Nobody ever said that a dollar store wasn’t a place that could help you get a good deal. For some items, you’re never going to get them at a cheaper rate than at a thrift store. For others, you might get a good deal, but the product will break after one or two uses. It’s helpful to know what to look out for, and where to draw the line when you are trying to save a buck. If you’re after some incredible bargains, or you’re just wanting to get a sense about the things you should never get from a dollar store, we’ve got you covered right here. Our list of fifty products will be a good guide to help make sure you’re not cutting any corners on the wrong items, which will ultimately end up costing you more money in the long run.
Filters For Coffee
Filters For Coffee
Everything Hair
Living life in lockdown has meant that many of us have had the time to do a lot with our own hair. From getting a family member to cut it, to styling it in new ways, with hairdressers being closed we’ve all had to make do. From headbands to a new brush or two, bobby pins and more, if you’re after the accessories that will enhance your look, the dollar store usually has these for great bargains.
Everything Hair
Cleaning Buckets
Buckets are handy when it comes to keeping a clean home, but often supermarkets will charge a markup for them, especially when sold alongside essential items like brooms, rags and more. Buckets are versatile, and can be used in a variety of cleaning areas, including the floor, car and even the patio. Dollar stores usually sell these for very cheap, and you don’t have to worry about them cracking or breaking after the first few uses.
Cleaning Buckets
Washcloths and Dish Towels
It’s no secret that dish towels and cloths are used in the kitchen every single day, and these quickly double up for multi-purpose use. That also means that they are prone to burns and stains around the clock, so you shouldn’t be forking out too much for them. You should also be mindful that you’ll have to replace them from time to time. With dollar store prices, you won’t get a better deal anywhere else.
Washcloths And Dish Towels
Greeting And Thank You Cards
Smaller convenience stores love the fact that people see greeting and thank you cards near the payment area, and often grab one or two when they’re waiting in line to check out. These are usually much more expensive than they need to be, so next time you’re thinking about doing so, rather get a bulk batch at your nearest dollar store. You’ll probably be saving as much as 50% of what you would have paid elsewhere.
Greeting And Thank You Cards
Frames For Pictures
Although not many of us still have picture frames around the house, it can be such a nice way to remember all the loved one, or to physically save some of your best Instagram photos. Frames act as great decorations, and can really bring a space to life. Perhaps you’re thinking about taking on more creative projects this year, and if so, starting with the store of dollar is an easy way to get more bang for your buck.
Frames For Pictures
Everyday Socks
When was the last time you took so long, hard look at your socks? Often, we use them until they are completely worn out, and then wonder about why we’re getting blisters on our feet. If you really need a new pair or three, you’ll be able to get some great variety (and good quality choices) at the local dollar store. They’re affordable enough that you might even be tempted to buy some for your loved ones while you’re there as wel
Everyday Socks
Supplies For Festive Occasions
Throwing a party is a great way to get your loved ones together, and the pandemic has made this somewhat difficult to do. You should still decorate the space around you, even if you’re hosting more Zoom parties these days than actual in-person ones. Party supplies are nearly 75% more affordable at dollar stores, and your guests will be none the wiser about where you got them from. The rest of the budget can go to drinks and snacks!
Supplies For Festive Occasions
Pregnancy Tests
This one might be a little surprising to you. Everyone is always tempted to go running for the drugstore when they want to take a pregnancy test. Perhaps this is what the movies have always shown. The truth is that you can get the same tests for as much as one-fifteenth of the price at the dollar store. They work in just the same way, but won’t dip into your monthly budget as much in the process.
Pregnancy Tests
Home Decorations
Bowls and vases can be very expensive at boutique stores, so why not buy these at the dollar store instead? Nobody will be able to tell the difference, and people will be more focused on what you put into them to begin with. Often, you’ll even find a greater variety of colors and choices at the dollar store, giving you extra room to be creative when it comes to how you decorate your humble abode.
Home Decorations
Plastic Tupperware and Food Containers
Plastic food containers are ridiculously expensive at most supermarkets, especially when they are bundled up into groups of five, and you end up being charged per item. The dollar store should have similar products at the same quality level for a fraction of the price. If you’re just starting to fill your kitchen with items and appliances, this could save you quite a big chunk of money that would be more useful somewhere else for sure.
Plastic Tupperware And Food Containers
Sweet Treats
Digging into some sweet treats after a long day of work is a common event for many Americans. When the craving hits you, you don’t have to rush to the convenience store and buy overpriced sweets. The dollar store has so many options, especially around holidays and themed days like Halloween. Always make sure you keep an eye on when they expire, but they should usually be alright for a couple of months if they’re on the shelves.
