5 of the best items to purchase at the dollar store
Don’t you love it when someone asks a cashier at the dollar store how much a particular item costs? I never know whether they’re joking or not, but I’m pretty sure they’re usually not.
Remembering the price of an item at your local dollar store should be easy, but it might not always be so simple to figure out which items to purchase there. When I’m at a dollar store, sometimes I find myself thinking that one dollar seems like a pretty good price for a particular item, but I also wonder how much it goes for at my local grocery or drug store. And if it’s a generic item, I try to figure out if the price reduction makes choosing it over a brand name – or even a store brand name – worthwhile.
The key is to buy items at the dollar store that have the biggest price difference from similar items in other stores. And, of course, you only want to purchase items that you will actually use. Otherwise, all you would have accomplished is cluttering up your home with a bunch of cheap items.
So, here are a few items you might find it beneficial to acquire from your local dollar store:
- Whether it’s for your kids, grandkids or you and your spouse, craft items are great to have around the house for a rainy (or very cold) day when you don’t feeling like leaving home. Stock up now on paints, glitter and beads.
- Christmas décor. No matter what time of year it is, you know you’ll need Christmas-themed wrapping paper, bows and bags eventually, so why not get them now inexpensively and store them with your other seasonal items. You’d pay a lot more for them at other stores.
- You know you’re going to lose half of your socks eventually, so why not spend only a dollar rather than three or four dollars. In fact, you can probably get several pairs of socks for $1, so grab some for the entire family.
- Cleaning products. Even if you have to use a little more of a generic cleaner than you would a brand name, you’ll still save money on cleaning supplies at the dollar store. And you know it’s just a matter of time until you need them. Grab disposable gloves, cloths and sponges while you’re at it.
- Greeting cards. What do you suppose the mark-up is on a $6 greeting card at a drug store? There’s just no reason to buy cards there when you can get them for $1 or less at the dollar store. Find cards with a simple message and room to add your own personal touch.
Our readers would love to know what other items you’ve found to be well worth buying at the dollar store. Please chime in with your thoughts.
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The 99 cent stores have my brand of american made deodorant ($1.99 at the military base) and I buy bleach at the 99 cent store and use it to pour down my drains to clean them out and also to clean the toilets. The “chinese” listerene they sell keeps the cats from spraying my classic cars when I pour it arround the cars.
I recently had cataract surgery and now need only “cheaters” (reading glasses). $35 and up at the eye doctor’s optical, $25-30 at the drug store, $1 at dollar stores. I even found a pair of sunglasses with bifocals for $1.99 at my favorite local dollar store!
Hooray for the Dollar Stores including all names.. When living expenses are limited you do what you have to do. I shop at the dollar stores and not ashamed to say or be seen there like some people. If I can buy food items or toilet paper cheaper their then I have saved . Great for prepping items. So what if it isn’t made in America. The items still are useful for fixed income people. Get real. Someday you may have to do the same thing too.
I have been in business for myself for over 40 years and the globalization inferences the media and the Clinton types say we should embrace are fully ridiculous , but I do shop at the Dollar Tree . I have made a fair living always looking for deals . My Mantra has always been to beat the system . There are some good bargains , and if it keeps you out of debt , you better watch your money that way …. I drive 30 miles to Aldi s about every 2 Months and restock my 10 extra cases of canned vegetables I keep rotating . Soon I will add 5 more cases . And between stocking up on the things you could live off of for months at a time like peanut butter, canned meat, powdered milk , cereal , tuna , that can be gotten at discount now , and will keep you alive later if we lose the grid 2-6 months or longer from a major solar flare or terrorist hacking …you should do it every chance you get . And the govt. cant save you . Katrina and New York proved that . That being said, I haven’t heard a soul mention any of the great foods that are sometimes available at these stores , such as cold vegetable mixes , turkey burgers , and olive oil. There is a vast array of these foods which save an average of 15% and more over Food Lion , and Walmart is expensive in most cases , unless you can find bulk . It definitely will happen that we are involved in emergency conflicts not of our choosing before long , so I suggest you get ready now, or at least gradually . Good Luck and especially , God Bless .
I buy first aide supplies, school supplies, small kitchen items like an old-style can opener. Also stock up on sugar free candy for myself and regular candy for friends and their kids.
We regularly purchase Palmolive bath soap from Dollar Tree. At 3/$1, and fairly large, these are worth buying and socking them away, Perfect for men, they last a lot longer than the average soap bar. You can purchase by the case, and it’s 72 bars. Buy it online and go pick up at the store. The case is small enough to easily transport and store.
