Have you ever given much thought to what the best things to buy at Dollar Tree are? If you are a seasoned frugal shopper, chances are that you are very familiar with your local Dollar Tree. There are usually two mindsets regarding dollar stores. One is that everything they have is junk and some say “you get what you pay for”. The other is other mindset is there are some great bargains there if you know what to look for.
I happen to be in the latter group! If you haven’t been in to a Dollar Tree (or other dollar store), you don’t know what you’re missing. I’ve been shopping there long enough to know what is and isn’t a good deal and let me tell you…you can score some great bargains and SAVE a ton of money!
I have comprised a list of what I have found to be the best things to buy at Dollar Tree and I think mostbargain shopping experts would agree!
Best Things to Buy At Dollar Tree
Kitchenware
This goes for plates, glasses, bowls, wineglasses, coffee mugs, etc. I’ve been buying their glassware for years. As a decorative painter, this is a perfect place for me to get my wineglasses and coffee mugs. The quality is every bit as good as any of the name brand stores, if not better. I pay $1 for the item and can usually resell it once it’s painted for 10x or more profit! The tableware is sturdy and beautiful! They even have seasonal tableware! If your short on money but you still want to entertain and set a gorgeous table for any holiday occasion, this is the place to do it! Or, if your just starting out with a place of your own and you need dishes, look no further! You really get a lot of bang for a buck, here!
Cleaning Supplies
If you’re not brand picky, their cleaning supplies do just as well as the name brands. Some of my favorites are the disinfecting wipes. I use these to wipe my bathroom counter down every morning. The Fabuloso products are good, too! They have a nice, clean smell and work great on just about anything. If you need rubber gloves, fabric refresher, wrinkle remover, scrubbing bubbles (another favorite!), they have it! I have also seen name brands, like Lysol, Clorox, Ajax, Limeaway and Palmolive, but every store is different.
Organizational/Storage Supplies
Any time I need these types of items, Dollar Tree is my go to place! You can’t beat them! They have storage containers for food, organizational storage, the vacuum sealed space saving bags, collapsable storage containers (like crates) that I use for toy storage drawer organization and the list goes on.
Seasonal Decor
Oh my! Go into the Dollar Tree any time of the year and they have tons of seasonal decor for whatever season it is! Their florals are beautiful! I recently made a Fall Arrangement for my dining room table with all Dollar Tree items. The quality of the flowers and leaves is amazing! If the same bunches were bought at any other store, I would have expected to pay 2x-3x as much!
If you’re on a tight budget and you want to decorate your home for the seasons, shop here first! Signs, florals, knick knacks, etc.!
Pet Supplies
Need a leash, a collar or food/water bowls? They have them! Some of the toys are great, but I tend to get a little picky here, when it comes to my fur babies. Check out where the toys are made and be sure to look at potential health threats, such as small pieces that could break off. I also tend to stay away from the snacks and food. It may be fine, but my pets tend to be sensitive in the diet department, so I won’t take a chance. Look where it’s made and use your best judgement here.
Mailing Supplies
This is where I get my brown craft paper, clear packing tape, padded mailer envelopes and bubble wrap. These are all good quality items. I have an Etsy store and I mail out quite frequently. Getting my supplies here helps keep down my mailing cost.
Gift Wrapping
I have gotten some of the most beautiful, quality gift bags here! I’m often amazed at the art work and I wonder about the artist that create them. The wrapping paper, for the most part, is ok. Some of it can feel a little cheap, but most of the designs, whether it’s for baby showers or birthdays, are nice. It’s going to be ripped off any way. I alwaysbuy my Scotch tape here. You can get a 2 pk for $1! That’s .50 cents each and it’s good!
Greeting Cards
I refuse to pay $5 or $6 for a greeting card. Most of the time, the recipient is only worried about what’s inside. But even so, Dollar Tree has great cards! Usually, around the first of the year, I’ll sit down with my new calendar and write out all the birthday, anniversaries or other special occasions, that I know about and pick up some or all of the cards for the year (and usually a few extras). That way I always have them on hand and ready to go!
Helium Balloons
I lot of people don’t know that you can purchase the mylar balloons here AND have them inflated…For a $1!!! They have lots of cute designs to choose from as well.
Party Supplies
Oh my…Yes!! From theme or solid color party plates, cups, table clothes, streamers, plastic utensils, invitations, plastic serving bowls, wedding/shower supplies, you name it! It’s here!
Snacks
I have to let you in on a little secret. My favorite cookie is iced oatmeal and Dollar Tree has them. They are delicious…especially, dunked in a cup of coffee. 😉
They have a line of popcorn made by Brim’s that is great to snack on. My personal favorite is the white cheddar and it comes in a pretty good size bag. Be careful, though…It’s highly addictive.