Sweet Treats
Journals and Notebooks
Paper stores like to charge a markup on their notebooks, which often aren’t even that well designed or affordable. If you’re someone who likes to journal, this might be a regular expense that you have to pay. The dollar store charges a fraction of what you would be charged elsewhere, and better yet, you get a lot of options. With these prices, you might even be tempted to buy some notebooks for your loved ones, to inspire them to be more creative and start writing as well.
Journals And Notebooks
Larger Storage Options
Nobody likes a messy home. If getting always organized is part of your new year’s resolutions (or you’ve just been watching Marie Kondo on Netflix recently), storage containers are a must. These can help you to clear the clutter out of your home, and to find spaces for those loose items that always seem to be getting in the way. The dollar store will have multiple options, sizes and shapes, so you’ll be able to find what you are searching for in no time at all.
Larger Storage Options
Glasses and Mugs
If you have a big family, you’re going to need a lot of glasses and mugs for the kitchen. Not only just to begin with, but because accidents happen, and soon you’ll be missing a few in either collection. Dollar stores have great deals on mugs and glasses, because they don’t usually sell them in large sets. You can buy single items and mix-and-match to your taste preference. The only thing to remember is to wash them thoroughly after you’ve first bought them.
Glasses And Mugs
Festive Decorations
From Halloween to Easter, Christmas and more, you can get everything you need to spread the festive cheer by visiting a dollar store. If you’re planning on entertaining anyone for any of these events, it can be costly, especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it and you don’t have much at home. Reduce your overall bill by avoiding large supermarket chains for your purchase. You’ll be happy you did when you do it all again a year later.
Festive Decorations
Dishes and Kitchenware
Have you noticed how expensive plates are these days? If not, you might be in for a surprise the next time you’re furnishing a new living space. Dishes and kitchenware can eat into any household budget, but when you get them from the dollar store, you’re bound to get more bang for your buck. These are also usually one of the first things to break in a home, so make sure you buy a few spares just in case.
Dishes And Kitchenware
Environmentally Friendly Shopping Bags
Here’s one that might surprise you. Supermarkets often want you to buy their tote bags, which are usually marked up and very expensive if you do a monthly shop needing a lot of bags. Dollar stores are more environmentally conscious than you might think, offering many different options for shopping bags that won’t destroy the planet. The more you can reduce your plastic use at home and while you shop, the better for the earth, and for future generations.
Environmentally Friendly Shopping Bags
A Pair Of Reading Glasses
There is a myth about having to go to an eye doctor to get a new pair of reading glasses. These days, most dollar store stock generic reading glasses in many size and style varieties. When it comes to getting glasses related to longer-term eyesight problems, you should rather bank on a specialist. For something as simple as reading glasses, you’re good to go with a better deal at the dollar store for far less than you would pay elsewhere.
A Pair Of Reading Glasses
Gift Bags and Wrapping Paper
If you really prefer not to make use of the wrapping areas in stores over the festive season, and you like doing it yourself, you’re going to need a good gift bag, box and wrapping paper supplier. Paper stores sell these at exorbitant prices. Remember that you’ll only use them once, and the person will be throwing the wrapping away after a few minutes anyway. Keep things sentimental and save a few bucks by getting what you need at the dollar store.
Gift Bags And Wrapping Paper
Roll On And Spray Deodorant
In the pandemic, your hygiene and sanitation is more important than ever before. If you’re thinking about getting your deodorant from the dollar store, don’t. This is one of the most popular items that you usually get a better deal for at the drugstore. You also never know if someone has opened, or worse yet, sampled the roll-on deodorant right there in the store. Check your pharmacy for their deals, and they’ll probably be able to guarantee a sealed product as well.
Roll On And Spray Deodorant
Toys For Children
Toys can be very expensive, especially if you have very young children. While dollar stores might be appealing to find many options, these are often manufactured poorly and can break relatively easily. This isn’t a problem if your children are a little older, but can be a choking hazard if they are very small. Spend a little bit more on toys elsewhere, as there can be no price on good peace of mind that your child is in good hands, even when you’re not watching.
Toys For Children
Tools For The House
Toolkits can be expensive purchases, but this is the case because they usually last years, if not decades. Investing a good toolkit gives you options in an emergency, or when you’re tinkering around the house doing maintenance. If you skimp on a toolkit you may worsen the problem, and end up having to pay more. Stick to the hardware store as a safer bet, so you don’t have any unforeseen headaches and additional problems down the line.
Tools For The House
Standard Sized Batteries
Batteries bought at the dollar store are usually bought from suppliers that don’t invest a lot of energy in the quality of their products. These are bought in bulk, in order to provide consumers with a better price than they would find elsewhere. The problem is that these batteries don’t last as long as others. So if you’re looking to save on replacement costs, try rechargeable batteries from elsewhere, especially from a brand you know and trust.
