Your Fall Dollar Store Shopping List
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What to Buy at the Dollar Store
It's back-to-school shopping season and prices are on the rise. What better way to tackle all of this than with some bargains from the dollar store? If you need to stock up for a college dorm, buy cheap school supplies, fill lunch boxes, stock up on cleaning supplies to keep those cold-weather germs at bay or have a little fun as the summer ends, then you need this shopping list from dollar store expert Marlene Alexander.
Next: Hand SanitizerIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Ginza Tanaka
Hand Sanitizer
If you're hoping to avoid those brutal winter colds, what's a better buy than hand sanitizer? At dollar store prices you can buy a bottle for yourself and one to put in your kids' lunchboxes to keep those school germs at bay. Brand name Purell hand sanitizer costs $4.87 for 237 mL bottle with a pump, while the dollar store brand comes in a 236 mL pump bottle for $3.87 less.
More on Hand Sanitizer
Next: Band-AidsIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Band-Aids
According to Alexander, she spent years trying to find affordable band-aids that were also of relatively good quality. "I had all but given up when I discovered Medi-Care at my local dollar store," she said. The larger, patch type band-aids are 20 cents each at the dollar store, while brand-name ones are about 33 cents each.
More on Band-Aids
Next: School LunchIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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School Lunch
Though packing lunch for your kids every day may be a pain, it does not have to be a pain for your wallet. Places like the 99-cent Only Store make it easy to shop for groceries on a budget by stocking a wide variety of food items, including fresh produce. According to Anderson, the grocery stores sell Jell-O brand instant puddings for $1.19 a package. The dollar store has Neilson instant pudding mix at 2 packages for $1, a savings of $1.38 on two packages. Family Dollar is also featuring four-pack Kraft Handi-Snacks or four-pack Kool-aid Gels for $1 each.
More on School Lunches
Next: Lunch BagsIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Lunch Bags & Backpacks
How about a lunch bag to pack that school lunch in? Alexander reports that Family Dollar is featuring Disney backpacks or lunch bags at $6 each. Meanwhile, Dollar General is offering licensed lunch boxes in assorted styles for $5 each and backpacks in assorted styles for $8 each.
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Next: Warm SocksIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Warm Socks
As the weather gets colder, you will probably be looking for something to keep your feet warm and toasty. Look no further than your local dollar store. According to Alexander, socks are one item of clothing that you can save a lot of money on by shopping at a dollar store. Dollar Tree is featuring kids and adult sizes in solids and patterns for $1 a pair and the 99-cent Only Store has sport socks for 99 cents a pair.
More on Socks
Next: Hearty Fall MealIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Fall Meal
Hearty Fall Meal
On a chilly fall night, nothing feels better than a stomach full of a warm, homecooked meal. So how about a nice bowl of spaghetti? A 23 oz. can of Primo spaghetti sauce that sells for $1 at the dollar store, costs $1.49 at the grocery store. For a dollar, you can also get Hunts Manwich in the 14 oz. tin which sells for $1.79 at the supermarket, and two 10 oz cans of Heinz tomato soup.
More on a Hearty Fall Meal
Next: Dorm Rooms and ApartmentsIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Burger King
Dorms and Apartments
With the fall also comes move-in day for your college students. And before move-in day comes the inevitable dorm room shopping excursion. But shopping for supplies doesn't have to break the bank. Alexander reports that you can find everything from dishes and silverware, to trash cans and cleaning supplies at your local dollar store.
More on Dorms and Apartments
Next: School SuppliesIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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School Supplies
Has your child lost all the family's pens and notebooks over the summer? Don't worry, they're painless to replace, if you know where to shop. Staples has 200-page exercise books for $1.96 each compared to the dollar store's 140-page notebook for $1. That means you're paying 96 cents more for an extra 60 pages at Staples (and probably paying for better quality paper as well). You decide.
More on the School Supplies
Next: Battery-Operated Cell Phone ChargerIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Battery-Operated Cell Phone Charger
Once the school year starts, you'll be on the go all day long, chauffering kids to and from soccer practice and piano lessons. But how will charge your cell phone? Easy -- a battery-operated cell phone charger. Alexander reports that comes in two different models, one that powers most Sprint, Samsung, Sanyo and LG phones and one that powers most Motorola and Nokia phones. Each one comes with four different adapters and you can try each of the different plugs from the back of the package before you plunk down your dollar.
More on the Cell Phone Charger
Next: Laser-Pointer Key ChainIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Laser-Pointer Key Chain
Got a big presentation this fall? A laser-pointer key chain may just make it easier to get your point across clearly to your boss and coworkers. And at $1 a pop, why not buy one?
More on the Laser Pointer
Next: Garbage BagsIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Garbage Bags
Once autumn starts, the leaves fall so fast and hard you might need garbage bags to gather them all up. You're in luck -- according to Alexander, twelve 20 x 22" garbage bags cost 8 cents per bag at Dollarama. The same size garbage bag is sold at Costco for $11.49 for 100 bags or 11 cents each.
More on the Garbage Bags
Next: Lip BalmIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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Lip Balm
Crisp fall weather can also bring painful chapped lips, which can easily be prevented by lip balm. You could buy a tube of Blistex at Wal-mart for $2.43 -- or you could always get a tube of Lypsyl at Dollarama for $1. It's up to you.
