How to Shop at the Dollar Store

Before we got married, Mike and I took a set of East Coast Swing dancing lessons. We never got very good, but it was a fun thing to do together. One day we got to class early and needed to kill some time. Luckily for us, there was a dollar store on the same block; so we started looking around and ended up finding some amazing deals. Did you know that you can buy wrapping paper and greeting cards at the dollar store? How about shredded cheese and tortilla chips? Mike and I go to our local dollar store at least once or twice a month. We make a dollar store list just like we make a grocery store and Target list. We have tried out a lot of products, and below, I will share our list of successes and failures. Before you know it, the dollar store will be one of your regular stops as well!

Do’s

Shredded cheese (2-cup bags)

Grated parmesan cheese (8 oz)

Eggs (6 count)

Sour Cream

Frozen veggies

Chips

Crackers

Cookies

Bags of candy

Spices

Juice/Sweet Tea                                

Candles

Gift wrap (sometimes the paper is fairly thin, and you may be able to see through it. You can fix this by wrapping the gift in tissue paper first or just wrapping in two layers of paper).

Greeting cards (2 for a dollar)                                                             

Party Decorations

Helium filled balloons

Mugs and plates

Books (they are pretty hit or miss, but you can find some really good ones)

Puzzle books (logic, crossword, Sudoku, word finds, etc.)

Travel toiletries

Hair ties and bobby pins

Cleaning products

Don’ts

Candy bars (nothing wrong with them…just not worth the value)

Kitchen scissors (not good enough for regular scissors, let alone ones to use in your kitchen)

Kitchen utensils (they feel pretty flimsy but would do in a pinch)

Nail polish (in my experience, you get what you pay for—cheap nail polish often chips by the end of the day)

Notes

Always make sure to check expiration dates—whether you are shopping at the regular grocery store or the dollar store.

Don’t be afraid to test out a new product. You might find something you love. And if you don’t…it’s only a dollar.

The dollar store is the perfect place to go for stocking stuffers or Easter basket fillers.