Not Worth It at the Dollar Store
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AP
10 Dollar Store Deals to Skip
Just because something is a dollar, doesn't mean it's a good deal. Sure you can buy a box of sandwich bags for a buck, but have you thought about how many bags you are actually getting for that dollar? When calculated by the unit cost, you may actually be paying more for that discount box of baggies than you would at a traditional grocery store.
Click through our gallery as our dollar store diva, Marlene Alexander, shares her list of 10 dollar store items that you would be wise to buy elsewhere.
First Up: Toothpaste -
No. 1: Toothpaste
Dollar Store Diva Says:
A 2.54 ounce tube of tartar control or cavity protection Crest or Colgate cost a buck, obviously, and that seems like a lot less than you'd pay for a full-sized tube in your local drugstore. But the same brands, in the same size, cost only 63 cents a tube at my local Wal-Mart store, so it still pays to shop around and read your local store flyers to find the sales and the best everyday prices for your favorite brand of toothpaste.
· A Word of Caution on Toothpaste ...
Next: Bottled Water -
Business Wire / AP
No. 2: Nestle Bottled Water
Dollar Store Diva Says:
I can get four 16.9 oz. bottles of water for $1 at the dollar store. That's great, but, if you use a lot of bottled water, it's better to buy it by the case. Wal-Mart often has sales on this brand, selling a case of 24 bottles for $2.65, which means you're only paying 11 cents a bottle, as opposed to 25 cents at the dollar store. Costco sells Nestle bottled water in a case of 35, 16.9 oz. bottles for $4.95 or 14 cents per bottle, a significant savings over the dollar store.
· See Complete Post
Next: Napkins -
Amazon.com
No. 3: 1-Ply Napkins
Dollar Store Diva Says:
At a penny a piece, getting 100 napkins for a buck is a pretty good deal. But, as with many things, the more you buy, the more you'll save. Buy a package of 350 napkins at Wal-Mart for $2.94 and you pay less than a penny per napkin. If you've got kids and go through a lot of paper products, the savings can really add up.
· A Better Bargain Than Napkins Is ...
Next: Sandwich Bags -
Amazon.com
No. 4: Sandwich Bags
Dollar Store Diva Says:
The dollar store sells Hefty zipper seal sandwich bags in a package of 13 for $1 or about 8 cents per bag but, again, it pays to buy in bulk. Costco sells Ziploc sandwich bags, four packages of 150 bags each, for $12.58. That means each sandwich bag costs only 2 cents each. And, if you pack lunches on a regular basis, you won't soon run out with 600 bags on hand.
· A Better Alternative Is ...
Next: Sugar Substitute -
Amazon.com
No. 5: Sugar Substitute
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Sugar Twin comes in a box of 40 packets for $1 at the dollar store. Wal-Mart sells Sweet 'n Low in boxes of 100 packets for $2.25 and you can get 800 packets of Equal at Costco for $16.84. Compare the costs: .025 cents at the dollar store, .023 cents at Wal-Mart and .021 cents at Costco. Not huge savings but every little bit helps, and if you prefer one of the bigger name brands of sugar substitute, you may not find it at the dollar store.
· One Thing About Off-Brands ...
Next: Foam Cups -
AP
No. 6: Foam Cups
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Stocking your office? Having a brunch party? If you stock up, you can save. At the dollar store, you can get a package of 45 7 oz. foam cups at the dollar store for $1 or 2.2 cents per cup or shop at Costco where you can go big and go home with 1,000 foam cups for $12.18 or 1.2 cents per cup.
· But for a Smaller Quantity ...
Next: Foam Plates -
No. 7: Foam Plates
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Also an essential on your party-planning list are disposable plates. At the dollar store, a stack of 20 foam plates (9-inch size) are 5 cents per plate. That equates to $4 for 80 plates at the dollar store, but a package of 75 plates at Wal-Mart costs only $2.75 -- or just under 4 cents a plate. So you'd save about a dollar after accounting for the five fewer plates in the Wal-Mart pack.
· An Alternative to Paper Plates Is ...
Next: Dishwashing Liquid -
No. 8: Dishwashing Liquid
Dollar Store Diva Says:
In order to sell brand names for a $1, dollar stores are reduced to selling these products in the smaller bottles. Thus, a 10.99 oz. bottle of Sunlight dishinwashing liquid isn't as cost-effective as the larger bottle in most supermarkets. I saw a 32.123 oz. bottle of Sunlight for $1.97 in my neighborhood grocery store. That's more than 21 oz. more soap for an extra buck. No contest.
· But if You Buy Off-Brand ...
Next: Bag Candy -
Tim Boyle, Getty Images
No. 9: Bag Candy
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Got a sweet tooth? You're better off buying a 2 lb. tub of jujubes or gummy worms at Wal-Mart for $2.94. You'd be paying $4 for the same amount of candy at the dollar store because there, an 8 oz. bag costs a buck. So, if you want to buy enough to treat the family, leave those four 8 oz. bags on the shelf and save $1.06 by buying the 2 lb. tub. How sweet is that?
Next: Batteries -
AP
No. 10: Batteries
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Dollar stores sell good quality AA or AAA batteries from Panasonic and Sunbeam for $1 for a package of four. That's 25 cents per battery. Wal-Mart sells Maxell batteries in the same sizes in bulk. So, for $9.88 you can have a supply of 48 batteries for only 21 cents each. With that many batteries on hand there'll be no more rooting around in the junk drawer looking for something to put the spin back in your Spin Brush.
