My husband and I are newly retired, and while were not financially strapped, I realize the importance of being frugal. Youll get a much better deal for a better quality toy. } I recommend you read her post again and Thank her for the tips. When I was shampooing the carpet I went over that spot again and again. But in the end, I know that there are many great buys and that it does make it affordable for people who dont have other options. 10 Things You Should Never Buy at the Dollar Store Im also an Employee at the Dollar Tree. Thank you for the article. Baby wipes are now very essential (even for adults). They also get NAME BRAND shampoos and conditioners and etc.How ever, NAME BRAND holds just as many HARMFUL chemicals as generics. Did you use the potato truck to take out the light bulb? Not every product comes out to be cheaper compared to other stores, but dollar stores shouldn't be ignored as a way to save on some baby items! Love finding the musselman apple pie filling, also hormel chicken tamales. Quit honestly you come across as snooty. ? I dont know about yall but the Dollar Tree saved me. Below you will find an up-to-date list of our recalls. Save Money on Car Insurance- Tips from an Agent! It removes ring around the collar?! My family uses the Sleep Aid from $ Tree and we love it. thanks. I got some really good pot holders from there. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently deciding whether or not to ban the use of this class of chemicals in packaging due to their ability to "disrupt hormones and impair brain development," according to Food Safety News. Skip it, skip it nowjust keep on walking girl. We get ours when they have it for 25% off. Please let me know if I can help in any way. . Look at the ingredients. According to the report, products from both retailers included a number of concerning chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), andlead. Pingback: 7 Pro Tips to Buy Better Quality at Ross Dress for Less - The Frugal Convert. As a result, all chains were required to pay $1.2 million in damages in 2019, according to the NY Attorney General's office. Ill have to try those Air Fresh candles out! According to polls the average 1st birthday can run about $500 and each birthday after costs about $400 for parents. Hi all, regarding toothpaste, soaps, and lotions: I run a nonprofit organization that receives donations for the less fortunate/homeless. Our meats especially beef and smoked pork products have gone up 80-300%. Ill try again to add my email to get more. Id rather try to find products with natural ingredients that may cost a little more. I used the spot remover that came with my wonderful machine to no avail. Margarine 50% and dont even talk about butter or olive oil, they are off the charts. Original unscented dermacil I do NOT like at all. I LOVE the dollar tree for shopping. This is another per unit trick from the dollar store. Lotions.ROTFLMAO READ LOTION INGREDIENTS FROM ANY STORE! I have pieces I bought 15 years ago and STILL own them! We were in a hurry and needing to feed for cheap. At a regular store thats like 5$ also scented candles maybe a dud there but I buy candles for when theres a power outage at DT. I need to try those out for sure! The Boston-headquartered e-commerce site renowned for its selection of top-notch products at nearly wholesale prices, is creating excitement in the world of e-commerce. Have you tried those? Most of the time, you get what you pay for. I love my dollar tree but the trash bags r bad. Silk flowers are my go-to supply, too. If you do purchase toys from the dollar store, the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protectionrecommends you do the following: Carefully read the labels, throw away or fix broken toys, and make sure fabric toys are labeled as either "flame-resistant" or "flame-retardant. Blue Dawn dishwashing soap is what I use for stains especially ring around the collar. Please read this and every place you see dollar store, fix it yo read what you mean.. May I add Lightbulbs! Thank you for your reply, Gina. TFS. They were a good trial and though they wore out immediately, they served their purpose and I have worn (good quality) flip flops ever since! Here are some of them. They are especially great for baby showers and . Old Navy usually has a crazy sale on flip flops at least twice a year , and they end up costing around $4. This post was not intended to make anyone stop shopping there. I dont remember. I shop Dollar Tree and similar stores often for party items and seasonal decor. If you have sensitive skin, listen up! I also love the Coconut Oil moisturizer in the tub they sell, it smells amazing. But we get pretty decent toys. Stay tuned, its coming soon. Here Are 35 of The Best Dollar Tree Items: . just think about it.this applies to medicines and all items we need and wantin this world. Good grief! 