What are the Best Things to Buy at the Dollar Store?
If you’ve been around for long, you likely know that I love the Dollar Store. I’ve shopped the Dollar Store for my Office Makeover, my One Hour Organization Challenge, my boys’ LEGO Birthday Party, and my Christmas Wrapping Station.
But not everything is a deal at the Dollar Store. So if you are wondering what are the best things to buy at the Dollar Store, here are my Top 10 Items that I typically buy there and why:
What to Buy at the Dollar Store:
1. Seasonal décor: When it comes to Easter baskets, Christmas decorations, Valentine’s cards and more, the Dollar Store is the first place I stop. The selection of items is typically extensive and you will be hard-pressed to find re-usable baskets and decor for just $1 elsewhere!
2. Gift Bags/Wrapping Paper: I recognize that not all wrapping paper is created the same and sometimes it pays to spend a bit more when it comes to gift wrap. But I have been impressed many times by the quality of paper and gift bags I find at my Dollar Store. You’ll pay upwards of $3 or $4 for the large gift bags elsewhere! Besides – why spend more on something that will soon be ripped up and thrown in the trash?
3. Greeting Cards: Oh, Greeting cards – you are the bane of my existence. Too often, I find myself still searching for the perfect card an hour after just “stopping by” the store to pick one up. I realize that we want to “care enough to send the very best”, but when was the last time you examined a card to determine if it was brand name or not?
Many Dollar Stores carries perfectly good cards for just $0.50 each. Why not stock up for the year and say goodbye to the “Perfect Card Search” once and for all!
4. Party Supplies/Tableware: Whenever it’s time to throw a party (like my boys’ LEGO party), I head straight to the Dollar Store for my plasticware, tablecloths and serving dishes. I love the selection! And you likely won’t find the same deals at your local Party City.
5. Cosmetics: I realize that not all dollar stores are created equal, my local Dollar Tree carries brand name cosmetics like Maybelline, e.l.f., Physician’s Formula and more. (In fact, the last time I was at the Dollar Tree, I was able to snag some Maybelline eye liner for FREE with my $1 off coupon!)
You won’t find all of your cosmetic needs at the Dollar Store, but why spend a fortune when you can get brand name lipstick, eye shadow and more for a buck?!
6. Storage containers: This may be my all-time favorite reason to shop at the Dollar Store. The storage containers I have bought at the Dollar Store are the gift that keeps on giving. Whether they be to solve my wrapping chaos or other problem areas, the Dollar Store has restored order to my life on multiple occasions with their amazing selection of containers.
7. Mugs/glasses: Years ago, my Mom (a.k.a. The Dollar Store Diva) bought me a set of red mugs (seen in my video here). To this day, they are my favorites and likely no one who has used them would have guessed their origin.
8. Sandwich baggies: Not only is there a large selection of perfectly good generic baggies at most Dollar Stores, but the Dollar Tree typically carries Hefty baggies. Often there is a coupon available to make them just $0.50 per box – which is a steal!
9. Hand Towels/Wash Cloths: My boys typically shop at the Dollar Store each year at Christmas for family members. Every year, I cross my fingers that one of them will give me dish cloths. It’s a great excuse to throw the old ones out and start fresh!
10. Office Supplies: Not every office supply item is a great deal (especially if you like to stock up during Back to School sales at other stores), but I like to grab folders, notebooks, pencils, paper clips, colored pencils and other items at the Dollar Store when I am in need. And thankfully, I have a lot of great storage containers for them all. 🙂
How about you? Which items do you like to buy at the Dollar Store?
By the way, did you know that the Dollar Tree accepts coupons? Check out my weekly Dollar Tree Coupon Matchup list and score lots of stuff for FREE!
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Love the Dollar Tree! We buy our cookware, cleaning supplies, toys, and books from there. They sell Betty Crocker cooking utensils and the work wonderful! Even cookie sheets. We buy a lot of our seasonal things from there as well. They have actual characters on their stockings like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Paw Patrol. Now, you can even buy stuff online and get it shipped to your home or local store and that really helps save time especially being a busy parent.
https://mylifemommy.com/2019/06/01/why-you-should-shop-at-dollar-tree/
Be careful buying mugs and dishes. I researched that brand you find at the dollar store( don’t know the name because I threw it all in the trash). Supposedly the state of California has stricter rules on carcinogens found in the items you buy and the dollar stores in that state have to have a label on those items with a warning saying that lead levels were higher than state laws.
Agree. Lead can also be hiding in ceramics from China. Very colorful items often hide lead (it enhances the color), but I’ve seen positive lead tests from white plates and cups from the $ store.