Last time we did this, we got some weird stares. So I said something like “Lasts us for a good 6 months!”
Love DOLLAR TREE!! Has many items there, such canned fruit, canned vegetables, eggs, bread, Home Store glass cleaner made in USA, LA’S TOTALLY AWESOME
OXYGEN for getting clothes white, crayons for candles, etc, SHOP AND SAVE
Extra reading glasses. Keep in veichles, bug out bags, & around house. For $1 you can afford to make sure you can see in an emergency. They carry jute (twine) . Also bandage patches. Have also seen splints for fingers. It’s always worth a look see, even if you personal don’t find something, you never know.
Laundry detergent is great at the dollar store, I have been using it for years, I use a little more volume, but when you use Tide, do you always measure the amount. I get about 7- 10 washes out of a container, and my clothes are clean, I also use it for other heavy cleaning at home..
ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT SHOP AROUND NOR
COMPARE PRICES EITHER HAS MORE $ THAN THEY KNOW
WHAT 2 DO WITH OR DON’T SHOP AROUND & WONDER
WHEY’RE BROKE! HOW MUCH INTEREST DO THEY PAY ON
CARDS & 2 BANKS? SHIPPING & HANDLING CHARGES
CONTAIN THE PROFITS 4 MOST CO’S, NO MATTER THE ADVERTISED PRICE, THEN ONE PAYS RETURN
CHARGES & JUST WAIT ‘TILL U GET UR $ BACK, IF UR LUCKY. THEY MAKE $ ON THAT 2.
I also do try hard to buy USA, a couple of exceptions. I buy the plastic “cake carriers” with the plate and locking top. When I take my Bundt cakes to friends, family, etc, I tell them to throw away or some one take home, this way recipients and myself don’t have to worry about it being returned and hopefully someone will find a use for it, used several at Christ-mas time. Also buy my sunglasses as I go for color and $1.00 is great.
There are definitely some worthwhile items in dollar stores, and one of my great finds was this 7.5″ paring knife with sheath/cover. I’ve seen them sell on eBay or Amazon for six or eight dollars, but bought a dozen at Dollar Tree for a buck apiece, I’ve seen them in other dollar store lines, too. These are, admittedly, not high-end hunting knives, just regular carbon steel that no doubt will get dull fast. However, if you keep them in the original blister pack they should be fine for many years, or until you need to make some spearpoints, or just need to arm some neighbors that show up empty-handed with no means of defense at all. The plastic sheath makes them very useful for many uses. If you can afford to arm your group with high-end knives, great. But if not, these are great for a dollar each, and I managed to put a really nice edge on one of them in just a few minutes.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paring-Knife-4-inch-Port-Wine-Red-Handle-and-Sheath-Royal-Norfolk-New-in-package/201514083134?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150313114020%26meid%3D018c9d0397824dc1b2ec33f0272c6bca%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D251727482645
I’m one of those anal guys who refuses to buy Chinese products unless there is no alternative. So I don’t frequent our dollar store often. But you are right, greeting cards are an outstanding buy at our dollar store, and they are made in the USA.
Batteries, canned food, candy, my local dollar tree also has name brand toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, cleaning supplies, paper plates, etc. There is so much you can buy there that is worth the price. Yes, they do have lots of cheap crap that breaks, but they also can have some great stuff. I recently found boxed, shelf stable milk there and bought all they had. Half gallon of milk for a dollar? And lasts for years? Hell yeah i am adding that to my food storage. So dont turn up your nose at these places. You can find some great, although off brand stuff there!
Definitely do NOT buy imported batteries. Stick to names you know like Eveready or Energizer, and watch those expiration dates on them!
Same with disposable lighters.Buy Bic, which will give several thousand reliable lights even after being stored for a number of years. The Asian clones are pure junk that commonly fail after a few dozen lights.
And don’t throw away those Bic lighters when they run out of fuel. They put a LONG flint in there, and it will still strike sparks many hundreds of times when “empty”, to ignite dry moss or other dy tinder for fire-starting.
I stick with vinegar and baking soda for cleaning and disinfecting. The dollar stores are not always the cheapest for these items. Smart and Final has a good price or even some of the supermarkets have special deals.