2023 Galvanized Media. So, I dont care how you feel about the quality or price per oz. It's just free and clear dish soap but more expensive be, hense my switch to Seventh Generation. When you are only receiving Social Security each month it is very hard to make ends meet. Thanks for the tip, Maryanne! As for history, whenever prices escalate due to whatever, the prices never seem to go back down to normal when the problem is resolved. They are plastic bags that you put your rinsed off plastic items like breast pump parts or pacifiers in, add 2 oz of water, and then microwave for 2-3 minutes. Great bargains for name brand toothpaste, tooth brushes and dental hygiene. Also have to consider just what you need in an rv. Judy, youve just convinced me to use the awesome cleaner! Thanks for listening. But again withing the last 8 yrs or so the DT company has lost their niche in selling great items for such a great price. But we get pretty decent toys. Thats a creative wreath, such a great idea. Kids toys, I dont know what kind of stuff your Dollar Tree carries because they are ALL different. Now other items that may not make sense would be to buy their diapers, wipes, and baby blankets. I bought them once in a whim and they were so awful even our dog refused to eat them. Id stick to buying it on sale and if you have coupons while theyre on sale, youll come out with a decent deal. Faye, thanks for letting me know! You raise a really good point, Katie, and I totally agree. I love buying their name brand chips and chocolate, but youll never catch me buying their frozen food. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I can get them for one dollar (package of 8) whereas online junk catalogs sell the same package for $8-$10.00. I like buying the smaller chocolate name brand one there, perfect size for a small pan of brownies vs large cake . Yes, flip flops are the pits but for me, having not worn them since my teen years, I wondered how well I could wear them again, then in my 50s! So for you to post this stuff is just wrong. I recommend you go to Zurchers for balloons. Hope you liked the content of the article. Frustrated, I looked for anything to get that black stain up. Hey Daphne, thanks for stopping by! Jot multi pack of scotch tape refills is super, 6 or 8 regular size rolls for a dollar. Sounds like your tips are things Ive been trying to follow when shopping at Dollar Tree or any similar stores. I say this as a proud dollar store shopaholicmy oldest son used to work at a Dollar Giant.there are definitely great deals to be had at dollar stores, but there are also some items that you should avoid at all costs. Dollar stores tend to sell carbon-zinc batteries, which are more prone to leaking and don't last nearly as long as, say, their alkaline cousins. Only "In-Store Pickup" Displayed: this item can only be shipped for FREE to your local Dollar Tree store. Youre better off trying a discount store like Ross or even Big Lots for good candles that smell wonderful at around $3-$5 and their size is comparable to the. Once you find what you want, place the items in your shopping cart and check out. Just because a product is cheap doesn't mean it's worth your dollar. The few things that you mentioned in your post, I dont believe I buy those things there anyway. I also use all the others and they last a long time too. I'm glad you found my video! Im handicapped and now living with heart failure. While that may seem like a good deal, a lot of times that 4 oz include bone and fat. The Best Things to Buy at the Dollar Tree (and the Worst) After just one shampoo, I knew Id been had. Ill have to try Awesome Orange soon and Ill let my mom know that its similar to simple green. Yes, it seems like a great deal, but is it too cheap? ? Thank you for your help & sacrifice weeding through & sharing your knowledge & experience! The yellow Awesome cleaner is great as well. Thanks so much!! I hope that, despite the small error, the post was helpful. Every dollar store has at least one toy aisle. "The items that my employees and I purchase at Dollar Tree for value would definitely be toilet paper, paper towels, birthday cards, candy, balloons, plastic ware, paper plates, envelopes, stationary products, and the daily newspaper," Dollar Tree manager Brenda toldMental Floss. You wont even feel the difference, except in your wallet. "If Amazon and Dollar Tree had a baby it would be Temu," one Twitter commenter wrote . . Some links in this description may contain affiliate links. Hi I'm Kallie Branciforte from But First, Coffee! Just because it's cheap, doesn't mean it's a good deal (or that it's safe). Got your first comment Fawn, just replied. Lets transform the way you think about saving money and building wealth with simple financial strategies that empower you to live the life you truly deserve. These 3 Dollar Tree Items Will Keep My Kids Busy for Hours Hey Tamara, thanks for your insight. Theyre perfect for that. Just because you dont like it dont mean much. If you're going to a dollar store to score a deal on canned goods, you might want to skip the trip. All good buysAgree canned item not eorth it..some spices are okay. Ive purchased great deals on medicine from CVS when they have a sale, theyre offering a store coupon, and I combine that with a manufacturer coupon. The bags are great. I used to buy my meat from Costco, but now only resort to that if there arent any good sales at my local grocery store. I do like many items at Dollar Tree but I second everything you said about steering clear of shampoos and exercising caution about other products that appear to be familiar. There are also a few things on the canned vegetableand soup aisle every now then, such as soup starters, etc, that usually sell for $2.00 in grocery stores. Unless youre getting the name brand ones (and then you need to check the unit price) you should stay away from the toy aisle. Hi Gina! A lot of times at Christmas they will have nice smelling ones too. ? I wouldnt buy the charger cords, phone cases, or car chargers they dont last long at all and will ruin your phone quickly. These