Alex Carson
Dollar Stores
Dollar stores are great. They have thousands of products in the store, and everything is only $1. Most people go into these stores planning just to pick up one thing, and end spending a lot more. There are many items in a dollar store that you should avoid; however, there are some that are great. Here are some dollar stores facts nobody wants to talk about, and some of the best items in the store.
Greeting Cards
If you go to a regular store to buy a Hallmark card, you can pay $6 or more. Greeting cards are often read once and tossed away, making cards a considerable waste of money. You can go to a dollar store to buy your cards, and you will pay less than a dollar. Its a much better bargain since they aren’t made to last.
Picture Frames
If you are shopping at a department store for picture frames, you can expect up to $10. At the dollar store, you can get 10 picture frames for this price. Since it is the picture, not the fame that people focus on, you don’t need anything too extravagant. Spending just $1 on each frame is a bargain.
Paper Clips
If you order your paper clips from Office Depot or Staples, you can expect to spend up to $2.49 a package. This may not be a lot of money, but you can buy them at the dollar store for just $1. This is a savings of $1.50. Over time, these savings can really add up.
Pain Reliever
Pain relievers at your local pharmacy can cost up to $10, depending on the size bottle that you buy. You won’t be able to find pain relievers for just $1 anywhere but the dollar store. Dollar stores are a great way to stock up on pain relievers, so you never run out, and you won’t need to break the bank.
Mailing Supplies
If you are going to buy your mailing supplies at Staples or Office Depot, you can spend up to $10 on envelopes and mailing labels. At the dollar store, you can get each one for just a dollar, making the final cost only $2. If you use mailing supplies often, dollar stores have the best bargains.
Socks
Socks really are a necessity. Nobody wants to wear sneakers, shoes, and especially boots without socks. If you buy your socks in a department store, you can get a pack of five socks for about $10. The dollar store also sells socks, and they cost just $1 per pair. Best of all, most dollar stores sell sock in many different colors and designs.
Mugs and Glasses
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on a complete set of mugs or glasses from a department store, you can buy then at the dollar store. You can buy the exact number that you will need since they are sold separately, and since each one is $1, you will save a lot of money.
Pots and Vases
You can find some pretty great flower pots and vases at the dollar store for just $1. This is great since, at a department store, you will be paying a lot more money for the same products.
Wrapping Paper
At most stores, wrapping paper costs around $5 a roll. During the holiday season, you will need multiple rolls, which could end up costing you $20 or more. At most dollar stores, you can get a 20-foot-roll of wrapping paper for $1. You can put the money that you save on wrapping paper toward other gifts. The gift boxes and gift bags at dollar stores are very cheap as well.
Storage Bins
If you want to keep your home organized, you are going to need storage bins. They are great for holding Christmas lights and decorations. You can also use them to pack away important paper, mementos, and photographs. At the department store, you can pay up to $10 for your storage bins. You can get them for just $1 at the dollar store. This would allow you to buy several containers without going over budget.
Pads and Tampons
Women need to buy pads or tampons every month to make sure that they have enough to last. At the pharmacy or a supermarket, you can expend to spend anywhere from $6 to $10. You can stock up on your feminine hygiene products for just $1 at the dollar store. Since you need to buy these products month after month, you can save a lot of money over time by shopping at the dollar store.
Reading Glasses
As you get older, your eyes lose their elasticity. This can make it difficult for you to read things up close. You can get a pair of reading glasses from your eye doctor, but you could end up paying over $50. You can find reading glasses at the pharmacy or department store, and you can spend up to $10 on these as well. If you want to get a few pairs of reading glasses without breaking the bank, you can find them at the dollar store.
Craft Supplies
Crafting can be expensive if you are buying all of your products at the local craft store. There are plenty of art supplies that can be purchased at the dollar store for just a dollar. You can get beads, crayons, paintbrushes, color books, glitter, and more. You can get most of what you need at the dollar store, and what you can’t find can be purchased at the craft store. Overall, this can save you a lot of money.
Pregnancy Tests
If you buy a pregnancy test at the supermarket or drug store, you can expect to spend between $10 and $20. This is a lot of money, but people still buy home pregnancy tests. Most women don’t want to wait to get a doctor’s appointment to find out if they are pregnant, so they are willing to pay the price. You can buy pregnancy tests at the dollar store for just $1. Since kids are expensive, you can start saving money for the baby when you buy purchasing your pregnancy test at the dollar store.
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies at the supermarket or department store aren’t incredibly expensive when you buy just one item. It often takes many different supplies to clean the house. You will need a bathroom cleaner, a window cleaner, furniture polish, and an all-purpose cleaner. All of these things can really add up. You can find all of the cleaning products that you need at the dollar store for just $1. The products may be diluted a bit, but they will still get the job done.
Tape
If you are going to buy tape at Office Depot or Staples, you can expect to spend around $5. At the dollar store, you can buy your tape for just $1. This is the cheapest way to stock up. Having a supply of tape is excellent, especially during the holidays. You can’t wrap a gift without tape.
Plastic Utensils
Most people use plastic utensils when they are planning a party or a barbecue. It is much easier to use disposable utensils when you are feeding a lot of people. You can buy your plastic utensils at a department store or supermarket for around $5, or you can stock up for $1 per package.
Seasonal Decorations
Christmas decorations can be expensive. Rite-Aid sells them for as much as $60. During the holiday season, dollar stores get plenty of decorations. They all cost just $1, and you can find just about everything that you are looking for. They also get limited amounts of decorations for other holidays, including Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and the 4th of July. You can even find everything that you need for a birthday party at the dollar store. There is no need to waste money in a department store or pharmacy when you can find everything you need for just $1 at the dollar store.
Hair Ties
You can buy a package of 50 hair ties at the pharmacy for about $7. Most women misplace their hair ties, and soon they have just a couple left. A great way to save money is to buy your hair ties at the dollar store. If you lost most of them, you wouldn’t be too upset since you invested just $1. You can also find barrettes, hair clips, and other hair accessories at the dollar store.
Toiletries
If you are buying your toothpaste, mouthwash, shaving cream, and soap at the department store or the pharmacy, there is a good chance that you are spending a lot of money. A tube of toothpaste can cost up to $6. You can get everything that you need at the dollar store for just $1, which will allow you to stock up without breaking the bank.
