Good NestingDo: Buy these items at dollar stores.
Expert shoppers know that dollar stores are gold mines for specific items, as their prices are low while maintaining solid quality. Here are some examples of excellent dollar store finds:
- School project supplies
- Books, stickers, puzzles, and other kid supplies
- Disposable barware and kitchenware
- Party supplies
- Holiday and seasonal items
- Towels, sponges, rags, and other cleaning supplies
- Greeting cards
Don’t: Buy these items at dollar stores.
Just because you see something cheap at a dollar store doesn’t mean you should buy it. Certain products are best bought elsewhere to ensure you get the highest quality possible. For example, vitamins, medications, and beauty products should be avoided if they’re off-brands at dollar stores. Why? Because you’re ingesting or putting them on your body, so you don’t want to settle for less in terms of ingredients.
Other items, meanwhile, could be dangerous if their quality is lacking. So try to avoid plastic toys and pool floats at dollar stores, too, as they could lead to safety issues for your little ones. The same goes for cleaning products and chemicals, as you don’t want to expose yourself to something toxic just because it was cheaper than a name brand.
As with most things when shopping, read the labels to be sure. If the item is expired or has ingredients that don’t mesh with brand names, you may want to skip them to play it safe.
Do: Download apps.
Dollar General and Family Dollar have their own apps that can tell you of upcoming deals so you can snag them before anyone else does. And they’ll also give you coupons and discounts to stack your savings even more.
Besides dollar store apps, download apps like Ibotta, Checkout 51, and Fetch Rewards to get cash back on in-store purchases.
Don’t: Forget coupons.
Speaking of stacking savings, look for dollar store or manufacturer coupons online or in the Sunday paper. Despite being discount havens, most dollar stores accept coupons so you can keep even more cash in your pocket. And depending on the coupon’s value and what you’re buying, you could get individual items for free.
For example, if you have a $1 off coupon on shampoo and it costs $1 at Dollar Tree, you could take it home without paying a penny.
Do: Shop online.
If you make dollar store purchases through a site like TopCashback.com, you can get cash back to pad your wallet. This is especially true if you’re a fan of Dollar Tree or Dollar General, and as a bonus, you get to skip lines and save on gas.
Don’t: Expect returns at Dollar Tree.
It’s tempting to snag every on-sale item you see at dollar stores, but only buy what you need at Dollar Tree. Since they don’t accept returns, you’ll be limited to an exchange.
