Is Shopping at a Dollar Store worth it?

If you are on a tight budget, it's tempting to shop at a dollar stores.  With prices fixed at just a dollar an item, it's easy to stay within a budget.  However, we've begun to question the values we get at our local dollar stores.

Dollar Store at Landmark Mall - photo by Ser Amantio di Nicolao [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Are we getting the most for our money at dollar stores?  Often the answer seems to be no.  Cheap toilet paper may do in a pinch, but when you are working with what appear to be half-sized rolls of toilet paper, you run out a lot.  If you use super cheap batteries, they run out of power faster.  If you buy cheap dollar store shampoo and it makes your scalp red and itchy that isn't much of a bargain.  You have to consider the quality and the cost per unit of things you buy at a dollar store.

Generally, you get more of a product for the money when you buy a product at a grocery store or big box retailer than at a dollar store.  However, in some cases, when you don't need as much of a product or its just an occasional purchase, a dollar store makes more sense.  The key thing to think about is whether you are getting a good value for your dollar no matter where it is spent.

We find dollar stores a great place to purchase gift bags, greeting cards, seasonal decorations, some office supplies, tooth brushes, and toothpaste. 

Fabric Softener Sheets from Dollar Tree

My wife and I have been using the fabric softeners from Dollar Tree on our laundry. The sheets are comparable to Bounce or Snuggle. The brand name we use most often is called Breezy. However, they have more scents available with a brand called Sauvitel. These Dollar Tree products are great because you can use 'em and no one will ever know.

Great Deals on Household Cleaners!

 Does your toilet care what cleaner you use to scrub the bowl?  Do you drive around the neighborhood proudly advertising the product that you use to clean your kitchen counters?  Do you get any social capital from using a certain brand of window cleaner?  If the answer is no, you might as well get your household cleaners as cheaply as possible.  We've been finding that Dollar Tree is a great place to buy cleaning supplies.  To find out what deals we found, read my article -

The Best Place to Buy Household Cleaning Supplies:  Dollar Tree

By Xnatedawgx (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons