As a frugal shopper, I enjoy shopping at dollar stores and discount stores, especially for the holidays. There are so many great deals that will help me stretch my Christmas dollars this year. But one thing that I have learned is that some of the products that you can find at a dollar store or discount store can be dangerous. Protect your health this season by avoiding purchasing the following items at one of these stores.
Christmas lights
How can you beat a dollar for a package of new Christmas lights? In all honesty, Christmas lights sold under name brands are still pretty cheap and generally a lot safer. That is because many of the Christmas lights being sold in dollar stores and discount stores are off brands, designed to look like the real thing, down to the UL sticker that isn’t real.
If you do choose to purchase these lights, inspect them well, and make sure that they are in fact really UL listed.
Batteries
With all of the gadgets, gizmos and toys that are sure to be under your Christmas tree, it makes sense to stock up on batteries. But to save money, stick with the name brands and use coupons to bring down the price. Really cheap dollar store or discount store batteries are generally made with carbon zinc. They won’t last as long as alkaline batteries, and they might be dangerous if they leak. You also won’t see any real savings, since you’ll go through the cheaper batteries pretty fast anyway.
Ornaments
I hate to burst your bubble here, but many Christmas ornaments may contain dangerous levels of lead, particularly ones made out of metal or painted. That is because many of them are mass produced in China. Lead based paint can flake and find its way in a child’s body. The same goes for lead-containing ornament hooks.
Stay safe and healthy this season.
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