My mother and my in-laws already had everything the needed – they were the “if I need it, I just go get it” types, which made holiday buying for them a nightmare. When my kids came along, we would take them to the dollar store and let them pick out anything they wanted to send to the olds. Since anything from the only grandchildren would be “special”, it didn’t matter what they bought. We always made sure to tell the olds the story behind what the kids picked. “I picked this bee-yoo-tiful ‘gold’ statue for Gamma because she’s a girl and all girls like gold stuff” (I have two boys, in case you couldn’t tell lol) or “I picked this (tacky) plastic plate with the pink flamingo because Gamma has bird plates” (Gamma actually has a very expensive set of china with wild birds on it, but when you’re 5, birds is birds LOL ) And the olds LOVED every single item that was sent, and loved the stories BEHIND the gifts even more. To this day, Gamma has that stupid flamingo plate in the cabinet with her expensive china.
Sweet! A wonderful mother and grandmother who treasures your son dearly.
I love going to the dollar store, it’s the only store where I let me kids each pick a toy to get (the 4 year old does extra chores during the week so she can buy her own), and it’s great for picking up coloring books at. I love going because I can stock up on lasagna trays for freezing meals in, you can get 2 for $1 instead of paying $3 or $4 at the big name store, I stock up whenever I go.
I also love getting parchment paper and wax paper there too. Again, it’s $3 or $4 a roll at the big store.
I loved your tip for getting cards there, I am going to have to start picking up cards there for my kids to send to family. Everyone loves getting snail mail and for 50 cents a card, we will have to start sending more. Thank you for sharing these!
I call The Dollar Store my store because I make a lot of craft and a dollar per item is my cup of tea. Love it.
Oven mitten, candles, school supplies and many more…Love the dollar store!.,
one of my favorite things at our dollar store is called Soilove
and its a laundry presoak. works great even on grass stains and
grease on clothes. at only .99 you cant beat it. just as good as
spray n wash. the cold water wash is also a great value.
I buy the foil sheets. Great for grilling pockets, covering items. I buy these metal grill trays that I use on the grill so my food doesn’t touch the grill. There are lots of mugs and votive cups, glassware that you can make gifts with. I like to buy plastic tablecloths to have on hand for messy play or projects. During holidays they have so much for parties and cheap. My daughter who is more into make up used to work at Walgreens and said the expensive stuff at Walgreens they had some at the dollar store. Also in their refrigerated section the often have lean cuisine or smart ones desserts.
Christian workbooks for young kids, with stickers….Christian workbooks for school age kids……children’s books with song cd’s….scented bags for dirty diapers….disposable bibs…..paint brushes…..plastic cups for paint.
Children’s generic liquid Tylenol and cold medicine. Also their hand lotion, the creamy petroleum jelly type is the best I’ve ever found.
We buy watch size batteries for toys. Ever owned a hex bug or a kitchen timer and it cost more for the battery than for a new item? Try dollar Tree!!!
I love the Dollar Tree. Not only do I pick up a lot of my cleaning supplies there, but I love cruising their beauty and pampering aisle for fun indulgences that I’d never splurge on at regular store prices. It’s nice to feel feminine and treat myself without the guilt.
Coloring Books, office supplies, and glow sticks :).
I buy all greeting cards, gift wrap/bags, some vitamins, toiletries,and various other personal and hh items.
tin foil pans – I use them all the time to give meals to friends
Why cant I find what I am looking for cheap like drip pan for a kitchen stove
Great list! I agree with most of the items. I do my DT shopping twice a month -at least-.
My stockpile goes like this:
Frozen items:
turkey bacon
cheddar cheese
texas toast
cream cheese (for party occasions)
non refrigerated:
snack captain wafers
vegetable/wheat/original/multigrain crackers
veggie chips
tortellini (only a buck per bag??? yes please!!!!!)
puffy peppermints
if available:
color pencils/paints (I’m an artist)
spray bottles
frames/mirrors
dryer sheets
baking soda
peroxide
acne face pads
baby wipes
ibuprofen
fluoride free mouthwash
and
all my hubby’s socks come from DT
I have found wrapping paper at the Dollar Tree that I have found at Target and Kohls. I just bought some wrapping paper for a baby shower and the paper was very thick and had the cutting lines on the inside, the light blue paper covered a bright pink Candies shoe box easily and I can not see through it. They also had matching tissue paper and bows for many styles.
I love the Betty Crocker storage containers and the double ended spatula.
The helium balloons are such a good deal!
I also like the other party supplies, gifts bags (many cute styles especially around Christmas), tape, wax/parchment paper, plastic wrap, tin foil, cookie platters, seasonal products, air fresheners, dirty diaper sacks….
The list goes on and on….