What to Buy at the Dollar Store, and What to Skip

Your local dollar store can be a great source for many things, but definitely not all things. From wrapping paper to cleaning supplies, the dollar store can save you money. But not everything at these stores is actually worth buying. So I decided to do some sleuthing a come up with a basic list of what you should pick up at the dollar store and what you should probably pass on. I read a whole bunch of articles on the topic – including the comments on those articles which had tons of great ideas! I also looked to your ideas on our One Good Thing by Jillee Facebook page and then spent a good 2 hours walking the aisles of Dollar Tree to find the best bargains.

This list is by no means comprehensive but hopefully will give you a good idea of what to look out for. All of these deals are based on what I found at Dollar Tree. About 99% of the items at Dollar Tree are $1 with some things being slightly under $1. We don’t have a Family Dollar or any stores like that in my town so I wasn’t able to check out places that price items above $1.

Seasonal

What to Buy:

Seasonal Home Decor

Halloween Costumes and Candy

Cards

What Not to Buy:

I can’t think of a single thing in the seasonal section that I would tell you not to buy!

Toys and Crafts

What To Buy:

Bubbles

Bouncy Balls

Hula Hoops – I read on another website that these aren’t great for actually hula hooping but you can use them to make giant bubbles!

Card Games

Coloring Books and Activity Books

Glow Sticks

Puzzles

Toys- The dollar store is a mecca for toys that really won’t last very long because they aren’t great quality. But if it’s something your kids might break or lose anyway, I don’t see much point in paying a lot for it.

Paint, Glitter, Beads etc.- Craft supplies can be pricey! The dollar store is a great place to find simple supplies for kids crafts. However, if you are a more serious crafter you’ll probably want to stick to the higher quality stuff at craft stores and use coupons.

Plain T-Shirts

What Not To Buy:

Dolls – I looked through a bunch of these and most of them were already coming un-sewed.

Trading Cards – My oldest son, who loves baseball cards, says you can get better value at Walmart or Target.

School and Office Supplies

What to Buy:

Project Display Boards

Tab Dividers

Binder Clips

Dry Erase Supplies

Poster Board

Mailing Supplies

File Folders

Educational Supplies

Some Books – Most of the books at dollar stores are cast offs that nobody wants to read. But I found of bunch of classic books that are a bargain at $1!

What not to Buy:

Composition Books – You can actually get these for less than $1 at Walmart.

Lined Paper – You should be able to find it cheaper in bulk.

Crayons

Glue Sticks

Post-Its – You can get them cheaper in bulk.

Pens and Highlighters – You can usually find these on sale at big box stores or cheaper in bulk.

Report Folders – You can find them cheaper at box stores.

Parties and Gifts

What to Buy:

Paper Goods

Wrapping Paper

Ribbon

Gift Bags and Boxes

Greeting Cards

Thank-You Notes

Candles

Streamers

Mylar Balloons

What not to Buy:

Plastic Silverware – It’s pretty flimsy and breaks easily.

Party Favors – Moms tend to not appreciate when their kids bring home a bag full of cheap little plastic toys from birthday parties. These things just end up broken and strewn all over the house for mom and dad to step on.

Pets

What to Buy:

Training Pads: I actually brought home a bag of these to see if they are as nice as the ones you get at pet stores. They definitely are and would save you a ton of money if you have a puppy!

Dog and Cat Treats: The dollar store sells many of the same brands you can find at pet stores but for a fraction of the cost.

What not to Buy:

Canned Dog Food and Cat Food – You can find canned food for cheaper in bulk or on sale at a grocery store or box store.

Dog and Cat Toys – The ones I looked at were very flimsy and could be a major choking hazard for your pets.

Bath and Body

What to Buy:

Hair Accessories

Brushes – These probably wouldn’t stand up to heavy, daily use but would be great to have in your purse or car as an extra brush.

Hand Mirrors

Foam Rollers

Socks

Sponges

Shower Caddies

Eye Masks

Travel Size Bottles

Hot Patches

Ear Plugs

Rubbing Alcohol

Name Brand Medicine

Cough Drops

Vitamin/Pill Organizers

Shaving Cream

Floss

Mouth Wash

Name Brand Toothpaste

Toothbrushes

Cotton Swabs

Cotton Balls

Nail Polish Remover

Sunglasses and Reading Glasses

What not to Buy:

Soap – You can get soap for less than a dollar on sale at the grocery store.

Makeup – I’ve heard that some dollar stores carry name brand makeup, but I couldn’t find any at mine. I don’t know that I would trust no-name makeup.

Feminine Products – The dollar store does carry name brands but you can usually get them cheaper on sale or with a coupon and in bigger packages.

Hydrogen Peroxide – You can find it for less than $1 at Walmart.

Bandaids

Chapstick – I usually see them 2 for $1 at other stores.

Off-Brand Medications and Vitamins

Hair Color – I definitely wouldn’t trust $1 permanent hair color.

Shampoo

Travel Size Products – You can usually get them for less than $1 at Walmart or Target. Or just buy reusable bottles and refill them with your own products.

