1. Toothpaste
2. bottled water
3. napkins
4. sugar substitute
5. plastic bags
6. foam cups
7. foam plates
8. dishwashing liquid
9. bag candy
10. batteries

This list is out of touch with the Chicagoland area dollar store shopper.

1. First, the toothpaste at our dollar stores is full-size tubes of name brand products. At most drug and grocery stores a full size tube costs $2-$4 so this is major savings.

2. I never buy bottled water. First, the plastic bottles are very bad for the environment. Second, I get clean great tasting water from my faucet. I have an large, but compact and inexpensive water dispenser in my fridge ($6 from a large discount store) which keeps it cold and has a handy spigot. If I need to take water on the go, reusable bottles are the way to go, big, lightweight bottles with much better mouth pieces are great for sports and hot days.

3. Again, napkins are not very good for the environment, but may be necessary. I don’t see these at my dollar stores, but a good quality napkin or a paper towel can often replace a large stack of flimsy napkins and that is better for the environment an the budget

4. Often times the dollar store packaging is great for convenience when it comes to things such as sugar substitute. I have seen name brands of many products in smaller packages which make them great for purses, picnics, etc. Additionally, for those who are really money crunched as well as looking for a good deal. If you can’t afford to spend $15 on this at the discount or mega store, $1 is worth it. You may be paying a few cents (really 2-3 cents) more than at those bulk stores, but you’ll save a lot compared to a grocery store.

5. In addition to selling name brand plastic bags at my area dollar stores which only contain less than 20 bags per box, my dollar stores also sell other brands which contain as many as 60 bags per box. That’s a lot of sandwich bags for a dollar. I can’t tell the difference in quality between the different brands, so there is really no reason to buy fewer bags. Also, keep in mind that you can still reuse a plastic bag at least for a short time. I put pretzels in my lunch from a large bag (pretzels also available at the dollar store) and use that pretzel bag for the whole week. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend it with anything greasy or with food products such as sandwiches with mayonaise which can spoil, but with pretzels it is pretty harmless to reuse the plastic bag.

6 and 7. As an environmentally aware consumer, I can’t believe they can even get away with making disposable foam products. This is one area, where I don’t care how much it costs, I never by foam. They make paper cups that are insulated for coffee and other beverages. Also, sturdy paper or plastic plates. While you may need to spend a little bit more for insulated paper cups, plates are often in the same price range regardless of material (foam, paper, plastic). If you are buying for an office, you can often parley the high price of the paper cups into a nod for the environment (the foam free office) on a company website or newsletter etc. Additionally, a lot of offices have decided to forgo any type of disposable cup and ask employees to provide a permanent mug for themselves. Beautiful and functional mugs can be found at the dollar stores in my area as well.

8. I disagree with the author’s finding that off-brands work as well as name brand detergents. I only use one very popular name brand because it is so effective. They even use it to clean the animals affected by oil spills it is that great at cutting grease. However, I don’t often see this at the dollar store. When I do I stock up because even in a smaller contain, this regularly sells for nearly $6 at my area grocery stores.

9. I purchase hard candies in bags such as butterscotch and name brand candy in packs of 8. Sometimes you can get a similar or even better deal at a discount store, however, I find that the 8 packs of candy often sell for double at many stores especially grocery stores.

10. I don’t buy many batteries. Again, batteries at the dollar store can be a great deal, precisely because you many not want a bushel full. Beware of non-alkaline batteries. Almost all electronic devises have warnings that you must use alkaline batteries. You’ll know it isn’t alkaline if you can’t find the work on the package. Also, they often market non-alkaline batteries as “heavy duty.” A great option is to buy rechargeable batteries which have been improved a lot in recent years. The rechargers are much quicker (6 hours for 2-4 batteries in mine) and they work in CD players and digital cameras which are high-drain devices which would otherwise use lots of regular batteries. I spent $20 on my charger and set of 8 batteries and haven’t needed to buy more than $4 worth of batteries for the last two years!

Last but not least my top ten list of things to buy at the dollar store and my top ten list of dollar store cautions!

