I just love a good Dollar Store.
My favorite is a local chain called “Real Deals for a Dollar” in Norwich, New York. They buy a lot of great closeout items you don’t see at the national chains-Rustoleum & Martha Stewart spray paints, scrapbooking supplies, and lots of others. It’s always a surprise.
So what are my favorite items to buy at a dollar store?
1) Bubble Bath.
Soap is soap, right? So I buy the largest bubble bath I can find at the dollar store and use that to refill my liquid soap dispensers. For $1 I can usually get a 40 oz bottle.
2) Makeup
This one is not consistent. I always check out the makeup section at the dollar store. One trip they will just have cruddy brands you’ve never heard of. The next trip they may have Physicians Formula and Revlon. I’ve picked up Revlon Colorstay lipsticks (retail $8) and Maybeline Eyeliner before.
3) Greeting Cards
Two cards for a dollar! At that price I keep my card box at home stocked up with general birthday, sympathy, and get well cards. I never get caught without and have to run out to the drugstore for a $5 card.
4) Office Supplies
Pens, staplers, staples, paperclips, erasers, colored pencils, notebooks and index cards all can be bought for just a dollar. I’ve run across postcard paper & labels by Avery and good bond paper (suitable for resumes etc).
5) Costume Jewelry
I admit it. I buy cheapo costume jewelry from the dollar store. I’m somewhat of an earring maven-I have to have something on that coordinates with my outfit. I also like big chunky necklaces. I always check out the offerings at the dollar store. Most of it is crud, but then every once in a while I find something cute.
So what are your favorites to pick up at the dollar store?
* These “overtime lipsticks” are the only type that actually stays on my lips longer than a few seconds each day-I’m not totally brand loyal to Revlon, Covergirl etc have a similar product.
Books! I love the books at the Dollar Tree store, and my sister buys groceries. Current, un-expired groceries for a buck!
We do not have dollar stores here but $2 stores-(From Japan).
The best buys there are kids aprons, cutlery and storage items.
My fave store is Dollar Tree, and I’ve even bought dinnerware there. I like the Dollar General too. Not as many $1 items, but still very good prices on cleaning supplies (most are $1 to $1.25). My favorite buys are paper products and plastic bags; makeup; cleaning supplies; and food items. Our Dollar Tree even has frozen food in smaller packages. Great for someone living alone like me.
the greeting cards are my favorite. but i also like getting shower caddies and baskets there for my CVS gift baskets 🙂
I’m a complete stationary addict as well. Our Pound Store has recently started to sell yarn and card making supplies so that might become a bit of a new addiction. Plus the cleaning supplies and groceries.
Helium balloons! I love getting them there. Make someone’s birthday/holiday/graduation special for $1 instead of $4 on up! You can’t beat that.
Cloth Napkins! I was shocked to find such a large assortment of them at 2/$1. They had plain and seasonal ones, and they were brands I recognized…just last years style.
Also, the scrapbooking things are great. Little kits for $1, or papers 4/$1.
household cleaning products. you can often get name brand stuff like mr. clean and lysol for $1! and if it isn’t name brand, who cares? you’re just going to scrub the bathroom with it 🙂
I like to pick up stickers and other fun crafty items for kids at dollar stores. I also picked up some great pre-school workbooks.
One of my favorite buys was rosehip jelly. That was a one time deal.
Wow, the cloth napkin this is definitely something I am going to look out for. We just moved to a new area, and I am in need of scoping our all the new $ stores. 🙂
I love the craft items that kids can use from the dollar stores. I also get a few grocerys (especially spices). For me, I go bonkers for candles. For charity, I buy toothpaste for our own use and for homeless shelters. Can’t beat $1.00 on brand names).
I have purchased a few toys, but found out that about half of the toys break, or don’t operate. When you pay only a dollar, you get what you pay for. Alas.
Bottom line-I’ll still shop at the dollar store.
Peg D
Helium balloons are a favorite of mine as well if we’re having a party. I also pick up party decorations and gift bags, coloring books and sidewalk chalk. Sometimes they also have nice picture frames.
I love my Dollar Tree stores, I have 3 that are easily accessable.
My Fav item has got to be Photo paper, the glossy kind that never seems to go on clearance elsewhere. My kids science fair and history fair projects look sooo good now!
What I always buy at the Dollar Store-batteries, pool toys, sometimes DVDs, CDs (party theme music), and its a frugal way to entertain the kids I tell them they can get 2 things and it usually makes them happy!
Soap, baby wipes, tv dinners, food, dog food, cat food, cat litter, soda, candy, gum, diapers, garbage bags, sandwich bags, balloons blown up for parties, gifts, toys, science project stuff, stationary, figurines, key chains, socks, tshirts and so much more. Daphne
I love me some Dollar Stores! I even get some food there. If I want or need something. I always check the Dollar Store or Big Lots be fore going to the other big stores.
I always stop at Big Lots for cereal! I can buy cereal for $1.50 a box sometimes. My kids like a lot of variety and go through a lot of cereal.
Jen
http://www.ListPlanIt.com
I forgot to mention that I had huge success buying little toys to take out slowly during a trans-Atlantic flight. It’s a long flight and it’s hard on little kids. Surprise them every few hours, and it keeps them busy and pretty well behaved (in their seats). Well… it’s not a miracle worker! (-:
wow! Great conversation folks!
I forgot to mention plastic ziplock style baggies in my post-those I always buy at the dollar store. I tend to buy the freezer ones because they are a little thicker and hold up to washing better (yes, I’m one of THOSE frugal types).
It’s so much fun to hear what different folks have available in their dollar stores. I love when I can find a name brand item-like the time they had Hunts ORGANIC spaghetti sauce. I think I bought 30 cans and only ran out last month. . .
Our cards are $1 each… still a great price!
I always find great buys when I go in… my only beef is you’ll see something great and they only stock it that one time. Gotta grab it while it’s still there!
I love, love, love our dollar store! I buy Sunday School supplies there (snacks, craft supplies, coloring books, books & dvds), cleaning products (my favorite is an all-purpose concentrate that works 10-1 on laundry, wood floors–practically everything), some groceries (fresh corn tortillas, decent pre-sliced pepperoni), and of course miscellaneous items that make it a low-guilt shopping location.
The reason the Dollar Tree's inventory changes a lot is because if the company discovers a competing store selling the same product, they will no longer carry it. (My local manager is a friend.)