12 Things You Must Buy at the Dollar Store

Dollar Stores have a sort of unique place in our society. We look at them as discount shops where you can buy cheap, poorly put together products. However, Dollar Stores have actually become a great place for you to save money on certain usable products. Whether you are saving money for that great fishing trip or for your next Caribbean scuba diving excursion is beside the point. Listed below are 12 products you need to buy at the local Dollar Store.

Pregnancy Tests

Would you trust the future of your parenthood to an item you bought at the local discount store? Well, when it comes to pregnancy tests you can do just fine shopping on the cheap. Dollar Stores sell pregnancy tests that are the exact same product as their higher priced retail counterpart. A pregnancy test from a higher priced chain could run you nearly $10 to $15 dollars. Save your money and check out the local DG. If you are still uncomfortable using a cheaper pregnancy test than just buy two and you can test them against each other and know that you are getting an accurate reading with the product.

Greeting Cards

Whether or not you think buying Hallmark style cards for a family member is cool or not is irrespective here. If you DO want to buy a nice birthday or Christmas card then you can get them cheap and high quality at the local discount store. The biggest benefit of shopping for greeting cards or Holiday Cards at the local Dollar Store is that most people don’t know to shop there, leaving some of the best options still on the shelf. Save your holiday card money for the European river cruises you’ve been looking at. Okay, you won’t save that much money but every cent counts — right?

Kitchen Utensils

If you are a broke college kid moving into your first apartment then you probably don’t have much when it comes to kitchenware. Heading over to the local discount shop can lead you to a nice and wide selection of cheap kitchen utensils and tableware that is both serviceable and affordable. We’ve gotten stoneware bowls and microwavable mugs for just a dollar or two each and they’ve lasted forever. You should even see a variety of different designs or colors. Besides, you’ll also find all of those odd Star Wars or Disney themed dishes on occasion, as well. Of course, you won’t save enough money to book that swanky hotel reservation online for Mardi Gras — but it’s a start, right?

Shampoo

Is there anything more annoying to spend money on that is still so required to have? If you are a shampoo freak like us then you need to find ways to get good quality products without busting your bank account. Our local Dollar Store has an entire aisle dedicated to clearance items and it is always stocked with premium shampoo and conditioner brands. Instead of spending $6 a bottle why not opt to spend only $2 or $3? The cruises to Scandinavia beckon!

Candy

Do you have a vicious sweet tooth? We do, we’ve probably spent enough money to buy a couple of rental cars thanks to our Snickers addiction. If you just have to have some candy then make sure you get it from the local Dollar Store. Whether you need candy for an afternoon snack or a trip to the movies, you’ll never find it cheaper than at the Dollar Store and you’ll still be getting all of the top notch brands. Besides, your dentist will thank you.

Tupperware Containers

So this sort of ties back into our kitchenware listing but we feel like it deserves special mention. Don’t fall prey to those plastic container slingers that roam the streets during the summer and instead just get your Tupperware needs filled here. You’ll be able to find 2 and 3 packs of plastic containers for only $1 or $2 each, a far cry from the $6 or so that you’ll spend at the local Wal-Mart. They probably won’t last you forever but the money you save can add up and go a long way, especially when you’re looking at those discount hotels for a potential vacation.

Decorations

If you are the kind of person that likes to keep your home representing the holidays then the Dollar Store is the place to shop! Dollar Stores will frequently rotate in and out their stock of seasonal decorations and you’ll be able to get just about whatever you want for a couple bucks. Waiting until the end of the season will make these decorations even cheaper though we question the sanity of anyone who wants to hang up Halloween decor months after the actual big event. In any event you can always buy supplies ahead for when the season loops back around.

Canned Food

Depending on the size and quality of your local Dollar Store you should be able to find a grocery aisle or two. Many Dollar Stores focus on having a nice selection of canned foods on hand for customers and you can rack up quite the cart full of food before you run out of money. Canned food at the Dollar Store is just as good as anywhere else and it is more affordable than anything. Just make sure you are buying what you need and not what you want, it’s easy to lose sight of your budget when everything is so affordable. Some Dollar Stores are moving even closer to becoming a part grocery store. Higher end dollar stores will even have frozen and refrigerated sections for you to pick through. While the variety is never guaranteed you should always be able to find some high quality groceries for an affordable price.

Batteries

Did you go to play your favorite video game when you realized that the controller was dead? In a snip you can head over to the local Dollar Store to grab yourself a stack of affordable batteries in just about any size or shape. Dollar Stores will offer the high quality brands you are used to for their close-to typical price, but there will also be an off brand available for you as well. Cheaper batteries are typically worse than their premium counterparts but not so bad that they won’t work out if you need them to. Hey, when you need to land a car rental cheap enough to afford you have to cut your budget in some places!

Cleaning Supplies

When it comes time for your Spring Cleaning session the first stop you should make will be at the local discount shop. Dollar Stores are filled to the brim with affordable, high quality cleaning supplies that will just make your life easier. From bleach and rubber gloves to polish and air freshener, your discount shop has what you need. Keep an eye on expiration dates as you shop around and check for potential damaged packaging and you should be good to go.

Baby Care Supplies

If you are a new parent or an old hand at raising children then you know just how much goes into keeping your little guy or gal clean. Save some money by shopping at the local Dollar Store for all of your baby cleaning supplies: baby wash, baby oil, diapers and so on. You can even find baby lotions for decent prices. Obviously you will want to take a proactive approach to analyzing ingredients and making sure that the product is good for your child. If you find something that fits your needs then the Dollar Store will probably be the cheapest place to snag it.

Household Tools

Alright, so you are finally all moved into your new place but you need to hang up some pictures and do some general work around the house. If you are near a local discount Dollar Store then you’ll likely be privy to a generous array of cheap tools that can be perfect for your needs. You won’t be finding all of the highest quality, brand name tools but you will find hammers, nails, screwdrivers and so on. For just a few bucks you can get the stuff you need for general house work wile worrying about power tools and all of that stuff later.