals on and what I keep away from to avoid danger.
Deals to be had…
- Party supplies and gift wrap – I also like to buy clear treat baggies because you can’t beat the price. As for gift wrap, Consumer Reports found that dollar stores had the cheapest price at 2 cents per square foot versus 17 cents at one grocery store.
- Greeting Cards – I’ve never found another place where you can get inexpensive greeting cards. Make sure to check these cards for tears and stains before paying.
- Holiday Decorations – There really isn’t another place where you will find holiday decorations for a dollar before the holiday. So if you’re in a pinch check out there selection.
- Cleaning supplies – According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, the cleaners you buy at the dollar store have similar ingredients to those of name brands. Though, they may be more diluted. You’ll can also find good deals on rubber gloves, sponges and scrub brushes. I make sure to look for brands I recognize especially with sponges. I hate it when they fall apart.
- Aluminum foil – Consumer Reports found that a square foot of foil costs 3 cents. You can’t beat that!
Hit or miss…
- School, office, and craft supplies – I’ve bought pens, glue, and markers that are dried out. Stick to buying lined paper, paper clips, or staples. Make sure to check your local office store circulars before heading to the dollar store. Many office supply stores have awesome sales and you can find all these items for less than a buck!
- Candles – I’ve bought candles only to have them not light up. It’s been a waste of money.
- Plastic Wrap and sandwich bags – These tend to flimsy and don’t hold a seal. If I find a brand I can trust I’ll make the purchase, otherwise I stay away.
- Cookware and utensils – I avoid buying any cookware or utensil that will be used on heat. That means spatulas, stirring spoons, or pots. They can melt! I have bought serving spoons and salad thongs. These are especially useful and less painful to lose at potlucks since they were only a buck.
Avoid…
- Anything with an electric cord – This can be very dangerous! Consumer Reports warns that dollar store electronics and extension cords may have fake UL labels and could be unsafe.
- Batteries – Dollar store batteries are often carbon zinc, as opposed to alkaline. Carbon zinc is not as efficient and may end up leaking. I rather use rechargeable batteries from a brand I trust.
- Tissue Paper – I read in Consumer Reports that it’s more expensive at the dollar store.
- Vitamins – Consumer Reports found that dollar-store multi-vitamins don’t always have the amount of nutrients claimed on the label. Others didn’t dissolve fast enough to be absorbed by the body.
- Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other meds – These can be left on the shelf past their expiration date. Consumer Reports also points out that some labels may not say where the medicine was manufactured. What if there’s a recall?
- Toys – To me it seems like a trade-off in quality. Many of these toys are cheaply made and it’s better to be safe than sorry! They can fall apart and become dangerous.
What do you buy or skip at dollar stores?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Check the label on any food items. I skipped on the pickles packed in Pakistan.
No mention of food?!
That’s the main reason I stop in! When I picked up a bottle of Heinz Worcestershire sauce (normally, $3.49 at the regular stores) for 99 cents, I was hooked.
Boxed cereal, pasta sauce, some frozen food items, and produce are usually good bargains. Seriously, three heads of romaine lettuce for 99 cents? Deal!
Like anywhere, know the going price at the other stores, but I go to the “99¢ Only” store BEFORE going to Vons or Ralphs.
@Bob I don’t buy food at dollar stores that’s why I didn’t mention it. I’ve found you can get canned food for less (with coupons) at grocery stores. As for fresh food, I grow some of it and shop at TJs so the prices are comparable. For me, it would be a waste of money and time to shop at different stores.
I buy mylar balloons at my dollar store for parties. They blow them up to order and last for weeks. I rather spend $ 12 on myalr than $12 for latex ballons from a party store that last 5 hours
I agree with Bob! I often get organic lettuce & spinach for 99 cents at the 99cent only store. Also yogurt & eggs which are a huge savings vs. the regular grocery store prices.
Like any bargain, you have to be patient and you can’t ALWAYS count on finding these healthy staples, but for me its definitely worth the stop there before heading to pay higher prices at the grocery store.
Add to the “worth the price” list: shampoos and soaps. Also toothpaste. Sometimes the bottles and tubes are a little smaller than grocery stores but most of the time they’re still less expensive when comparing per-unit cost.
Canned food can be sometimes cheaper at a grocery store if you buy on sale with coupons.
I also agree with the commentator about the food deals. The local shoprite started selling (SR) bread for $1, I think mostly because a) bread is expensive as hell and because most people like me would pick up a regular sized loaf for a dollar (sometimes even in name-brand types!).
And I realize it’s more of a “duh! Logic!” sort of thing but people should ALWAYS check the code dates where EVER they shop – be it a dollar store, a bodega, or a name brand store. I don’t trust ANYONE, lol.
Have found those “green” bags for vegetables – found at other places at a terribly high price.
Usually buy my hairspray and shampoo at the Dollar stores and sometimes toothpaste.
My hubby LOVES the 99/Only store. He buys the milk (doesn’t spoil as fast at the market brands), veggis, salad makings. Have also found the dry onion soup mix. Campbells soup in a larger size that in the store (but not as large as the Famiily size sold in the regular markets)
Know your produce prices and what’s on sale at both the big and ethnic markets. There are things that I can get elsewhere for a cheaper price and better quality. The biggest bargain is the large tub of organic salad greens for $1.00 when they have it.