Standard Sized Batteries
Kitchen Knives
There’s nothing worse than cutting into a nice piece of chicken or meat with a blunt knife. It ruins the experience for the person making the meal, and compromises the final product as well. Knives should always be seen as an investment, and the dollar store is not the place for this. Forget about the frustration that will linger if you go cheap on this item, and loosen the purse strings a little to get something that can serve you well in the years to come.
Kitchen Knives
Headphones
Cheap headphones might sound like a nice idea, but when they break after two days, you’ll be pissed for sure. You might be lured into the good price, only to find that you can’t hear out of one side of the headphones a few times into using the product. In this day and age, you should never skimp on headphones, especially as we tend to use them every day of our lives. No need to go for the big name brands, but be prepared to shell out a couple more dollars somewhere else.
Headphones
USB Chargers And Cables
A USB charger comes in handy on many occasions, including when you want to charge your phone, headphones, bluetooth speakers, Kindles and more. The problem is that the options offered by the dollar store aren’t exactly the top of the line products. You’ll likely find that they don’t have enough power to charge your devices up fully in a short space of time, and these days, we all know that time is money! You’re better off going somewhere else to get something more reliable.
USB Chargers And Cables
Cables For Your TV
If you need to replace a cable for your TV because the puppy chewed through them, you’re not alone. Accidents happen, and general wear and tear can also cause cables to stop working after a period of time. The dollar store might sell replacements, including decently priced HDMI cables, but this doesn’t mean that you should entertain it. On the contrary, the cables are often quite flimsy, leaving you with more problems, and no other option than to spend more money elsewhere.
Cables For Your TV
Plastic Utensils For Cooking
This specific product shouldn’t be bought anywhere, let alone a dollar store. Recent studies have found that plastic utensils release harmful chemicals over time that may eventually lead to you indirectly poisoning your own body. Stainless steel might be more expensive, but won’t give you the same problem. Spend a little bit more to make sure that you and your family are well taken care of, instead of having to deal with health problems down the line.
Plastic Utensils For Cooking
Back To School Items
If you have children at school, you’ll know that the costs attached to education each year can be astronomical. If you’re looking to get school supplies at the start of the year, dollar stores are an option to consider. Before you do that, make sure that you check the deals running at some of the more formal stationery shops. You may be able to get a good price and buy higher quality items, essentially killing two birds with one stone in the process.
Back To School Items
Household Tape
Double sided tape comes in handy in some of the weirdest ways when you own a home. Sometimes it just helps to fix something temporary, before you can figure out a more permanent solution. If you’re looking for a long roll to store in case of emergency, dollar stores usually sell these for a cheaper price than you would find at hardware stores. The more you buy, the bigger the saving, and the better for your pockets in the long run.
Household Tape
Cotton Buds
Although these aren’t exactly the most environmentally friendly option, they have been a household staple for many generations, and may still be one in your home too. If you’re thinking of getting some cotton swabs for the bathroom, the dollar store is the best way to go. You might not get a notable brand from there, but it’s pretty much the same quality, and gets the job done just as well as some of its more expensive counterparts.
Cotton Buds
Paperclips
Forget about going to the office depot if you need to get a stack of paperclips for when you’re working from home. The dollar store can give you much more purchasing power for this and other office supplies, especially if you need to get your hands on a large amount of products in one go. Do some price checking before you buy, but you’re bound to get a better deal when you support the dollar store around the corner.
Paperclips
Flower and Plant Pots
Any new apartment should have at least two or three flower or plant pots to spruce up the space. These could hold succulents or cacti without even needing that much maintenance. Clay pots can be pretty costly at florists or gardening shops, so why not buy your next couple at the dollar store instead? These could also be lovely gifts with a bit more of a sentimental touch, rather than just sending someone cash for their next birthday.
Flower And Plant Pots
Decorations For Christmas
If you have a big family, decorating the home for the festive season can be a lot of fun. It can also be very expensive! If you’re footing the bill, try the dollar store for some bargains before you go to your usual retailer. This will leave you with more money for actual presents, and you’ll be able to enjoy the time of the year without having to watch your bank balance too closely every day.
Decorations For Christmas
New Mailing Labels
If you’re a little bit more old school than the average gen Z, and you still enjoy sending handwritten letters to your loved ones who live far away, you’ll need some mailing labels. Dollar stores usually sell these in packs of ten, and you get a much better deal that you would if you grabbed a handful at the post office at the last minute. You don’t need anything fancy, and these will do the job perfectly.
New Mailing Labels
Shaving Cream Or Gel
Although we warned against buying deodorant at the dollar store, we’re not going to say the same when it comes to shaving cream or gel. These can be heavily overpriced at pharmacies, and if you find yourself needing to shave more often than not, the expense can add up in a big way over time. Save yourself the hassle, and added costs, by buying from your local dollar store instead. Your monthly budget will thank you later when your savings start to increase.