totals were, Read More Saving Money on Kids Birthday PartiesContinue, Car insurance is honestly one of my least favorite bills and I am so happy that I only have to pay it twice a year right now. Canned vegetables and fruit have gone up 50-75%. You might not think about Dollar General when it comes to buying your meat, anyway, but with a visit to one of its stores, you may be surprised to find a 3.5-ounce Great American ribeye steak costs less than $2. Thanks for letting me know. The box will only cost you $1 (rather than $2 or $3), but you might only have 7 or 10 bags, versus 20. The substance? I camp and travel a lot and Dollar stores are great for buying small stuff on the go. Im sorry that you feel my comments were snooty, but I stand by them, and as a frequent Dollar Tree shopper I have a right not to LOVE everything. Now back to $ tree, I, too, am a selective shopper. The sweetened condensed milk there is not real. But, you get none of that great smell when you actually light the candle. 37 Best Things to Always Buy (and What to Avoid) at the Dollar Store Love the store. tide for a dollar at the Dollar Tree, but could have purchased 60 oz. As far as candles go, generally they DONT smell when you burn them. Thanks again for your comment, have a nice day. I'm the content creator for the blog and YouTube channel But First, Coffee. You cant beat the reading glasses for $1 and I never buy my birthday cards anywhere else. That said, if you go to the dollar store for anything, you shouldputpaper products and party essentials at the top of your shopping list even employees say so. They cant afford to go to Costco and buy in bulk which yes it does become cheaper but not for them so it just depends on who you are and what you can afford .Love the dollar store to go buy snacks for the movies you pay a dollar for the exact same candy they sell for three bucks do its worth it. ????. Overall, Dollar Tree Baby products are perfectly safe to use and a good way to save money. Dermacil coco butter 10 oz tube is fantastic stuff. 16 Things You Should Never Buy at the Dollar Store - Bob Vila supposedly better than the cheapest walmart umbrella 6 or 8 bucks, and only a BUCK. The Dollar Tree candles smell so good in the store, dont they? For more up-to-date information, sign up for our Regardless of how much money you may save, buying meat from your go-to dollar store chain is not the best idea. Also, if you buy enough steak to add to 1 lb., the price would be $4/lb. My experience is that you get hassled less at borders if you have original containers. Have a great day. Youre right, their candles rarely smell. Their dollar books are often by popular authors. I dont think you made it sound like there are no savings at all, I think its a great article and very well written. I love the Awesome Bleach Cleaner at $ Tree. (I use to run a daycare) They als get some great books for kids and coloring books are awesome! they have taken the old school principles of the dollar as the root of wealth and used it in a way to help the poorer people while enjoying the fruits of their genius. ), BC plasticware, cake mixes, juice, some storage containers, cards, packing tape and more. And the dollar store is such a great place to find some awesome deals, as long as your know what to watch out for. Not to mention just because its NAME BRAND does not mean its a better product. Things I do not buy at a dollar store include: paper products (Kleenex, TP, paper towels) cleaning supplies, canned goods, spices, toys, and I could go on! Love the olives mentioned above, but will pay more elsewhere for sliced when i need sliced because Im not slicing a can o olives. I didnt know that, thanks so much for sharing, Angie!! At night, my daughter may have a handful of pacifiers in her bed and that means they pick up dust and lint easily. It may be a haven for your kids if they accompany you on your shopping run. Didnt know their umbrellas were good, so Ill have to try them out. My husband was wondering why the mashed potatoes were blue. Is It Still Worth Shopping at Dollar Tree? - Consumer Reports Etiquette experts say these are major no-nos. First, find products you wish to purchase. I normally avoid their body products other than name brand travel size ones for my purse, car and kids bags but this one is a win. Toxics in Dollar Tree Store Products? Workgroup for Safe Markets Family Dollar, owned by Dollar Tree Inc., operates about 8,000 stores nationwide. Dollar Tree Locations | Extreme Values Every Day Never buy colored pencils from Dollar Tree they're more expensive than Walmart. There are several ways to find products online: Use the top navigation on the site to find a particular product. For some baby items, you may not have a choice about splurging or not but sometimes you will find areas to scrimp on. AGREED!! Great items to add to my list! Dollar Tree was found to have some of the most products with toxic chemicals. sometimes its the little things that you can give pleasure to see a smile on your own grandchilds face. Stick with coupons at the drugstore and often times you can get great products for almost the same price as the dollar store. The Awesome cleaner at the DT is awesome! They also get NAME BRAND shampoos and conditioners and etc.How ever, NAME BRAND holds just as many HARMFUL chemicals as generics. Thank you for the info. you'll want to make sure you're only buying products from the store that are worth the money. Very nice response, Gina!! Its your official