I buy body shampoo , hair spray, hair products, small baskets to orginize stuff (usually get 2 -4 in a pkg). flower seeds are 10 for $1 on occassion I have found clothing there also – who cares if you need stuff to work in the yard in. But know your prices on food and stuff like foil at times it’s cheaper elsewhere
How about for keeping warm? A neat item to have in a Bug Out Bag or Close by would be a couple or three of the Large Movers Blankets. If you have children, at least 1 smaller one for each child. The dense material they are made of is like an insulated layer that really holds in the heat. I personally use one over a this little quilt on my Bed in the Winter. You can feel the weight of the Movers Blanket. If you can locate a nearby Harbor Freight Outlet Store, they always have them in stock. Of course, you could probably locate some at your local Moving Company, and maybe purchase one for next to nothing, ie. the ones that have some torn edges. I also carry one in my Trunk just in case.
I don’t buy anything from the Dollar store because it’s mostly cheap junk. I try to buy only made in the USA; giving JOBS to Americans, not people in other countries. I sometimes buy laundry soap, other items made in the USA at Wal-Mart if it is cheaper there.
You know, Ann, when it comes to Survival in any manner, your first consideration should be ensuring that you and your loved ones will be safe and nourished. It doesn’t matter where the item(s) come from, your Priority should always be your Survival and the Survival of your loved ones. As far as a product that is made in the USA, you would be surprised, I mean really surprised, at the number of Products sold here in the USA that use ingredients or parts that are manufactured in other countries and only Assembled in The USA. (or Packaged in the USA). Take the Computer or Laptop, or the Smartphone that you are Using. Do you like it? Chances are pretty good that it was manufactured in some Foreign Country, AND assembled there, too. So, you may want to rethink some of your personal grudges against something made outside of the USA. Cheers !!!!!
Any specific website to purchase USA made products only?
Sorry, I hit the wrong reply button. This is one of several sites you can try.
http://www.ibuyamericanstore.com/
Love the suggestions on dollar store and survival items. I will go tomorrow and pick up a few moe items. When we need groceries I go there first and get as many of the things we need that they carry, then I go to WalMart.i have a hard time passing up the candy too. They have my favorites and it’s an inexpensive to try some new ones. I have rheumatoid arthritis and can’t squeeze lemons for tea,etc.I found a plastic citrus press to help me. The $20. one from the fancy cooking store broke the first time I tried to use it. Yea dollar stores. Boo to snobs who won’t give them a try.
the solar light for one dollar light up tent al night and be made into spear or finger splint or steak or straw and more free light for yard keep house lit while gone makes it look like some one is home mark a trail to get back at night help some one find you light up broke down car
Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Dollar Zone are all my favorite places to go….and by go I mean GO a different way than Walmart.
I buy very little at dollar stores, the reason is most of what they sell for cheap is just that and doesn’t hold up, I’m no well off but I would rather buy quality made in America than rely on junk made elsewhere
I buy weekly from the Dollar Tree & Family Dollar.
They are much cheaper then Wal-Mart.
Soap is soap. Canned food is Canned food.
You are right Frank !!! Conserve our resources, including cash, don’t waste it on overpriced items….
i am totally for buying things (things) made in america to support our own economy not some communist/socialist country that has no respect for America and its standards for living
Several years ago we purchased some tiny FM radios, complete with batteries and earphone. Because they lack a tuning dial, (use a step search tuning system) They are a little cumbersome to tune , but they run a long time on the supplied battery and at a dollar each, theyl work well in a bug out bag.
There are a number of items – canned vegetables, for example, that are less expensive at many grocery stores, so I don’t buy those. However, I use a lot of frozen fruits and vegetable mixes, which cost more than $1 elsewhere. I use low-fat soy milk, which at $1 a quart is a steal. My son likes an occasional sandwich buy hates stale bread – and even so-called “fresh” bread at a lot of stores is pretty dry! Dollar Store bread stays soft for an incredibly long time, so it obviously has preservatives, but it’s worth it to keep him happy since it’s only occasional! There are many other things, like the kitchen items mentioned, the greeting cards, decoraions, etc. Good place to shop!
Medical supplies, bandage materials are all good supplies to have on hand and are much cheaper at the $ store.
You can also get good bandaging material on eBay, but KNOW the prices elsewhere and watch out for inflated shipping charges. Definitely consider buying some non-sterile stuff like 4×4’s for shallow wounds or scrapes since the antibacterial ointment will protect the wound from infection. The price difference between sterile & nonsterile is HUGE!
Nonsterile bandaging IS sterile when put into its packaging, so unless you’re sloppy after the bulk pack is opened, your risk is negligible. For sterile stuff you’re paying a large amount for that individual packaging.