I didn’t shop dollar stores until the 99¢ Only Stores had an info table at one of Julia Scott’s Frugal Festivals a couple years ago. Now I regret all the money I wasted by NOT shopping there.
I don’t shop random dollar stores but stick to the 99¢ Only Stores where everything is guaranteed. I asked them and they said you could bring back any product you were not happy with. That said, I try to stick to name brands although I’ve never had a problem with anything I purchased from them.
There are some excellent deals on produce, household products, and especially (as mentioned above) the ‘throw-away’ items such as holiday decor and paper goods.
Thanks to Yazmin Cruz & the other commentors for the additional tips!
I am able to find $1 loaves of bread at my regular supermarket in the discount aisle or in a special section of the bread aisle for old loaves.
I’m not a regular dollar store shopper, since I feel like I can do better couponing for a lot of things at grocery stores and drug stores. But it’s hard to get some cleaning supplies for under $1, even with coupons, so I’ll definitely be checking that out this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
A heads up on greeting cards. Read carefully before you buy. I’ve found some with typos (mispellings) on them at dollar stores.
The new line of Betty Crocker cookware at the Dollar Tree is great, I got it all for me and my daughter.
Also, why spend a dollar at the dollar store for shampoo, creme rinse etc. when you can get the same thing at the drugstores on sale for 88 cents?
Our Dollar Store just started with groceries, and frozen foods. I love buying my decorations there. Nix on the batteries too. You can get some good makeup (name brands) at times. as always, let the buyer beware!
Produce is a good buy at 99 Cent stores as the turnover practically guarantees freshness. It’s also the only place I can find Morehouse Jalapeno Mustard, which I like to use to “glaze” a ham while it’s baking. The most wonderful aroma during the bake time, and the flavor is delicious! The glaze is made with mustard and honey mixed to the consistency you like.
I also keep an eye out for coupons for the store brand reusable shopping bags, as they’re quite sturdy, as well as being washable.
I love the 99 cent store..always look for big brand names there and by at 1/2 or more savings from the regular supermarkets. I add green beans to my dogs’ diet ..and can get no better price in town 2 cans for 99 cents…with no salt added…and using 2 cans a day a month adds up..even at the 99 cents store.
Veggies – use to buy my horse baby carrots @ 99 cents for a 2 lb. bag…close to $3 at Ralphs for the same brand. You do have to be careful about expiration dates, but its one of my favorite places and stock always changes!
I usually shop at 99 cent’s only stores, and have found that their melons (when in season), and strawberries are better tasting that most supermarkets. Recently, I even found Portobello mushrooms (several to a package)! Couldn’t believe me eyes. Got several and we enjoyed them for several days in burgers, salads, sliced, and sauteed. Yummy!!!.
I do find though, when I need cards, the Dollar Tree has them 2/$1.00, where at 99 cents only they are 99 cents each. So I do my card shopping at Dollar Tree. But I swear by the dollar stores, from produce, cereals, to party supplies and much, much more…they are hard to beat.
@Diane ~ I agree with you about the produce at 99 Cent stores. Have you ever decided to go with a meatless “burger” and use those Portobello mushrooms instead of meat? Panera Bread in Simi Valley has a fabulous one using a large, grilled mushroom with the usual toppings in a panini-style sandwich. I think it’s also available on a special burger bun. Truly melt-in-your mouth delicious!
Although items are $1 or 99cents doesn’t always mean it’s a deal! I saw a pack of Aleve once, but noticed it only had 6 caplets. Considering you can buy 100 caplets for usually less than $10 elsewhere it was not a better deal. Always check quantity when shopping there to ensure it is a good deal on anything, especially name brands.
I moved from TX and my 99 cent store to FL. I miss stopping in a couple times a week and scoring big on produce. We have Aldi here (which we didn’t have in TX) and that’s now my “see what’s cheap today” produce place.
When I had just started college, I got some cheap but durable plastic drinking glasses at the dollar store. They were bundled in a four pack for a buck each – I have some dark purple ones and some orange ones (I like bright colors, but they had some more normal colors there too). I don’t mind the plastic glasses because they don’t have the same potential of breaking, but I know they’re not for everyone. I considered that a deal though.
Dried spices are a pretty good bet. Large onion or garlic powder get used a lot in my husband’s recipes.
@Catherine Dried spices don’t have a fast enough turnaround at dollar stores so it’s best to avoid them. Dried spices lose their flavor after about a year. It’s good to check for dates if available.
Thanks to Stan above,
Do look for the Made in China
I used to buy their bread and rolls. I recently found some strange blue paper-like thing in my hot dog roll and there was no company name or contact info on the wrapper.
I’ve also noticed that they aren’t selling full size packages anymore.
I forgot to mention a couple of the other amazing deals I get at the 99 cent store.
-Eye Makeup remover wipes. 99 cents vs. $4 at the drug store.
-Pie filling- 99 cents vs. $3.50+ at grocery store (i use this for one particular cobbler recipe)
-Graham cracker pie crusts- 99 cents vs. $3 at grocery store and they are the SAME! 🙂
-Plates–if you need to restock your dinnerware they usually have some modern design plates & bowls.
Occassionally I find organic crackers or snacks but its hit-or-miss.
I typically AVOID a lot of the plastic items, spices, and always check dates on food items. Overall I find amazing deals that I estimate save me about $40+ month (mostly from produce, eggs & yogurt as mentioned in previous post)