There is a place in the world for Dollar Tree…
I love shopping at dollar stores and usually, because of distance, shop at the Dollar Tree. I have thrown baby showers, wedding showers, birthday parties and holiday get-togethers using mostly items from there and no one would be the wiser unless I told them, which I usually do! Some of my favorite things to buy there are greeting cards and wrapping paper and bows. I seriously hate spending a lot of money to wrap with, I mean, if you buy a present and get it at a great deal, the way you wrap it could actually cost more than the gift! AND, all of that gets tossed anyway, so why spend the money?
Don’t believe the “naysayers”
I’ve read a lot of articles that talk about how junky and poorly made items are that you can pick up at dollar stores and while I agree that you have to double-check expiration dates (like I do even at the grocery store) and that toys can easily break (just like at any other store), for the most part, I enjoy shopping there and find great buys.
The Big Dogs weigh in…
So I was thrilled when I saw this Consumer Reports article that talks about the different types of dollar stores (not all of them have items that JUST cost a buck) and the great finds and buys you can get at them. It’s a well-written piece (I think) and informative. You know, if you haven’t shopped at one before, or it’s been a long time since you last visited one, I think you’ll be surprised at the merchandise they are carrying these days and even by the “type” of people you’ll see there.
It isn’t just random brands you haven’t heard of…
And if you don’t like buying “off-brand”, there’s tons of name-brand items, especially in the cleaning aisle these days. I personally like getting plastic and paper goods there because they have a huge selection of colors, designs, and they are super cheap…great for larger get-togethers or parties. I get a lot of my serving pieces (again for parties) and glass bowls there too.
So, if you haven’t been to a dollar store, pop in to one and check it out….you might be surprised by what you find….and buy!
Tammy’s Tip ‘O the Day!
*Just like any toy, you want to check the suggested age on it. And if you’re buying party favors that are made out of plastic, chances are it’s not going to last for years, but most likely, neither will the ones you buy at higher dollar stores.