spending plan that gives you a snapshot of your bills, your lifestyle expenses, and helps you, You want to cut your grocery bill this week? Love the generic lysol wipes. Lotions.ROTFLMAO READ LOTION INGREDIENTS FROM ANY STORE! Doing your homework pays off. Dollar General, for example, offers cheaper alternatives. My husband and I are both retired and I am in a wheelchair full time so anywhere I can save, I will. However, this shouldn't necessarily discourage you from buying food from your local dollar store as long as you look at those dates. Next time you're in a dollar store, check out the book section, you just might find a treasure. After trying multiple brands from multiple stores, we finally started trying Dollar Tree pacifiers, and thankfully they have been very successful! ? Skip it, skip it nowjust keep on walking girl. We all make mistakes. As well as kitchen towels. Hey Jen, thanks for stopping by!! I agree do not buy the lotions, shampoos, conditioners, hair dye, or perfumes unless its a quality name brand. Dollar Store Purchases That Might Be Dangerous - Mashed Faye, thanks for the tips! But should you? Not everything from the Dollar Tree is a good deal. I would rather someone try them out and see what they think, to each there own. They smell so good when they are burning. Thanks for the info on the other items. The extra comfort is worth the extra few bucks. Toothpaste is name brand and the size is decent. It wouldnt even melt. I think they were a buck, too. I agree, thats one I would totally snatch up! Not a child stays interested for more then a week with a toy anyways! Lesson learned the hardest painful way. Most tend to think that frugal and thrifty mean the same thing, but really the difference between thrifty and frugal are that they are two sides of a similar coin. ive bought batteries from dollar tree that didnt work but i also took them back and gotten some more without a hassle. You tell what are and what arent good deals. Same with their ziplock bags. The other articles cover the same basic items to avoid such as batteries and tools, but yours covers more ground and thank you because dollar stores are huge and offer so many products. Product Recalls | DollarTree.com Ive heard about them from a Youtuber, which ones do you recommend? I live by myself and do a lot of shopping at Dollar Tree. "As a germophobe, I won't fly without my 2.8-ounce scented hand sanitizers, which come in a pack of three. Our beautiful long hair silver grey cat was always getting hairballs. My mom used simple green too! Burned me once. The Dollar Tree is a great place to shop, but we should be aware and do our research before buying Everything! 7 Things You Should And 7 Things You Shouldn't Buy At Dollar Stores. 4/$1.00, sounds great however when they burn out, and your are unscrewing them from whatever fixture you have put them, they break! At my local Dollar Store, they tend to have a lot of items with Sesame Street and an occasionally dinosaur or unicorn. I have also bought the Jennie O turkey burgers for a quick meal if I have a taste for one. This is an easy way to save a lot of money and still look cute as can be! DO NOT BUY THE DUCK TAPE OR MECHANICAL TAPE, ITS CHEAP. The brand name Johnson & Johnson 20.3 oz bottle at Walmart is $5.32, and that comes out to 26.2 cents per ounce. Not a savings! But a different retailer was found to have the highest percentage of products with toxic chemicals. I agree, if your lifestyle and home setting works with buying smaller quantities, then perhaps the Dollar Tree is a better deal for you. Agree on the batteries. The company has strict quality control measures in place, and most of the products meet or exceed safety standards. I bought the goop they ingest to see if it would help. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance,. Wrong!!!) Which is why TripSavvysays yes when it comes to buying toiletries at the Dollar Tree. Do you not have anything more important to occupy your time?????? of carrots may be $0.69 at Costco but if you unly need 1 lb. Thanks for your input, it was helpful. . Irish Spring soap, for example, is the exact same bar you'd find in the grocery store, only smaller. The popcorn had perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in its grease-proof coating, while the white chicken had a toxic PVC copolymer coating on the interior of the can. Should you really be buyingmeatfor$1.50 a dollar store? Yup, I agree with you, corporations are looking to make the biggest output with the least cost, which most of the time means less quality. I only wish that most people to try living on Social Security only for a few months. While, yes, you are paying more per oz. Glad to hear that others have experienced what I have. I use their laundry soap and love it! Lol. I needed dish soap and just needed to finish theonth and couldnt afford the Dawn I usually buy at the grocery store. 