Time once again to unfurl the flag and celebrate Independence Day. Dollar stores have everything you need for your picnic or barbecue, from flags to red, white and blue dinner ware.

Dollar Tree has a selection of solid red, white and blue party supplies including paper plates, cups, napkins, cutlery and centerpiece/balloon anchors. As always, each package is only $1.

For your picnic needs, check out the Dollar Tree flyer. Get a 2.5 gal. tub with a rope handle for only a buck. They also have Rubbermaid storage containers in two-packs of round, square or sandwich containers for $1 each and 24 oz. Gatorade with sport caps for $1 each. Lots of other picnic supplies here, too.

When I was a kid, lo these many moons ago, a bike light was to a kid what fog lights were to our parents' cars; a delicious add-on.

We all wanted a shiny new bell or handle bar streamers so the other kids on the block would ooh and aah over our latest acquisition. Today, as I watch the kids riding up and down the sidewalk in front of the house, these bicycle accessories are not often seen. Still, someone must be buying them, because hardware stores and dollar stores alike, still stock them.

Here are a few available at dollar stores:

Cable locks with key -- Unfortunately, a bike lock is pretty much a necessity in most neighborhoods. The dollar store version is vinyl-coated and 27 inches long, an adequate size for a kid's bike. It costs $1.25. The hardware store cable lock is similar but is 6 feet long and costs $14.99. Neither one of these is going to stand up to a determined crook with a good set of cable cutters but they will keep an opportunistic thief from swiping your kid's bike from where he parked it outside the video store.

Okay, June 21st is coming up fast and you need something to show Dad you're thinking about him. Problem one: men are notoriously hard to buy for. Problem two: the piggy bank is nearing empty.

This calls for some inventive thinking, and a trip to your friendly neighborhood dollar store. So while you can still get the colognes, ties and socks at the dollar store and these may still be fine for a dad who needs those things, lets look beyond the usual, shall we?

For the golfer -- How about three Top Flight golf balls and a package of 48 golf tees for a total cost of $2? I've seen other golfing accessories at Dollarama from time to time, as well. Pack your finds into a zippered 9" x 5" tote for a total cost of $3. Dad can then use the bag for toiletries when he travels. It struck me as being just the right size to pack an electric razor and cord in.

For the fisherman -- I saw a ton of stuff for the fisherman at Dollarama, including a sturdy folding stool for $2 so Dad can rest a spell while he's waiting for the big one to bite. You can get lures, spinners, flies, leaders, sinkers and a 656-yard spool of 8-lb. fishing line, all for a buck each, so you can pick and choose what you think Dad would like. You could even buy Pop a bamboo fishing rod for $1, so he can make like Tom Sawyer. And they have fishing reels for $2, as well. Everything mentioned here totals $11.

For the wine connoisseur -- Can't afford Pop's favorite wine? Pack a wine gift bag with two new wine glasses and a metal corkscrew/bottle opener. We found a neat, reusable wine bag made of jute with bamboo handles that cost $1.25. Everything else was only a buck each, making this gift total $4.25.

There are some pretty good savings to be had at dollar stores this week. Dollar Tree has a limited time online special of 4 qt. bags of Schultz garden products, namely green moss, Spanish moss and potting bark, for $1 each. You get six bags per case.Also, you can now buy gift cards online in any amount from $5 to $100.

For the kids, look for the ever-popular water noodles and other pool toys, as well as a 24-pack of freezer pops for only a buck each. I don't know what titles are available, but you might want to check out Dollar Tree's selection of hardcover books for $1 each. Who knows, you just might find some interesting summer reads.

In the personal care department, pick up some Breck shampoo or conditioner in 16-oz. sizes for $1 each, or some men's 2-oz. or ladies 1.4-oz. Speed Stick deodorants. And, yeah, it's summertime but, unfortunately, the house won't clean itself. If you need more cleaners, Dollar Tree has Spic and Span in 22-oz. spray bottles or a 15.8 oz concentrate for just $1 each.

This looks appetizing. Feed a family of six for $5.59 at 99-cent Only Stores. The online flyer has the scoop. Get a 12 oz. package of pasta for about 60 cents, 26.5 oz. of Del Monte Spaghetti sauce, assorted Dole bagged salads, a bottle of salad dressing, a loaf of French bread and a Duncan Hines cupcake mix, all for about a buck apiece. Sounds good to me.

The Dollar General ad features a lot of BBQ fixin's, like assorted Kraft salad dressings, 16-oz. for $2, Kraft BBQ sauce, 18-oz. for a buck and Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip in 18-oz. squeeze bottles for $2.50 each. Round out your picnic with Chips Ahoy, Oreo or Nutter Butter Cookies for $2 a package, five Kool-Aid Drink Mix packages in assorted flavors for $1 and Kool-Aid Jammers or Capri-Sun drinks in a package of 10 for $2.

Family Dollar has been in business for 50 years, and it's celebrating with the 50 Days of Giveaways contest.

The chain will be giving away daily prizes that include cash, computers, Nintendo Wii game systems and more over seven weeks. Week one ends today. See the prize calendar for the details of what's being given away and when. But understand that it's saving the best for last -- giving seven laptop computer bundles away during week six, and seven Nintendo Wii game system bundles away during week seven.

The grand prize is a Ford Fusion Hybrid and First Prize is a 52" Sharp Plasma HDTV & Home Theater System.

Register online to get a chance to win every day. If you wish, you can even sign up for a daily email reminder to enter.

99-cent Only Stores are featuring famous maker bras and panties for 99 cents each. Shhh! They're not allowed to reveal who the famous maker is, so you'll have to go into the store to find out, but they typically retail for $10 or more.

