Dollar Stores

[redambrosia]

There's a couple Dollar stores near me, and both carry crappy junk. I'd rather save my money and buy higher quality stuff that will last me longer. Plus, I just don't trust the food at the Dollar store. I do trust the grocery outlet though, though you have to be careful about the quality of produce you get from them.

[Catana]

I buy food at the dollar store every week. Some of the items are brand names, but I find that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best. I recently tried something from a well-known company and it was terrible. I have a suspicion that some of the marketing failures go to the dollar stores. I also try out new brands, even if they're no-name, and most of them are okay. Not gourmet quality, but when cost is more important than gastronomic delight, that doesn't matter very much. As for non-food items, you have to check for quality, which depends on how much use you expect to get out of an item. It's not all junk, by any means.

[khorrell]

I shop at the Dollar Tree occasionally. They have four packs of kids toothbrushes for a dollar, which is great since my children are forever dropping theirs on the floor and that is one place where I am a little crazy. I also purchase hairbrushes and combs there, sometimes in packages of up to 10 combs. I find that you have to be selective but you can find some excellent deals.

My sister lives in Houston and she has been raving about the 99C stores there. I look forward to seeing them someday. She says that sometimes she can get 3 packs of bell pepper (all colors) for 99 cents!

I'm not a fan of Dollar General because their prices don't seem that competitive to me.

We also have a store here called Five Below (everything is $5 or less.) Their Croc-style shoes are pretty good quality, and they often have books at outstanding prices. I've gotten Nancy Drew books for $2 each and just picked up Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious for $5. I've also found super-high quality sports mouthguards for $2 and nice board games for $5. Today I got a package with 8 toothbrushes, a toothbrush holder and a drinking cup for 2 bucks!

I just wish that all the good bargains could be in the same place, and available when I need them

[olena99]

Because something is a dollar, doesn't mean it's a good buy.

[mzScarlett]

If you THINK "just a dollar" you end up spending more than you wanted to. However, if you shop just looking & KNOW the prices of things elsewhere, you can find good buys. What I love to get at the $ store is filled helium balloons, which everyone loves! They make birthdays special, & other things as well, at minimum cost. Love also their hair brushes, tooth brushes (multipack); & their TOOLS. Cannot beat getting a set of 5 screwdrivers, complete with hanger & screws to put on the wall, so you will always find, or a hammer for $1.00! Bungy cords, etc, are fantastic buys there! I make my own laundry soap, 1 c. grated Fels Naptha, 1/2 c. borax, 1/2 c. washing soda; 1 grated bar of Fels Naptha equals 2 1/2 c. flakes so adjust accordingly; using 1 T. per load, 2 T for heavily soiled, cleans fantastically, totol cost 1 cent a load; will never go back to paying for it, not even $1.00!

[mzScarlett]

another quick note: here in the town I go to shop in there is a dollar store next to a grocery store: at the end of the month, they have the magazines for $1 at the dollar store! YES! why pay $3.95 or more for a magazine you like if you KNOW you can get it for $1 at the end of the month! (savings tip!)

[Joha]

I like the Dollar Tree...We used to have some 99c stores here in Miami...only one survives and it's nowhere near as good as they used to be. When I went back to school for my nursing degree shopping there for fruits and veggies helped immensely. We had even less money then and that store was a life saver.

[dancing_lemur]

LOVE the Dollar Tree! There is one close to home and work (same store), and they have great holiday decorations, great mugs for gifts, GREAT gift bags (the holiday selection this year is amazing), etc. My nonprofit workplace gets all our party supplies there.

[Jolie]

Hi,
What dollar stores provide?

[Babalu]

Most of the dollar stores here are independents, and they're all charging over $1 for stuff. But Dollar Tree I noticed has stuck to $1, so as not to cheapen the brand so to speak.