15 Must Buy Dollar Store Items
While there are many things that are best to avoid purchasing from the dollar store, there are still quite a few items worth purchasing! It's so good for cheap seasonal items, craft supplies for when the DIY mood hits and even when a snack craving needs to be met. Here are 15 must buy dollar store items that I think will help you keep more of your cash in your pocket if they're purchased at a dollar store:
Party supplies - Napkins, paper plates, plastic cutlery and party decorations are all great things to buy from a dollar store. Especially since these items are meant to be used once.
Mailing supplies - The dollar store is where I always pick up our mailing envelopes. Can't beat the price and they even have the peel & seal envelopes to avoid the licking!
Pregnancy tests - Pregnancy tests can cost a small fortune if purchased from a drugstore, but if you get them at the dollar store, you'll be saving big money! I personally have had very "positive" (ha, get it?) experiences with these tests. Apparently they're the same as the ones that get used in the doctor's office.
Greeting cards - My husband says that if I have to get him a greeting card for a special occasion, he'd appreciate it if I got it from the dollar store. 🙂 The selection is usually pretty great too!
Craft supplies - Felt, beads, acrylic paint, embellishments and double sided tape for card making are all items I've purchased from the dollar store. Our a few of our local stores have a pretty good and unique selection of craft supplies and I'm sure yours do as well!
Wrapping paper - Why pay for expensive wrapping paper when it's just going to be ripped to pieces anyways?
Gift bags - Again, they have a great selection and you can't beat the price!
Organizing products - I've purchased numerous bins, containers, and buckets from the dollar store. My most recent purchase was some white plastic bins to organize the closet in the bathroom. They hold things just as well as fancy bins, I'd say!
Foil pans - Doing some freezer cooking? Pick up your foil pans from the dollar store.
Helium balloons - Although I have never purchased helium balloons before, I've heard that dollar stores are a great place to get them! I'll find out for sure at the end of the month when I get some for my daughter's birthday. 🙂
Double sided tape - Way cheaper to get this at the dollar store than at a store like Staples.
Kid Activities/Crafts - Once in a while I like to stock up on some new craft kits or colouring books for my daughter so I have something on hand when she gets board or we have to go for a longer car trip.
Batteries - I haven't done vigorous testing with this, but so far I must say that the dollar store batteries I have bought have lasted a long time!
Reading glasses - My mother in law always buys her reading glasses from the dollar store! That way she can have several pairs to go with any outfit or dispersed throughout different rooms of the house.
Cooking Utensils - I recently purchased a pair of great Betty Crocker tongs for $3 from Dollarama. This was by far the best price I found on a pair of heavy duty tongs!
What are your must buy dollar store items?
I read about organizing your refrigerator using plastic baskets from Dollar Tree and then when my freezer door was not shut completely and ice cream melted all over I decided to just always keep ice cream, especially the bars and sandwiches in a plastic bin, just in case of a power failure.
you can get some great stuff for themed birthday parties (We did a beach one with grass skirts and coconut tops lol and tons of garlands for the neck) invites are cheap as well as all the cards etc
also PIDDLE PADS – I get the 30 pack for $3 (I have ferrets)
and candles, esp ones for carrying in your car for winter time (the ones in a glass container!! and you can also stock up and make a small emergency kit for the car from all the stuff there!!)
I’ve even found Midol in the stores
Toothbrushes. Not toothpaste. Who knows where that’s from but name brand toothbrushes are $1 at Family Dollar and Dollar Tree.
I like to buy my bathroom cleaning supplies like toilet brushes and scrubbing pads for the tub, from the dollar store!
The recently opened Dollar Tree in Ontario sell helium balloons for next to nothing!!
Things NOT to buy at the dollar store are any pet snacks made outside of Canada or the US. Packaged in Canada or the US is not good enough as the product may be made overseas and packaged here. Many of the rawhide chews and other pet snacks that are made in places like China and Korea frequently contain preservatives and additives that can seriously impact your dog’s health. These countries do not have the same regulations for these items as Canada and the US. On the other hand, its a great place to buy doggie poop bags.
So true, Ilean. I’m glad you stated that about pet snacks. So many poor animals have died from these things and most people don’t know about it. To bad they’re allowed in this country.
I had to laugh at the pregnancy test part…I also used one from the dollar store when I was pregnant with my second daughter. While I was trying to determine whether or not I was pregnant the first time, I did spend a small fortune on tests. I was sure I was pregnant but was too early for the tests to catch it. So, the second time around I heard that the dollar store carried them and tried it out. I think I may have even kept it because I didn’t get a positive on the pregnancy tests from my first daughter.
Hi. Just a note about the helium balloons. I live on Vancouver Island and have found it to be very expensive to fill them because there is actually a helium shortage!
Yes Holly the Great Canadian sells them
I hate to bug for an elaboration, but my kid is having a birthday this month, lol.
Which dollar stores sell helium balloons? Great Canadian Dollar Store?
I buy mine at the Dollar Tree.
This is so true especially on the greeting cards. My dollar store sells them for 2 for $1 and even some for 4 for a $1. I have saved loads buying greeting cards from them.