Shaving Cream Or Gel
Headache Tablets
Headache tablets are a must-have in any home pharmacy kit, and it is usually when you need them the most that you run out of your supply. Drug stores like to add a premium to their prices for tablets like Advil, when dollar stores usually offer bulk deals at a fraction of the price. Skip the headache tablets during your next visit to the pharmacy, and make a note to add it to your list for the store around the corner instead.
Headache Tablets
Party Balloons
Party decorations are not known for their longevity, and balloons pretty much have an expiry date of the day you inflate them. There’s no need to spend an exorbitant amount of money on balloons from the gift store, when you could be getting them for a fraction of the price at the dollar store. They also offer small denominations at the dollar store, so you don’t need to buy a pack of 100, when all you need are a handful.
Party Balloons
Bandaids And Basic Medical Supplies
Accidents happen, and when they do, bandaids and other basic medical supplies can be a big help. These should always be stocked up and home, and by buying from the dollar store instead of a pharmacy, you could be saving yourself hundreds of dollars a year. Some essentials are as much as half the price at the dollar store, which saves you some wiggle room for the rising costs on more formal medication and doctors visits.
Bandaids And Basic Medical Supplies
Beer Glasses
There’s nothing better than a cold beer at the end of a long work week. If you’d like a glass that resembles that of a bar, especially as it’s probably been quite some time since lockdown restrictions have allowed you to visit your local pub, then the dollar store is a good place to look. You’ll be paying so little, that it won’t bother you in case you drop the glass by mistake at any point.
Beer Glasses
Family Board Games
You don’t need a screen to keep you entertained over the weekends. Better yet, if you have a big family, board games and puzzles are a wonderful way to engage everyone in some bonding time together. Gift shops might sell these at high prices, but dollar stores offer a big variety at a much affordable price. You may see some alternatives to the well known games, but usually they won’t be all that different to begin with. Happy playing!
Family Board Games
Bobby Pins
A majority of the population uses bobby pins to keep their hair in place, especially if they’re known to shed their hair throughout the course of the day. With more family members at home all day during the pandemic, this could be an unforeseen annoyance, especially if you’re in charge of cleaning certain rooms. The dollar store is really a great place to look if you want to buy some bobby pins in bulk and avoid these kinds of problems altogether.
Bobby Pins
Healthy Bread
While you might not have an image of freshly baked treats in mind when you first think of the dollar store, thanks to new deals with big brands, this might be exactly what you find on the shelves next time you visit. The pandemic has tightened everybody’s belts, so why not buy your next loaf for cheaper than you would at the supermarket. You may even be able to freeze a couple of loaves, saving yourself regular trips.
Healthy Bread
Cleaning Materials
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt like cleaning supplies are more expensive than they needed to be. The dollar store is the perfect alternative to highly marked up prices at supermarkets, and can be an alternative to find a good deal if you’re running out of materials faster with more foot traffic at home during the pandemic. Some popular brands can be found at half the price, which is a welcome change from the deals you might see elsewhere.
Cleaning Materials
Sheets To Bake Cookies
If the smell of cookies wafting through the house sounds like heaven to you, you might want to take a look at your nearest dollar store for your next purchase of cookie sheets. That said, you can find a few great deals for other baking supplies too, which usually run quite expensive at the larger chain stores. With a stamp of approval from online bloggers in tow, the dollar store really pulls through if you’re on a tight budget.
Sheets To Bake Cookies
Study Cards
Any parent who has ever had to help a child prepare for public speaking, or a big exam, will know that index cards are an important part of the revision process. These usually come in big stacks, and are usually sold for a couple of dollars in paper stores. At the dollar store, you can get a big stack for just fifty cents, meaning you could probably buy a couple for the same price of one elsewhere. Talk about a wonderful bargain.
Study Cards
Mini Flashlights
You just never know when you’re going to need a small flashlight to help you out in a tricky situation. Mini flashlights that hang on keychains can be the perfect contingency plan, especially because they are battery operated and won’t let you down like an uncharged solar alternative could. The dollar store sells these at a very affordable price, albeit that they aren’t designed to last for years and years. They’re pretty cheap, so replacing them will be affordable enough.
Mini Flashlights
Slops and Flip Flops
Shoes are an essential for anybody, and if you like walking around in flip flops during summer, you’ll need a good pair to tide you over for those months. Dollar stores sell a lot of these, typically to students who use them in dorms at college, or to people who are going on holiday to the coast. Flip flops don’t need to be an expensive purchase, and if you’re comfortable using ones without a big brand name, the dollar store is the way to go.
Slops And Flip Flops
Markers And Pens
Whether you’re doing an arts and crafts project, or just need a way to mark your child’s school supplies, permanent markers come in very handy. These can run at high prices at paper stores, and usually, you have to buy a set in one go. Dollar stores sell these at singles, and if you’re willing to let go of the big-name brands, you could end up walking away with a better deal than you could have imagined at first.
Markers And Pens