Dollar stores are wonderful for saving money, but they can also be money pits, depending on how you shop. Maximize your savings on dollar store shopping when you employ some dollar store shopping strategies.
Be diligent and selective when shopping for toys at a dollar store. There are some real treasures here, from classic army men, sports and play balls, puzzles, books, coloring books and more. But there are also plenty of cheap toys that won’t last past the first hour, or cost more here than elsewhere. Some toys to especially avoid if possible are: crayons (I used to advocate getting crayons at the dollar store, but I found that if you are using them for school, you may need a specific brand. You can usually get name brand crayons for less money during the September sales at regular retail stores), toys made out of thin plastic, doll furniture (usually has sharp edges or breaks easily, play food (most of the time it is made of paper and thin plastic that doesn’t hold up) and play makeup sets.
Shop for the things you would normally use or need anyway. A good example is shampoo, laundry detergent, number 2 pencils, cereal, baby wipes, party balloons, etc. Avoid filling up your basket with stuff just because the price is nice. There are way too many glass vases, ring holders, coffee mugs and fancy soaps in the world. The exception here would be if you came in the store looking for that particular item, such as for a gift or craft project.
Sometimes off brands really are worse. At the dollar store, you’ll find many off brands. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but some off brands are better than others. When trying a new brand, buy a small quantity until you are familiar with the quality. Batteries are a good example here. I haven’t found a good dollar store offering on batteries, yet.
Spot the real deals and take advantage of them. Some of my favorite dollar store finds were classic novels, thick comfy socks, a wooden game/chess set, and newer computer software.
What are your dollar store strategies?
Click here for more articles by Mary Ann Romans.
Stocking Stuffer Picks from the Dollar Store
Getting More from the Dollar Store (1)
Getting More from the Dollar Store (2)
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