Dollar stores have been proliferating across the country in recent years, particularly in low-income and rural areas. Some people welcome the trend as they often open in under-served areas. Others have criticized them for displacing full-service groceries and undercutting competition.
Whatever your view of dollar stores, they do offer bargains in bulk, although not everything costs just a buck. They’re good for things you might use on a daily basis, such as coffee filters and plastic storage bags, or only on a seasonal basis, such as school supplies and holiday decorations.
Dollar stores are a particularly good choice when there’s no point in paying more for a branded item. Do you really care who made your pool toys or what label is on your dish towels? And aspirin is aspirin whether it sells for one dollar or five.
With all that in mind, 24/7 Wall Street has compiled a list of 20 things you should always buy at a dollar store because it doesn’t make sense to pay any more for them. (And if you’re trying to save money, watch out for these groceries driving up your food bill the most during the pandemic!)
Click here to see 20 things you should always buy at a dollar store.
1. Adhesive bandages
Hopefully you won’t need adhesive bandages every day, but it’s good to have them around when you do. Why not stock up at the dollar store?
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2. Aluminum foil
There’s no need to pay a fancy price for a simple commodity, and that’s what aluminum foil is — the name says it all.
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3. Baking sheets
Baking sheets are like aluminum foil — a simple commodity — and they’re used by the same people too.
4. Balloons
Kids love balloons and they’ll love you if you buy them in bulk at the dollar store.
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5. Beach toys
How often do you need to buy beach toys? Not much more than once a year and you don’t need to pay a whole lot for them either.
6. Bobby pins
For some people bobby pins are essential items. Others never use them in their lives.
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7. Coffee filters
If you like coffee you might need more than one filter every day. You can buy them in bulk at the dollar store.
8. Dish towels
Does it really matter what label is on your dish towel? No!
9. Disposable razors
The dollar store is just the place for disposable items — they don’t have to be fancy and they’re not meant to last.
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10. Envelopes
There’s no need to pay a lot for envelopes. In fact, with everybody communicating by email and text and paying bills online, soon there may be no need to pay anything for envelopes.
11. Hair bands and scrunchies
Hair bands are like bobby pins — some people need them but they certainly don’t need to pay a lot for them.
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12. Hand sanitizer
Hand sanitizer has become an essential item since the pandemic struck, but there’s no need to overpay for it.
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13. Holiday decorations
Why not get your holiday decorations in a dollar store? Instead of spending time making them yourself, you can buy them cheaply and use the time you spare drinking eggnog.
14. Painkillers
Painkillers are like adhesive bandages — good to have around just in case. And nothing is a bigger pain than wasting money.
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15. Plastic storage bags
Plastic storage bags are a basic commodity with lots of uses and there’s no need to go to a high-end store for them.
16. Pool toys
Pool toys are like holiday decorations — you probably only need to buy them once a year and they don’t need to be gold-plated.
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17. Reading glasses
Getting glasses at an optician’s can be expensive. You can get them at a dollar store but if you think you need them, it’s probably a good idea to get your eyes checked by a professional.
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18. School art supplies
School art supplies are another seasonal purchase. Kids have fun making messes. Paying too much for things is no fun for adults.
19. Sponges
Whether for your kitchen or bathroom you don’t need a fancy label on your sponge.
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20. Storage containers
Storage containers are super useful but they can also be super expensive. They don’t have to be fancy if they’re just going to get put into a closet or shoved under a bed.
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