The candy is probably one of the best bangs for the buck. When we go to the movies, this will save a bundle! Don’t judge…:)
Kid Stuff
Not everything in the toy department is good, but what I have found is that the coloring books, crayons and puzzles are great! Children don’t care if you paid $1 or $5 for something like that. These are great to keep on hand for those days when you need to entertain bored kids. They also make great stocking stuffers or party gifts. They have everything from super heroes to Barbie.
Stationary/Office/school Supplies
I love journals and notebooks. They have lots of great choices and styles to choose from. I could easily go overboard here. They have notepads, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, whiteout, paperclips, staplers, office storage..ie.pencil holders, desk organizers, manila folders, dividers, etc. All good, quality items for a fraction of the price at most office supply stores.
Pregnancy Test
Yes, you read that right. These can be pretty pricey at the drug store, some more than $10 each. If you’re not sure that one is accurate (they usually are, though), try a few, as it still won’t cost you what one would at a major store.
Reading Glasses
My favorite readers are from the dollar store. I’ve had my two pairs for many years and they’re still holding up great! I did buy a more expensive pair from a chain and they didn’t last 6 months. I lost a nose pad and a screw fell out of one of the ear pieces. For a buck, you could buy a pair for every room in your house and your car, too!
Makeup
Sometimes, they carry E.L.F which is also carried at other drug stores and department stores. I use several E.L.F. items and have been pleased. One of my favorite makeup items is the liquid eyeliner. The brand is LA Colors. It has a great, fine tip brush and it stays on. They also have, lip coloring pencils, eye liner pencils, blush, eyeshadow and nail polish. Give it a try!
Socks
Socks are something that goes missing in our house all the time and if you have kids, this may be even more of a problem. Sometimes they have 3 to a pack in the youth socks. In the winter, they have the fuzzy socks with the rubber grippers. These also make great stocking stuffers.
Hair Accessories
Hair ties, bows, headbands, bobby pins, brushes, combs, barrettes…all for a $1! If you have a little girl, this is a great place to take care of her hair needs AND it’s another great stocking stuffer idea!
Spices
I took a chance, recently, on a couple of spices and was delighted. I checked the date to make sure it wasn’t expired. (They all had a very long shelf life, so no problem there.) These are a great option if you’re baking for the holidays and only need a small amount and you can save a bundle because spices tend to be somewhat pricy at the grocery store.
Cold/pain Meds
I have used the daytime and nighttime cold meds and they work great! They have the same ingredients as the name brands, long expiration dates and have been just as effective. They usually come 10 to a pack (you take 2). I can’t speak for anything else in the medication/vitamin department because I haven’t tried anything else.
Shampoo/Deodorant/First Aid
A lot of times, you can find some of the name brand, inexpensive shampoos. I keep these in my guest bathroom for visitors that may have forgotten their own. Deodorant seems to work ok and again, you can sometimes find the known brands here, as well.
If you need to stock a first aid kit, this is a great way to do it. Band aids, antiseptic creams, etc.
Hand Soap
Not much explanation needed here. Soap is soap. I usually look for the most soap for the money. I also check smell. Not all smell good, but they do have quite a few that do have a nice fragrance. Don’t be afraid to check before you leave the the store.
Foil Pans
These are great for leftovers or if you like to do freezer cooking. Every time I go to the dollar store, I’ll grab a couple to keep on hand. When I want to send leftovers home with one of the kids, I don’t have to worry about not getting my plasticware back. I also like to double up on recipes and freeze for later. I use these (the foil loaf pan) when I make my Sweet and Sour Meatloaf! Works great and it saves a ton of money when you can pull something from the freezer instead of going out to eat!
Vases & Frames
Dollar Tree offers a few different types of vases that are great for painting on (what I do) or just using for home decor. The frames are nice enough and usually decent quality.
Books
They have many, many titles to choose from. You never know what you’re going to find. They have hard back as well as soft cover and there have been many times, that I have found books from well known authors…for a buck!! “Chicken Soup for the Soul” comes to mind and they usually always have Bibles on hand as well.
So there you have it! This is an extensive list, but only some of the things that I regularly by from the Dollar Tree! I enjoy shopping there, as it’s almost like a treasure hunt. You really never know what you might find. What I do know is that I have saved a lot of money making this one of my regular shopping stomps. Being a crafter, I have made a lot of money as well, using Dollar Tree as one of my suppliers for my painting surfaces AND they also have a wonderful online presence that you can order from if they are out of stock in the store.
One other thing that is worth mentioning is that Dollar Tree accepts coupons on name brand items. There are certain terms, so you may want to review their policy first. I do know that the max you can receive can only be for the purchase price of the item..ie. $1.00, but it’s still a great deal
What have you found to be the best things to buy at Dollar Tree? Please share and leave a comment!
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