Buy
1. Books (lots of great items for adults and children, bestsellers and sleepers)
2. Greeting Cards (my dollar store sells them 2 for $1 and they are just as funny, heartwarming, and special as the $5 cards at the specialty stores)
3. Wrapping paper, bags, tissue, bows (gift giving supplies can be very expensive at other stores, at the dollar store you can stock up; the patterns and styles are just as hip, modern and fun as the specialty stores if not better)
4. Tools (these can be expensive at hardware and home improvement stores but a lot of the dollar store finds are name brand and even when not high quality, they even have quite a few specialty tools for those particularly enterprising people)
5. Candles and accessories (this is a huge industry which has many very expensive outlets, however, you can enjoy the beautiful scents and gorgeous glass (and metal) dishes and holders in your home too if you shop at the dollar store!)
6. Photo frames (another often high end item can be found for only a $1, however, the quality is highly variable. If you spend enough time surveying the selection you can usually find several treasures.)
7. CDs (if you like instrumental or classical music the dollar store is great for relaxing CDs of nature sounds and soothing melodies)
8. School and office supplies (I wish the dollar stores were as good when I was in elementary and high school. Supplies were very expensive and still are at office and drug stores, but you can get binders, folders, pens, pencils, and even scientific calculators all for only $1)
9. Food (Lots of dollar stores now have freezer sections as well as dry goods. Canned and jarred foods and snacks in bags are often of the same or better quality than grocery stores. My favorites are pretzels and Turkish olives. Spices can also be found.)
10. Anything that looks really good. One of the problems with shopping the dollar store is that you have to be decisive. Their inventory constantly changes and they sell out of great stuff really quickly. If you see it and know you want it or need it get it then, because it may not be there tomorrow and almost definitely not next week. This doesn’t apply so much to stuff like plastic bags or cleaning supplies, but it does to almost everything else.

5 Cautions and 5 Tips

1. Medications: The dollar store can be a great place to buy OTC items very inexpensively. I found my allergy medicine there for a fantastic deal and got 9 months worth for $54 instead of the drug store price of $300. However, you need to look at dosage and how much is in the packaging. Sometimes it seems like 5 pills in a box is not a good deal, but 5 pills for a dollar is a great deal if it normally costs $20 for a box of 30. Now 30 pills costs only $6. Again, it might seem like 30 pills is a good deal for a pain reliever, however if you can get 300 for $4 it isn’t a good deal. Also, check dosage; 600 milligrams in one pill, when you need 1200 means you need to take 2, but if you find a box of only 400 mg then you need to take 3. Be especially careful with health food supplements because any claims don’t have to be verified by any government or scientific agency.
2. Makeup: A lot of the makeup is high quality and brand name, however, sometimes, these brand name products may be remaindered items and that means they have been sitting in a warehouse for a year. They can be dried out and worthless. There isn’t really anyway to tell from the packaging (often they are sealed and look fine) this is just a warning. You may want to buy one and try it before buying 10 to stock up.
3. Facial and Bathroom Tissue: I have not seen name brand tissues at my area stores. The discount tissue is often very thin, flimsy and rough. You may want to try one and test your skin sensitivity before stocking up.
4. Seasonal Items: Many great holiday items can be purchased at dollar stores. Ornaments, costumes, decorations etc. Make sure to take the time to evaluate each purchase. Some items may be more cost effective at other stores and some may cost more but be of high quality at other stores (ex. decorative lights).
5. Dishes: You can get beautiful, contemporary long-lasting daily use and special occasion dishes and glasses at the dollar store. However, many of them retain heat and when put in the microwave become extremely hot. You must use an oven mitt or pot holder to remove them. Additionally, flatware can often be very inexpensive but can also be difficult to clean properly. Use your discretion when buying kitchen items. The try and see approach works really well before stocking up. Kitchen gadgets have a good success rate.
6. Tip 1: Shop regularly and with a budget. The best way to shop the dollar store is to be open to great bargains that aren’t on your list. Come for great deals on household items like plastic bags, candy, and gift supplies, but be open to ideas for gifts for family and friends as well as items for yourself and your home. In order to take advantage of the dollar store in this way, set up a regular shopping schedule and budget. I visit about once a month and spend about $40. Or you could go once a week and spend $10. I do not have the fortitude to resist all the great deals, so once a month works best for me and $40 was my average before I became a super-shopper. If you have lots of kids or other concerns it might be more or less. Also, sometimes, I only spend $25, other times as much at $85. Be flexible if you can afford it.
7. Tip 2: Know how much things cost around town. You won’t know if it is a good deal if you don’t know the prices at other stores. You don’t need to become an avid fan of the price is right, just be as observant as possible when at stores, talking with friends, and on the internet. Then you’ll know a good deal when you see it.
8. Tip 3: Know your neighborhood. In my area there are two good dollar stores. In my parents neighborhood there are 6, in my in-laws neighborhood only 1. Know the different grocery stores, discount stores, and mega stores (if you can afford a membership, see if your work can help). When you know your neighborhood stores, you know you are getting the best deals and can relax knowing you are the best shopper you can be.
9. Tip 4: If you are on a budget or trying to save money, add up the savings. If you know how much you saved buying an item at the dollar store, make a list. Your list of savings will help show you how powerful a shopper you’ve become
10. Tip 5: Take your time. Bargain shopping is not a slap-dash affair. In order to do it well, you need to be able to make informed, conscious decision. Don’t give yourself 10 minutes to spend in a huge store, when it normally takes you an hour. You will feel rushed and you will miss a good deal or make a bad purchase. Budget your shopping time and know that often you’ll be able to complete most of your shopping at the dollar store!

