15 Items You Should Always Buy at Dollar Stores…(And 7 You Should Pass On)

I write about shopping at dollar stores quite often. I personally shop at the Dollar Tree because we have one that is close to the house and it always has great selections. If you shop dollar stores regularly, most likely you know or will find out, that some products you find there really are a bargain and some items just don’t last or work.

Greeting cards, party supplies, and wrapping supplies are some of my favorite bargain-buys. Even if I’m at Target or another store buying gifts, I will always make a second stop at the Dollar Tree to pick up the gift bags, cards, tissue paper, etc. because I seriously do not want to end up paying more for the packaging than I did on the present itself. I just can’t bring myself to pay $5 for a birthday card when I can get it for 50 cents at the Dollar Tree.

Money Talk News came out with a list of their 15 favorite things to buy at a dollar store and I can honestly say I have purchased 14 out of their 15 suggestions. (The one item I haven’t tried is a pregnancy test. Haven’t needed one of those in years…ha!)

A few other things I personally buy that they didn’t mention are items like bubbles for our grandkids, gardening supplies like small hand tools and gloves, which I find to last as long as higher-priced ones, activity books and art supplies for the grandkids, and small kitchen tools like measuring cups, cutting boards, and utensils.

https://www.moneytalksnews.com/definitely-buy-these-15-things-dollar-store/

Money Talk News also came out with a list of 7 things not to buy, which for the most part I agree with. When it comes to purchasing toys, I have learned what breaks, could be dangerous, and what actually holds up. Anything with small parts has a pretty high chance of breaking sooner rather than later. But items like those bags of small plastic army figures, just like they sell at other stores but for more, will hold up over time. Plastic dinosaurs, balls, puzzles, and books are all things I purchase and have found to be good value-buys.

Shampoo and beauty products also showed up on their “don’t buy” list. I agree there are things that I don’t buy like shampoo because it could be expired or diluted, which I have read can happen at major chain stores too. But when it comes to nail polish, polish remover, trendy eyeshadow colors, and lip gloss…well, I find them to work just fine.

Canned and boxed foods made the list too. Not necessarily because the food choices are inferior but because a lot of times you can actually pick the items up for less at the grocery store with sales and coupons. A lot of times the packages are smaller at the dollar stores so that can make a difference too in if you’re actually getting a good deal. But there are bargains to be found. At the store I go to they sell gluten-free broths that are the same exact size as at the grocery store for a third of the price and has the same exact ingredients.

I find that just using some common sense will help me decide what to buy and what not to buy from dollar stores. If I pull on a car wheel and it comes off or feels loose, then that’s a no. If something feels or looks “cheap” then pass on it.

Here are the 7 items Money Talk News says you shouldn’t buy at dollar stores…

https://www.moneytalksnews.com/dont-buy-these-7-things-dollar-store/