Another great feature at the 99-cent Only Stores this week is Reynolds foil or plastic wraps. You can always rely on Reynolds wrap to get the job done right and I like to grab some when I find it in my local dollar store.

Dollar Tree has a new line of pet supplies featuring Paws 'n Claws plush dog toys, pet brushes and combs, pet food, pet dishes and more, all for only a buck each. Check out the selection online.

Dollar Tree is also advertising baby swimsuits for $1 each that will fit babies from six to 24 months. Also, if you're in need of new tumblers for summer entertaining, check out the online special, 17-ounce glasses with a lemon motif. You can get a set of 12 for $12.

The Family Dollar online flier has a lot of great deals on health and beauty, including Suave shampoo or conditioner, bonus size of 30 ounces for $1.75 each; Vo5 Shampoo or conditioner, 15 ounces for $1; Soft Soap body wash for $2.50 or Suave body wash for $2; a twin pack of Suave deodorant, 2.6 ounces each, for $3 and a 10-pack of Ivory bar soap for only $3.50.

Family Dollar is also bragging up the addition of 200 new grocery items and, no, I'm not going to list them all here! Check out the back page of the online flier to see what's included.

When I was a kid, camping was the only summer vacation my parents could afford, but my brothers and I loved it. In these tough economic times, camping may be an option you'd like to consider for your family. It isn't entirely expense-free, but it's a lot cheaper than a trip to Disney World, and investing in a tent and a camp stove now could mean years of enjoyment down the road.

As for the legion of other camping essentials you'll need, the dollar store has many of them for much less than your local hardware store and the quality is there. Many times, the difference in price is reflected in less packaging or a simpler design. Here's a sampling of what I mean. Please check prices and availability in your area.

Last week I bought a 13-ounce package of whole grain Primo pasta and a large can of Primo Spaghetti sauce for $2 at my local dollar store, Dollarama. At the grocery store, these two items together would have cost almost $3.

It's no wonder that major marketers are beginning to see $1 as the "magical" price that will entice consumers to buy their products. So says an article on USAToday.com by Theresa Howard.

Howard reports that spending in dollar stores, by customers earning $100,000 or more, rose 18% in the second half of 2008. On top of that, food prices for the 12 months ended April 30, are up 3.3%.

People see $1 as the definition of value, so the big brands are touting dollar deals to sell their products. Along with Kraft's $1 cheeseburger also mentioned in a NYTimes.com article, Wal-mart TV ads are promoting more than a dozen items as a "nutritious breakfast" for about $1 a person as an alternative to fast food.

In June, Unilever is set to distribute 25 million coupons offering discounts on the purchase of two boxes of Lipton Onion Soup mix. This is to promote Lipton Onion Burgers for 85 cents per serving.

Campbell wants to see what interest level there is for condensed soup selling for $1 instead of the usual $1.59. This will only apply to some of the soup varieties at selected outlets.

Let's hope the experiment encourages them to reduce prices permanently. I remember when a can of Cambell's chicken noodle or tomato soup cost 59 cents. A dollar is plenty to pay for a 10-ounce can of soup.

As we start living outdoors once again, we inevitably find that we need a few things, and it can be surprising how fast a "few things" can add up to mega bucks. So, I headed to my favorite dollar store and found that you can save a lot of cash on the backyard essentials you're likely to need this summer. Please check prices and availability in your area.

Barbecue tools -- Who doesn't love a backyard BBQ? If you need a new barbecue scrubber, try the dollar store first. The one I bought is two-sided with wire bristles on one side and a scrubber sponge the other and cost $1. At Wal-mart, a one-sided BBQ grill brush is $2.97. The same thing is only $1 at the dollar store. Wal-mart has long handled metal tongs for $1.97 but you can save almost a buck by getting them at the dollar store instead. You can also buy a long-handled spatula or fork with rubber grips, a package of 8 BBQ skewers and a silicone basting brush for only a buck each at a dollar store near you. Wal-mart has an 8-piece barbecue tool set for $14.97 but, by buying each piece individually at the dollar store, your cost would only be $8.

Barbecue lighter -- You can buy a fancy barbecue lighter but it isn't really necessary. Wal-mart has a disposable lighter for $1.67 and the hardware store has what looks like the same lighter that the dollar store sells, except for the color. Their price? $2.99. The dollar store lighter is refillable and only costs a buck. It has a child-proof feature and works great.

Outdoor lighting -- Bamboo garden torches with candles are 30" long and only $1.50 at Dollarama. The candle comes in a terra cotta holder that is easily replacable or refillable. For table lighting, you can choose from a variety of faux stone tea light holders in a variety of configurations that cost between $1 and $2 apiece. At a hardware store in my area, they carry oil torches that are 5' long. They cost $4.99 each.

An article on New York Times.com notes the trend toward playing up the value of packaged foods by big companies like Kraft and Nestle. Stuart Elliott's article cites the May 18 issue of People magazine where ads for Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh meats, Lean Cuisine frozen foods, Chips Ahoy cookies and Capri Sun juice drinks all stress the economy of their products.

For instance, an advertisement for Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh meats states that it tastes "deli fresh without the deli counter price." And Chips Ahoy cookies and Capri Sun juice drinks partner for an ad that declares you can serve two snacks "for about a dollar."

Kraft foods also has value ads for boxed dinners like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Velveeta Shells and Cheese that revolve around the theme "Save. Share. Smile"; Kool-aid ads touting "More smiles per gallon;" and Kraft Singles cheese slices, which describes how a Singles cheeseburger can be made for less than a dollar.

I've noticed this trend from advertisers on TV. Commercials featuring the cartoon Helping Hand working an adding machine at the kitchen table with a woman, want you to realize that you can feed a family of four for under $10 if you center your meal around Hamburger Helper.