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Now more than ever, low-price retailers are locked in a fierce battle to earn your loyalty as a customer. As buyers develop more and more purchasing savvy and shop online even for items like toothpaste, toilet paper, and peanut butter, the stakes are higher than ever for those retailers.
The bottom-line is that shoppers are always on the lookout for the best possible value when making a purchase, even if the local dollar store offers the best value. But it isn’t always easy for buyers to determine the best items to buy at the dollar store.
The 14 Best Items to Buy at the Dollar Store
If you have three minutes, keep reading and we’ll show you the best items to buy at the dollar store to help you save money and still get maximum value from your purchases.
1. Cleaning supplies
Marketers know exactly how to hit your pain points and convince you that you need expensive chemicals to keep a clean house and a healthy family. Tapping into your fear and pride allowed them to create a multi-million dollar industry.
The truth is that basic cleaning supplies, such as bleach, ammonia, toilet boil cleaners, toilet cleaning brushes, brooms, mops, dust pans, and dusters are manufactured nearly identically across the board. They are without a doubt some of the best items to buy at the dollar store without sacrificing value.
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2. Candy
Packaged candy quantities seem to change frequently, but many varieties are among the the best items to buy at the dollar store. Stock up on thin mints, hard candy, and generic favorites to save money on your next at home movie night.
3. Personal hygiene items
These purchases may require a bit of trial and error, as products come and go, but many personal hygiene items at the dollar store are made with the same ingredients as their more-expensive counterparts. This is especially true of shampoo and deodorant. Just be careful with dollar store toothpastes, as many are not FDA approved.
4. Dishware and flatware
If you’re in the stage of life in which things inevitably get broken by your kids, pack away the nice dishes and use these for a while instead. The ceramic plates and mugs in particular will last a long time. You can also use them for display purposes if you prefer keeping your dining room table set.
5. Basic Tools for a Starter Toolbox
You won’t find Craftsman or other elite brands there, but if you’re looking to build a basic starter toolbox, the dollar store is the place to start.
You can find small toolboxes, hammers, screw drivers, nails, tape measures, duct tape, bungee cords, zip ties, glue, paint brushes, and more at most dollar stores, and these tools are more than adequate for light household use.
6. Greeting Cards
If you dislike spending $4.99 on a greeting card and don’t have time to make one yourself, cards rank among the best items to buy at the dollar store. Many stores sell them 2 for $1.00.
7. Party Supplies
Throwing a party soon? Your local dollar store is the best place to score deals on plates, napkins, cups, decorations, and balloons – and you’ll save money compared to visiting a designated party supply store.
8. Pregnancy Tests
It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not: dollar store pregnancy tests are usually just as accurate as their more expensive counterparts when used correctly. Since it takes the average couple several months to one year to conceive, the enormous money saving potential makes pregnancy tests one of the best items to buy at the dollar store by a wide margin.
9. Hair accessories
Hair clips, scrunchies/ties, bobby pins, combs, and brushes are usually inexpensive no matter where you shop, but if you look carefully and find them in good quantities you can save money at the dollar store.
10. Home decor
Most dollar stores have taken a cue from their rivals and now offer a selection of home decor items, including vases, decorative plates, mugs, mirrors, and picture frames. Wise shoppers will scrutinize the quality of some items, but they are there to be found.
Similarly, most dollar stores offer a great selection of seasonal holiday decor, from window decals to traditional Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter decorations.
11. Wrapping paper and gift supplies
While picking up greeting cards, grab wrapping paper and/or gift bags while you’re at it. These items won’t be as fancy as their counterparts at more expensive stores, but they’re just going to be ripped and discarded anyway.
12. Reading glasses
Many dollar stores offer specialized reading glasses. They are a great value at only $1.
13. Disposable containers
If you’re planning to prepare a meal to take on the go or bring to a pot luck, pick up disposal containers at the dollar store first. You’ll save a ton of cash by avoiding higher prices at the local grocery store.
14. Books
Finding good books at the dollar store isn’t easy, but it’s not out of the question to find several best-sellers waiting on the shelves.
What are your favorite items to buy at the dollar store? Tell us in the comments section below.
Mrs. Picky Pincher says
April 28, 2017 at 8:28 AMSo much yes!! I like to buy wrapping paper, gift boxes, cards, cleaners (I don’t get stuff like brooms since they’ve broken on me before though), decor, and craft items. I love Dollar Tree for picking up items for parties. Stuff like disposable plasticware and punch bowls are so much more expensive at Party City and even Walmart. I haven’t tried the pregnancy tests (lol), but I’ve heard they’re just as good as conventional tests, so I’ll keep that in mind too!
Hero says
April 28, 2017 at 2:00 PMSounds like you’re a Dollar Tree pro, Mrs. PP! The pregnancy test tip isn’t always useful for everyone, obviously, but the savings potential is huge.
Mrfirestation says
April 28, 2017 at 10:07 AMBalloons are an incredible deal at dollar stores. Especially right before a valentine’s! We also by candy/snacks there on the way to the movie theater.
Hero says
April 28, 2017 at 2:01 PMI can often find 2/$1 movie candy at a few local dollar stores. And I’m not even ashamed to eat both boxes sometimes!
Mike says
April 28, 2017 at 12:53 PMWe go to the dollar often too….we mostly get household items, greeting cards, spices, snacks and cleaning supplies
Martin - Get FIRE'd asap says
April 29, 2017 at 6:18 PMPut me down for birthday cards, plastic storage containers and, believe it or not, those handy but otherwise overpriced at other stores, things like cell phone cords and chargers, USB sticks etc.
My first stop is always the dollar stores. If the quality is too low, I move on but often it’s the right item at the right price.
One thing that does always hit me is the amount of plasticy junk that they also have on the shelves. That, out there in the world, some factory is busy producing the little piece of plastic crap apparently to make our lives just that little bit easier and more comfortable. It’s shameful how much of it really is just waste, imho.
Katie says
September 27, 2017 at 11:54 AMI love the dollar tree. I will have to disagree with some of the cleaning supplies suggestion though. The toilet cleaner, shower/tub cleaner, and glass cleaner is not the same as the bigger brands. They leave a terrible smell and it doesn’t feel like it gets stuff clean. We got those products when we bought our first house, and we never will again. Everything else is spot on in my opinion though.
Hero says
September 29, 2017 at 1:18 PMInteresting, Katie! I suppose it probably depends upon the specific products and store locations, to some extent.