5 Things You Can Buy for a Dollar But Probably Don’t

(The following guest article is by Nikki Harris. If you would like to guest post for us please see our guidelines. Kyle’s Note: As I have written before, we have a fun family tradition of taking our kids to the Dollar Store to let them shop for Christmas gifts.)

When it’s time for weekly grocery shopping trips, most people just go to one store and buy everything. Depending on where you shop, you might find that some items are available in other places for less. Discount stores, for example, offer select brand name items at a reduced price. If you shop at a discount store that offers everything for the same price, you’ll find that you can spend anywhere from 35 to 75 percent less for the exact same items you’ll find at the grocery store or even the drugstore.

If you’re serious about frugality, you might not think twice about going to two different stores to buy everything you need to get you through the week. However, most people don’t make the little extra effort it requires, especially if they have to bring the kids along to a second stop. In reality, there’s a variety of items you can buy cheaply at a discount store that you probably pay too much for at the grocery store. Here are 5 useful things you can buy for a dollar but probably don’t.

1. Cleaning Supplies

Keeping the house clean takes some work. It doesn’t help when you have muddy footprints on the ceramic tile and little fingerprints on the bedroom mirror. The interesting things that happen to your nice clean bathtub might make some people shudder. It seems like the more kids you have, the more you have to clean. Cleaning supplies, like glass cleaner, sponges, ceramic cleanser and scrubbing brushes, don’t have to cost a fortune, but they can make your home look like a million bucks – even if it’s just for a few days at a time.

2. Paper Products

From paper towels to toilet paper to paper plates, disposable and recyclable is in style for a reason. Paper products are great for quick clean-ups and lower water bills.

3. Party Supplies

Everyone loves a party. The festivities only last for a few hours, but the memories last forever. It’s not worth spending a lot on balloons, streamers, cups, plates and napkins. You can save any leftover party supplies for the next event or use them up on crafting projects. If you like to have the occasional ant-free picnic with a blanket spread out on your living room floor, create a more festive mood. You can pull out the leftover party cups and plates without worrying about broken glasses and dirty dishes.

4. Home Improvement Items

When you’re planning do-it-yourself home improvement projects, check at the discount store first for paint rollers, latex gloves, screwdrivers and rubber mallets. Don’t let the kids see the rubber mallets, though, unless you’re prepared for a homemade rendition of whack-a-mole on your 9-year-old’s lunchbox.

5. Automotive Fluids

If you keep up on your vehicle’s routine maintenance at home, you probably buy items like brake fluid, octane booster, injector cleaner and power steering fluid when your car starts making shrieking noises and other hideous sounds. Quiet things down without overwhelming your budget. If you have teens or tweens, this is also a good way to teach them how to take care of the car they might soon be driving.

While making a double stop on a grocery shopping trip might be an inconvenience at times, it can also make a difference in how heavy your wallet feels at the end of the week. If you’re serious about being frugal and you’d rather be shopping, it’s an easy way to save a little money.

Author Bio: Nikki is an independent writer for DollarTree.com. Dollar Tree offers great deals on office supplies, party supplies and more.

Ask the Readers: Do you shop at the dollar store? What items are worth the $1 and what aren’t? They clearly have loss-leaders and they also have products that I think they make .99 cents profit on. I look forward to your comments.

8 Responses to “5 Things You Can Buy for a Dollar But Probably Don’t”

1. DC @ Young Adult Money on January 21st, 2013 8:19 am

   I don’t shop at the Dollar store (or I should say I haven’t for quite some time). I always forget how cheap stuff is there, and how much stuff you can get for only $1.
   DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted…5 Ways to Invest in Yourself

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2. Catherine on January 21st, 2013 10:16 am

   I always check out the dollar store for home and DIY stuff before heading to any other store. Especially things like paint rollers.
   Catherine recently posted…The Sexiest Thing My Money Has Bought

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3. Kyle on January 21st, 2013 12:25 pm

   The dollar store can be a bit tricky as some things are a total ripoff. For example they have a ton of baseball, football, and basketball cards at the front of most stores that sell for a $1 a pack. Most of the packs only have 4 or 5 cards in them and are made specifically for discount stores. As a collector myself, buyer beware, they are NOT a good deal.

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4. AverageJoe on January 21st, 2013 5:54 pm

   When my kids were younger I’d use the Dollar Store as my go-to place for the kids goodie bags. There are some fun little trinkets we could buy for next-to-nothing.
   AverageJoe recently posted…How Successful People Accomplish More – Two Guys and Your Money 025

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5. Kim@Eyesonthedollar on January 21st, 2013 10:03 pm

   I love the Dollar Store for craft items and decorations. Glasses and plates are also good things to get there.
   Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted…How to Retire in Ten Years, Regardless of Your Age

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6. Savvy Scot on January 22nd, 2013 6:20 am

   I try and stay away from £1 shops… I figure that supermarkets typically have much better buying power and therefore can offer the best deals!
   Savvy Scot recently posted…7 Extreme Sports for the Cheap Adrenaline Junkie

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7. Maddie Klingaman on February 27th, 2013 10:56 am

   I shop at the dollar store for things like gift bags since I really do feel it is the best value. I do go to several grocery stores too, but I don’t have young kids in tow either. Thanks so much for the great blog and site. I really like it!

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8. Natasha on March 13th, 2013 10:24 am

   Great post! Thanks for the ideas!

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