Perfume

Razors

Teeth Whitening Products

Baby Products

Food

What to Buy:

Movie Candy

Frozen Fruit and Veggies

String Cheese

Drink Mixes

Spices

Some Condiments – But only if there isn’t a better sale at the grocery store! I also found organic ketchup with no high fructose corn syrup. I doubt you could find that for a $1 anywhere else.

Brown Rice

Oatmeal

Snack Foods

What not to Buy:

Soda – You can find it cheaper on sale at the grocery store.

Juice – Same deal as the soda.

Gum – Usually cheaper in bulk.

Gatorade – Much cheaper on sale and with a coupon at the grocery store.

Canned Goods – You can buy them in bulk for less than $1 a can.

Pasta – I rarely pay $1 for a bag of pasta! If you watch the sales you can find whole wheat pasta for 79 cents.

Baking Soda – Cheaper to buy in bulk.

Sugar – Same as baking soda.

Cereal – Cheaper on sale and with a coupon.

Cleaning

What to Buy:

LA’s Totally Awesome Cleaners – I haven’t used these personally but have heard they are fantastic!

The Works Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Again, I haven’t used this myself but have heard good things.

Ajax

Glass Cleaner

Bleach

Dryer Sheets

Ammonia

Spray Bottles

Sponges

Scouring Pads

Dust Pans

Disposable Gloves

Microfiber Cloths – I haven’t tried these but a few people on Facebook said they work great!

Off-Brand Swiffer Refills

Oxygen Bleach

Brooms

What not to Buy:

Dawn Dishsoap – The bottle I saw was super tiny and not worth $1.

Laundry Detergent – Not great quality and it’s cheaper to make your own.

Carpet Powder – I’ve read that these powders just get stuck in your carpet mat even after vacuuming!

Tissues – You can find them cheaper on sale or in bulk.

Toilet Paper – Just not great quality!

Paper Towels – Same as the toilet paper.

Garbage Bags – Very flimsy and they tear easily.

Clean Team Solutions Cloths – This sounds oddly specific but this is a brand of cleaning cloths they carry at my Dollar Tree. I’ve used them and they are totally worthless!

Storage/Organization

What to Buy:

Plastic Baskets

Clothes Pins

What not to Buy:

Hangers – These seem like a great deal but I’ve found the nice, velvet hangers at Costco in bulk for less than 50 cents a piece.

Home Decor

What to Buy:

Artificial Flowers

Flower Pots

Candles

Electric Candles

Bathroom Decor

What not to Buy:

Baskets – If you have a thrift store close by you can almost always find baskets for less than $1.

Vases – Thrift stores are great for vases as well.

Frames – Ditto on Frames. Almost always less than $1 at thrift stores and you can find better quality ones.

Tools and Maintenance

What to Buy:

Most Car Maintenance Products – I consulted my husband on this. He said basic car maintenance things would be find to buy. Just stay away from things like motor oil.

Paint Brushes – These wouldn’t be great for big painting projects but would be find for small jobs.

Drop Cloths

Paint Trays

Screw Drives, Hammers, Pliers – I saw these on a few lists as things not to buy but they looked like great quality to me!

Super Glue

Tape

Washer Fluid

Nails and Screws

What not to Buy:

Saws and Utility Knives – Most likely very dull and not great quality.

Bungee Cords – Just not sure I would trust cheap bungee cords.

Lightbulbs – They probably wouldn’t last very long.

Batteries – I’ve heard that dollar store batteries are fine to use in products that don’t need a lot of power, but they run out very quickly on anything else.

Plugs – I’ve heard that you should stay away from anything electronic at dollar stores.

Kitchen

What to Buy:

Plastic and Glass Dishes

Disposable Baking Dishes

Plastic Storage Containers

Basic Kitchen Utensils

Paper Plates and Napkins

Plastic Straws

Cutting Boards

Measuring Cups

Metal Flatware – These aren’t great quality but they would be perfect if you’re having a dinner party and don’t have enough silverware.

Matches

What not to Buy:

Mason Jars – When you buy the big boxes of mason jars at box stores they are usually cheaper than $1 a piece.

Aluminum Foil – Tears very easily.

Plastic Storage Bags – They seem like a great deal but there are hardly any bags in each box. You can find them cheaper at Walmart or Costco.

Oven Mitts – I read on a few different sites that people have burned themselves using dollar store oven mitts!

Dish Towels – They are very, very thin.

Knives – I am a huge believer in good quality knives. You are just asking to cut yourself when you use cheap knives.

Can Openers – I’ve never had much success with cheap can openers.

Peelers – Same as can openers.

Pizza Pans, Bread Pans – These are very flimsy but would be good for a one or two time use situation.

All in all, dollar stores can be a great place to find a bargain. Just make sure you shop carefully, and preferably with a LIST! It’s easy to buy things you don’t necessarily need because everything seems like a great deal at one dollar!

What do you buy at the dollar store? What do you avoid?