Some people may not go along with this, but I do not buy Christmas wrapping paper or bows. They are such a waste of money. Here are just a few things I have used for wrapping:
towel, reusable cloth shopping bag, small laundry bag, oven mitt, food cannister, one of those tins used for cookies or popcorn, 5-gallon bucket with lid. The “real gift” is still hidden until it is unwrapped, and the wrapping can be used for another purpose, rather than being thrown away. Instead of a bow, I would attach a small dollar store toy, craft item, pretty barrette or other hair decoration, or other such item to the outside of the package with the ribbon you buy by the roll. I look around in the dollar stores for whatever I can find that will work.
As for the other items, I do buy certain cleaning supplies it the dollar stores, as well as craft items. The socks are sometimes good quality, and sometimes not. I have found the best solution to the missing sock problem is to buy half a dozen or more identical pairs. If you lose one sock, you still have eleven matching ones left. I buy all of my greeting cards at the nearby dollar store, where they sell two for a dollar. When I see cards I like, I buy them ahead of time and save them in a box until the birthday or other event arrives.
Different dollar store chains usually carry a somewhat different inventory, and the inventory changes as they sell out special purchases and closeouts. I try to learn what items each store offers regularly for the best value and come back for those. When I see a really good deal on something new, I buy as many as I can use, because they will probably be gone when I come back, never to return. I have bought household items, food, hardware, hand tools, and various other things over the years. Most recently, I bought some little LED flashlights with the batteries included for a dollar each.
We live in South Africa. We have “R5 shops” (our currency is R=Rand. R5 = $0.35) which offer pretty much the same stuff you describe. What happens is that A LOT of people buy from those shops and therefore “starve out” local production, handcrafted “socks” etc. At the end of the day, all this Chinese stuff will create a huge unemployment situation….. etc. and so on….
Some other items I find at the dollar store that are just are good as the expensive ones are: kitchen utensils like knives, spatulas & serving pieces. Also foil pans, some even with covers.
Dear Frank,
There are all sorts of items you can buy at the $ stores that are survival supply related.
1. 10-12 inch cheap heave carving knives (not serrated flexible one). Remove the handles, wrap 3 together with duct tape, and you have spear points for hunting or security and the tape to secure them to a makeshift shaft, to keep in your bug-out-bag.
2. Canned meats and other foods for emergency meals.
3. Plastic painters drop clothes for emergency shelter building.
4. Cordage and string.
5. Small cooking pots and pans.
6. Picture frame wire for making snares.
7. Small rolls of electrical tape.
8. Super glue.
9. Several varieties of bagged trail mix.
10. Aluminum foil (although it is thin).
The list goes on and on.
God Bless,
Orrin
This has to be the most useless article I have read thus far. I am truly dissapointed! What does this have to do with Survival & patriotism. You must be clean out of material.
Well for starters, he’s not wrong. And secondly, it has generated comments from many on tried and true techniques that all of us can benefit from with regards to home storage and survival. Except for your remark here, which obviously shows you are part of the problem seeing how you offer critique but no solutions, ideas, or contributions, the comments posts were excellent, with the article not bad either. I pity the local survival community group that will have to deal with you; I’d have you cast out at once. Seems you would be the type that always complains and whines, offering no help to anyone, a pessimist bent on fostering chaos and the destruction of others, maybe even to get gain for yourself.
Your reply may be a bit harsh! Survival is about making do with what you can find. If you can find it at the $ store, then good on ya! I’ve stocked many medical bags and fire making kits from the $ store. I’ve done a lot of holiday decorating (that I prefer to throw away rather than store anyway.)
The patriot in me says it’s my duty to stay alive and help other to do the same in any emergency. If I can do that with $ store stuff, I’m all for it.
You only have to be careful of quality – I’ve found some pretty great quality stuff there. They often have books and other items which would help pass the time for children or adults caught in a hunker down situation. I’ve gotten lots of good solar power things there and many craft supplies.
If you think WalMart has USA made items, think again. I have also found USA made items at the $ store. You probably drive a car not USA made, wear non-USA made clothing and shoes and boots, etc. Virtually all electronics are made outside the US. Much of the storage food you’ll see is not USA sourced – let alone the grocery store “fresh” food which was shipped here from South America and other warmer climes during the winter. Many home building supplies are sourced and/or made outside the USA. We are supposed to be a “global” society now, right?
You must have read this article because the headline caught your interest. How about adding value yourself it you feel it doesn’t contain enough.