More on Lip Balm
Next: More From AOLIf You're Looking to Save Money:
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More From AOL:
Make the Most of Your Warehouse Club Trip
For a bargain on everything from dog food to diamonds, head to a warehouse club. These clubs limit their margins to between 11% and 14%, compared with 25% to 30% at supermarkets, according to Michael Clayman, editor of Warehouse Club Focus.
But you won't save much money if you get sidetracked by the bling and the flat-screen TVs. Here's how to make the most of a trip to the warehouse.
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Recent Comments
dazeddaisy33 12:14:36 AM Sep 05 2008
And, to stay on topic, the hand sanitizer from Dollar Tree is the best, as Family Dollar's and Dollar General's hand sanitizers leave residue between your fingers and Dollar Tree's doesn't. Plus it smells fresh. $1 = the best hand sanitizer you could ask for.
dazeddaisy33 12:12:00 AM Sep 05 2008
you just have to know WHEN and WHERE to look for bargains.I work at one of the dollar stores mentioned in this article and I can give you a bit of advice when looking for bargains on name brand stuff, such as those disney backpacks and lunchbags the kids are craving nowadays: wait until the end of the season to buy what you need. Many dollar stores have to mark down their seasonal merchandise in order to make room for another season's items -which is the same for almost all retailers. Our school season lasted from the end of July to almost the end of August, and our backpacks and lunchboxes were all marked down 70%, which meant you only had to fork over $1.80 for a Cars backpack that would otherwise be $10-20 at Walmart and/or any other retailer that sells them.
BTPud 11:33:45 PM Sep 04 2008
The one problem with Dollar store trash bags is that they are soooooo thin. I still buy them, but have resigned myself to at least one bag a month breaking as I'm taking it out to the dumpster. Buyer beware!!!
useektruth2 07:14:23 PM Sep 04 2008
P.S. For the record, I'm PROUD to be an American,not necessarily proud of all the corruption in our politics, justice system, government agencies, education, healthcare, etc . . . Never said the country was perfect or I'm a model American citizen, naive about American products or the corruption in the FDA. I'm just a concerned consumer who cares about people over profits. I blame our government and corporate America just as much as the communists who sabotage us. That's why boycotting is a good response. I'll spend my money on QUALITY products made in the U.S.A. anytime over those from other countries because it employs our workers and that's who I care about. It may take more effort to find such things, but it's a CHOICE I make when shopping. End of discussion!
darkwave420x 07:11:41 PM Sep 04 2008
oh one more thing. the food seal between the cap is non existent there. so if someone opens up the cap to something (including hand cream/lotion) there is nothing to stop their dirty fingers from touching what you might consume or use. look for finger prints prior to buying and get the ones in the very back of the shelves. there is less of a chance of them being touched.
darkwave420x 07:06:58 PM Sep 04 2008
i have to disagree with this dollar store shopping. yes there are some things you can get there. but a lot of the food products are LOADED with hundreds of mg. of sodium, the more expensive foods at normal stores are more money but aren't as bad since there is a bigger selection to choose from. the hand sanitizer is a good way of asking for trouble. by using that you are increasing the chances of catching a super bug that's immune to that. i'm sorry but i'd never buy cheap socks. cheap ones always have this thick line of stitching that is so irritating and uncomfortable. i rather spend a few dollars more and get better ones. i'm not saying not to shop at these stores. just watch what you buy and read the food labels.
useektruth2 07:01:01 PM Sep 04 2008
Hellokellothe1st is obviously an idiot! Of course there is American made junk. I thought my post addressed that. Try informing yourself BEFORE you comment like a fool. As far as jobs overseas, are you kidding me? MILLIONS of jobs lost to overseas slave and child labor that is an ATROCITY due to greedy companies and rampant communism. Have you been asleep or are you just brain dead? Gov't. statistics show the loss of American jobs has been staggering to our economy. As for saying no one forced the Chinese to work there, really? What choice do they have when communism keeps them enslaved? American companies take advantage of this cheap labor, so they're guilty for keeping them impoverished. Their choice to work there is simply to survive like animals. But how does your assinine response justify anything? If you had a brain you'd realize this isn't a democratic or caring society. You sound like a greedy slob who's probably employed by one of these companies,are overpaid and arrogant,
hellokelloTHE1ST 06:29:41 PM Sep 04 2008
could've saved at the dollar store and go donate it to some poor starving children in China so you can rest easier thinking that you're a perfect model American.
hellokelloTHE1ST 06:28:45 PM Sep 04 2008
so you can rest easier thinking that you're a perfect model American.
hellokelloTHE1ST 06:28:15 PM Sep 04 2008
I was cut off. But basically what I'm saying is, there are many people in America that believe everything America does is wonderful and without error. Not true. Have you or anyone you know gotten food poisoning from something made/grown in America? I have. And I'm not dead yet! Did you know the FDA allows a certain percentage of processed food to contain animal hair or feces? It's true! But hey - it's American made, so it's safe right?? lol. It is practically impossible to but everything made in the USA. I bet the people bitchin' on these posts about how they only by USA don't even realize that half of their automobile is made in another country (yes even ford and chevy). Or the soap they use or the shampoo they use - not all made in the usa folks. The chemicals used in those products can certainly come from an outside source! So here's this: if you have to question it, don't buy it. If it makes you ill, don't buy it again and go get your money back. Take that money and the buck you co
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