11 Toxic Items Found in Dollar Stores | Taste of Home Researchers purchased more than 200 products being sold from a number of dollar store retailers in the U.S. and Canada and tested a total of 635 unique components or materials from these products for certain toxic chemicals. (A name you can trust right? I dont know what area you live in but know this. Thanks for mentioning the cleaning products. Best Items You Can Find at the Dollar Tree Baby Aisle. I like the sweetners, juicie juices, hair supplies and maje up for sure. i think its wrong that we have to choose when we buy a electronic device or car or anything and we dont have enough money to buy the associated accessories tha accomodate a better customer experience with possessing the item. The Dollar General, for example, sells brandname goods like Green Giant and Bush's Best but don't be fooled by the price tag. However Ive found one kind that do. sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. Stick with their Betty Crocker silicone line (which is limited) or get your kitchen tools from Big Lots or Walmart. I do shop at Costco, but sometimes I just dont have storage space for the 12 or 18 count of large items, no matter the saving. The US. I dont buy the flip flops for walking but you can make a wonderful summer wreath with 4-5 pairs. I look forward to future conversations with you on various topics. But there are some things that didnt work out so well ? Also recently found sylvania ceiling fan double life 2 pack there and have not tried those yet. Personally, all my kitchen supplies at the dollar store. I recently started wondering if I could save any money on my current car insurance rate. I have routinely used Dollar Tree products like the baby shampoo, pacifiers, plastic utensils, and sippy cups over the years and all have been perfectly safe. Placing an Online Order | DollarTree.com Five Below's Disney Frozen II Hair Set Assembly, as well as its Squishy Unicorn, Superman, and Minnie Mouse headphones, were all found to contain ortho-phthalates. You just need to know which things are good buys and which ones are not. Ive bought a lot of kitchen gadgets there and Ive never had any problems course I get the name brand like the Betty Crocker for example .I feel the dollar store is a great place for people who dont have any money . You cant beat the gift bags , bows, and tissue. Id love to know which ones? I throw a can of them with wrappers removed, in a crockpot with velveeta (walmart brand is good) makes a yummy super easy dip. Baby food can be expensive so it's only reasonable to look to save some money. Great perspective, Frank! You can buy groceries at your nearby dollar store, but should you? o NO! It is important to note that Dollar General's ribeyes areinspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the packaging label, so it can't be that bad, but one Dollar General onlinereviewerdid say the meat was gray and ended up tossing it in the trash. Wish people would enjoy the content vs complaining about a misspelled word, I just thought Id say that I agree with you and that iv shopped dolor tree for years and learned some very good lessons. Ive actually cleaned a spot on the carpet with success. I get all my grill tools, scraper, and cleaner there! I dont have a problem with most things. Edited by Anita Badejo. I definitely do not agree with the batteries not lasting long and have actually tested it against Duracell with very little difference . I saw once that they had a 4oz. Its the only place I buy them! Thanks! They come out to about 2 cans for $1 at grocery stores and sometimes you find them even cheaper. If you buy a 1 lb. Works great on tough things such as outdoor furniture cushions, ring around the collar, and deodorant stains. Glad you liked the post! An asterisk signifies a product sent to me for review or as a gift. Eek. Never buy toothpaste because my grocery store sells toothpaste cheaper than $1, also paper towels. ? This list was a breath of fresh air! But, there are some great things that I bought from the Dollar Tree that have literally lasted me for years and I still use them today. However, babies are more "sensitive to the toxic impacts.". You dont end up with way more than you need. This is a good example of what it says on the outside isnt always what is inside. Its dangerous to humans and the enviroment. ? You can buy the refill which is larger( a few years ago it was a much bigger bottle) and pout in into a squirt bottle. "In-Store Pickup" and "UPS Delivery" Displayed: this item can be shipped for FREE to your local Dollar Tree store, or you can choose to have this item shipped via UPS directly to you (shipping fees apply). US reports the inflation rate at about 6% on food but somebody forgot to tell the merchants where I live! According to the report, 12 of these products contained at least one concerning chemical, meaning 38 percent of the retailer's products posed as a potential hazard to consumers. you dont need the rest so it may be more convenient. I totally agree Jocelyn! Its actually on #5 on the Dollar Tree list guide, I love the huge selection! Find your nearby local Dollar Tree Locations. They may also contain bisphenol-S (BPS)which you'll find in many BPA-free products and which might be just as dangerous as BPAthe chemical just hasn't been researched as much. You can also use coupons for even more savings. I was reading some of the comments and it would help if people didnt scan but read. They have done nothing to address or correct the situation! I totally agree! Clipping coupons might not be the best option. How many come in a pack? Garbage. So glad youve joined the Frugal Convert community, Elizabeth, welcome! I feel the same way! And the Dreft..meh.. Im not sure if anything in CA doesnt cause cancer. This means there are definitely products that you can feel safe buying at the dollar store, but you'll want to watch out for anything that contains formaldehyde, bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol S (BPS) and methylene chloride, among others, according toSafer Chemicals.