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Hello,
I know that would be the easiest way out, but your parents have worked very hard throughout their life for what they have saved up. Paying for your college education should be your responsibility....your old enough now and it is part of life. It seems like you want the easiest way out...I think we would all LOVE the easiest way out, but what if your parents want to travel and stuff and they are saving up for that, or the :what ifs"?? Don't you think they deserve it since they have been working most of their lives and you are just starting yours? I fyou manage your money just right, you should be fine...yeah it will be a couple of years of being thight on money, but that is what you call life & responsibility!

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Here in California, it's hit and miss but I love "99cents only" stores. I go there before I head to Wal Mart and the grocery stores to minimize what I buy at full price. They're fast and convenient at the hours I shop - 3 PM on Wed. when my store stocks the new stuff. They stores are clean enough, but almost no service and very crowded weekends, at lunch and 6 PM. Much of their stuff is overstock and can be there only one time. The article was right about toothpaste and laundry soap not being a good bargain. But much of it are great deals.

What I buy most there is produce. It's not all good, though. The bagged plums and peaches (soft fruits) are picked green and can be tasteless and smashed. I will pay $2.50 a pound at the local farmer's market for that. They've had platanos (cooking bananas) at 3 for one dollar, which comes out to 50-70 cents a pound, compared to $1.99 a pound at Albertson's. You don't find it often, but those Dulcinea seedless watermelons and Tuscan muskmelons are $1, and can be $3 each and more at the stores. Blemished potatoes are $1.00 for 5 lbs. They're ugly, but I don't care. Specialty stuff, like bags of mixed sweet papers, mangoes, broccoflower, and hearts of romaine, are there often but not always, and a third of the price at stores.

Of staple items, IMO the best 99 cent buys are breads, like 5 Western bagel, or sliced French sandwich bread - $3.50 at Albertson's. eggs, which used to be sold at a dollar for a dozen, are now sold as six for 99 cents, still a bargain. Juice drinks are a buck, as are 32 oz. of milk soymilk, and chocolate mild. Oatmeal is a great deal, as are grits. Packs of hot dogs and sliced lunch meats, which are at least twice as much at stores, are always available but there are different types and brands. I always wait for the Sliced ham (6 slices in a pack). I freeze the extra packs I buy.

Those fake diluted colognes such as Polo, which I use with paper towels as a great smelling portable wipe, are $4.00 at some stores I've seen them. I found ceramic cereal bowls being sold at linen stores for $6.00 a piece. And, 100 count multivitamins and 100 count glucosamine-chondroitin with MSM, retailing for $12, have been there for a short appearance, which I gobbled up. Desenex Antifungal foot spray with tolnaftate, which retails for $7.00, were there but they're all gone.

I'm seeing more middle class families going there too. Just recently, I've noticed several large new Mercedes Benz's in the parking lots. They must be pressured to save money on groceries to buy their gas.

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Put Americans out of work--shop Wal-mart!!

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