Not worth it at the dollar store: foam plates

Sounds like whoever did this study does not know what it means to only have so much money per week to spend.

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Is the person who did this study on Walmart's payroll? Sure sounds like it! Our Dollar General has larger-quantity packages for $1 than the ones cited here, so I'm not sure I would trust any of these "tips." it sounds like this person is fudging numbers to raise the value of Walmart, when I've found much better deals at dollar General! And if the difference between shopping at Dollar General & Walmart are just a few cents either way, then it's time to consider the "other" costs involved with supporting a store that purchases the vast majority of its items from foreign producers. If I have the choice of buying a scented candle made in China for $1 at Walmart, or a scented candle made in the US for $1.50 at Dollar General, you can bet I'll be doing my shopping at DG!!

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Always check the per unit price on items to see where the best deals are. Use coupons on top of sales and stock up when things are 30% or more cheaper than usual. It helps alot. However no matter how much I save it seems something else comes up to take those savings. Dollar Stores are good when all you have is a dollar to spend on an item that week! I don't think the author of this article took all the issues under consideration either.

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Why would anybody want to buy foam plates or cups, even if they are cheap as sin?
First, they melt when you put hot food on them, which means that you are eating chemicals! And then, you have no plate left.
Second, they fill up landfills and create more waste that does not biodegrade. Get with the program people!

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You mean they still make things here in the USA?

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It just seems more convenient to shop at $1 store. We have so many more than Walmarts and where I am it also saves gas.

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As much as this is all great...especially the tip about the toothpaste, if ALL you need is say the foam cups...i don't want to have to battle through wal-mart of even a grocery store just to get some cups for something like a party or a weekend until you can make it to those larger places. So really your paying for the convience of not having to wait in a long line just for one or two items. But thats just my opinion. Now if you are buying all of these items at once, i agree fully with this information. It does pay to think about the quantity and the price together.

:)

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First, not everyone has 14 dollars to go spend on foam cups at Costco or Walmart. The might have a dollar to spend that week. So the fact that buying in bulk saves you money may not be relevant for all Americans. Secondly, Walmart is an evil company. They do not pay their workers a living wage, kill the local economy, and overall are just bad new. The fact they sell items cheapers should have no bearing on the store because most educated Americans wouldn't shop their. Costco also requires you to have a membership to go there which Costs $35. If you are so hell bent on saving money why would you pay $35 for a membership in the first place. The person who wrote this article is completely biased.

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I appreciate the tips, whether I would follow through or not. That's what comparison shopping is all about. Incidentally the man who started the Dollar Tree in our area is very wealthy, very wealthy from this business. He just sold a beautiful country/estate/park for several billion dollars, too. Maybe his wealth wasearned from selling those small packs of things for a dollar when more could be bought for less elsewhere? It all adds up as profit. That's business.

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You can get 150 foam plates at the $ store for $3.00. I buy them there every couple months.

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