What to Buy at the Dollar Stores and What to Skip

These tips on what to buy at dollar stores and what to skip will help you find the best bargains.

Dollar Stores are a bargain lover’s paradise. You can find just about every department in a big box store on a smaller scale and comb for good bargain after good bargain. I love to hit up the local dollar store and see the new items and my trusty favorites. I love that I can take my child with me and let her pick something out and know exactly what the price will be.

In this post, I will discuss what to buy at dollar stores and what you can skip. Some of the dollar stores will allow you to use coupons, so be sure to check your store’s coupon policy to see if you can use coupons. You can use the Favado App to find coupon matchups for many of the dollar stores.

What to Buy at Dollar Stores:

Cleaning supplies: These are almost always a great bargain. However, pay attention to quantity. For instance, many dollar store sizes look just as big as their regular counterparts but contain much less product in a bigger container. One thing I have found this to be true with is those disinfectant wipes. Often times, these come in containers that are just as large as the ones sold in other stores but contain only 20 wipes. This makes them almost 5 cents apiece. With a coupon, you can get this at a much lower cost at the big box stores.

Frozen foods: Vegetables, frozen snacks, ice cream pops and potato products are usually about half off when bought at the dollar store. Again this is about checking to see how many ounces you are getting, though so pay attention.

Seasonal items: Decorations for holidays are an absolute bargain at the dollar store. From crafts to parties, this is the place to get them.

Packing and party supplies: Bubble envelopes and packing bubble wrap are great bargains here and are usually about half the price. Greeting cards are a great bargain as are napkins, balloons, streamers, gift bags and plastic plates.

Beauty supplies:  Sponges, mirrors, nail files are a good bet. Stay away from nail polish and face makeup because it is often low quality or old and that can lead to skin irritations.

Things to Skip at Dollar Stores:

Baking soda, flour, and sugar: Usually, you will get a far smaller package and could save a lot more buying it in other stores.

Canned goods: Most canned goods are less than a dollar as it is, especially vegetables. The only semi-good bargain is soups.

Vitamins: These may not be as high of quality and are often misrepresented on the labels. Go for the brands you trust and know in bigger stores.

Beverages: Drinks are far cheaper at a different store.

School supplies: When the back to school sales happen, you will be able to get them at a fraction of the price at other stores.

Hot mitts: I made this mistake once. The dollar store version of hot mitts are not thick enough to keep you from the heat and can allow burns to happen.

Knives: You will do far better investing in a good solid set rather than a cheap one at a dollar store. Dull low-quality knives can lead to serious injuries and if you have good quality ones, they are sure to last a long time.

What do you buy at dollar stores?

More Money Saving Tips

• How to Create a Stockpile
• How to Get Started Couponing
• 10 Ways to Save on Groceries without Using Coupons
• How the Ibotta Coupon App Works
• How to Buy Whole Foods When On a Limited Budget