More on AOL: Best Outlet Stores -
More From AOL:
World's Best Outlet Stores
Today's consumers love a good bargain. Now that we've taken a look at what not to buy at dollar stores, let's switch gears and check out where in the world you can find the best outlet stores.
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Recent Comments
TrekMec 12:21:18 PM Sep 23 2008
IT MAY BE TRUE THAT YOU CAN SAVE A FEW MORE PENNIES AT WAL*MART THAN YOUR LOCAL DOLLAR STORE OR GROCERY STORE, BUT LET'S HAVE A HEART, THESE LITTLE STORES CAN'T C0MPETE WITH WITH THE BIG GIANT WHO GETS EVERYTHING FOR A SONG AND DANCE FROM CHINA.SO I LIKE TO GIVE THE LITTLE GUYS A BREAK ONCE IN A WHILE AND THROW SOME BUSINESS THEIR WAY, EVEN IF I HAVE TO SPEND A FEW EXTRA PENNIES. OTHERWISE , WE WILL BE ALLOWING WAL*MART TO SYSTEMATICALLY MAKE ALL THE LITTLE STORES EXTINCT. THIS, IN TURN WOULD PUT SO MANY PEOPLE OUT OF WORK AND OUT OF BUSINESS---NOT A GOOD MOVE FOR OUR ECONOMY. IN THE LONG RUN WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY HIGHER TAXES FOR GOVERNMENT SERVIVES NEEDED TO HELP THE UNEMPLOYED AND THOSE OUT OF BUSINESS.
FLILGUY 05:43:21 PM Aug 23 2008
Panasonic makes some of the best electronics, DVD plays TVs etc. I have a Panasonic VCR and that thing is the best! But those Panasonic batteries from Dollar General, they last fair. But they will start to leak like all cheap batteries. After having 3 or 4 items damaged by leaking batteries, I buy Duracell and Energizers when they are on sale. All prices vary from state to state. It's always best to compare price per unit or once.
JULIAREED 01:33:10 PM Aug 23 2008
"kidd0O" is on the right track. As usual, these articles insult our intelligence. I have a tupperware-type container for sandwiches that I wash and re-use. Just about every product mentioned was a non-recycleable item. We are a throw away nation for cheap and quick product so as not to expend extra effort. People that throw trash out their car windows really tick me off, too. Especially wrappers, plastic items, and the mother of them all: cigarette butts. The filters are made of fiberglass and take forever to degrade. I literally have to shovel them off of my curb four times a year. Ashtrays have a purpose in a car. Smike if you want to, that's not my business, but all the post-consumer waste is. Thanks to all of you who are concerned. If you're not concerned, then just try to do your best to respect those of us who do.
Kcwin08 12:17:15 AM Aug 19 2008
I agree buying in bulk might seem good for a big household, but As a single 25 year old, I dont need hundreds of baggies, or napkins, or anything in bulk. That would last me a year, and I could buy what I need now instead of buying in bulk when I dont need to. And wal-mart has got to be paying aol to use them as an example to save over a dollar store. I try to avoid wal-mart as much as possible simply because there to big, greedy, rich, etc. and I'd rather give my money to the smaller stores
USAF104RA 07:56:46 AM Aug 16 2008
Actually the one about batteries is a lie, the batteries at a dollar store are almost never good quality (usually factory seconds) and 9 times out of 10 they are past their recommended shelf life or close to it.
Vittles49 10:06:08 PM Jul 21 2008
HEY AOL HOW MUCH IS WALMART PAYING YOU FOR TELLING PEOPLE THEY HAVE TOOTHPASTE CHEAPER THAN THE DOLLAR STORE??
AriKoiman 12:18:55 AM Jul 21 2008
i can see how they're promoting a stable economy- by suggesting we shop at wal-mart. how's that for economic impact in the long run?
FunkyChic446 08:39:05 AM Jul 20 2008
I appreciate my fellow 'bargain hunter' as much as the next person. What I would prefer to see, instead of styrofoam plates, cups, and paper napkins and the need to buy them in bulk? How about using actual ceramic plates and cloth napkins, maybe even glass glasses that can be reused rather than discarded. There is too much waste in this country. People abusing stores like Costco and Wal-Mart are part of the problem. Are you willing to take the responsibility to be part of the solution?
Nano856 07:43:37 PM Jul 19 2008
In our small town, we don't have wal-mart. We have 2 dollar stores, Fred's and Brookshires. With gas $4 a gallon and the high prices at Brookshires (that charges an arm and a leg in small towns to make up for having to be competitive in the bigger markets-as I was told by a manager's wife), I buy EVERYTHING I possibly can at Dollar General. Our store is so busy we very seldom have expired merchandise. And I dont' think wally world is 'all that' either. The truth is you have to compare at every place you shop. Actually, our CVS drug store is cheaper on many things, including milk, than Brookshires that is next door to it!
kldd0O 06:30:04 PM Jul 19 2008
Sure there are less plastic bags in a dollar store box. But, you can also reuse them. For a single person living on their own, the dollar store has some good deals. I don't need a gigantic box of them but someone with 4 kids might. I can't stand that saying "The more you buy, the more you save!" It just seems that the more you spend means more stuff that you save on that you will probably not use.
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