Dollar Store Hacks
My mother in law was the best at dollar store hacks.
It was where, on her pensioners budget, she was able to stock up on coloring books and crayons for my daughters when they came to visit.
She also used her local dollar store to stock up on packs of tissues–I always left a visit with at least one in my purse–and number two pencils.
This was when my daughters were in high school and taking so many standardized tests.
Who knew that one of the best places to get those ubiquitous number two pencils was the dollar store?
Dollar store hacks
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Perhaps the biggest dollar store hack that I can share is this: you can find many brand name products–particularly grocery items–at big bargains in dollar stores.
At Dollar General, the largest of the big three chains, aisles are stocked with brands like Crayola, Folgers, Hanes, Huggies, and Tide.
At Family Dollar look for L’Oreal, Maybelline, Nabisco, and Pepsi.
And at Dollar Tree you can buy Ajax, Dial Soap, Reynolds Wrap, Scope and Softsoap, among other brands.
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If you want to add dollar stores to your shopping routine, keep these hacks in mind.
Here is the lowdown on private label store brands, including at the dollar store.
Look beyond the dollar store price tag
Not every product at a dollar store costs a dollar.
Most dollar stores sell stuff at a variety of prices.
At Dollar General, for example, about 25 percent of the items are $1 or less.
Most items cost under $10.
But you’ll find exceptions, often on specialty or seasonal goods.
For example, you might spend $85 on an inflatable swimming pool or $35 on a box fan.
Speaking of that dollar price point, Dollar Tree made news in 2021 when it announced it was no longer going to price things at $1.
Instead, the base price would be $1.25 going forward.
So they really should have renamed themselves Dollar and a Quarter Tree (sarcasm).
Even so, $1.25 per item is still a bargain for certain items.
You can find legit bargains at dollar stores
One analysis of products that dollar stores sold found that Dollar Tree often had the lowest price on food, cleaning supplies, paper products, drinks and other everyday staples.
However, with inflation at an all time high, make sure you do your homework and shop around before making your final decision.
Shopping online for dollars stores is a thing
I think this dollar store hack is one most people don’t know about–you can shop online.
In fact, with my earlier advice about shopping around for the best price, you can do this online.
For example, Dollar General was advertising Birds Eye Steamfresh Mixed Vegetables, Frozen Vegetables, 10 Oz package for $1.
When I checked at Target and Walmart, this was the best price available.
At Target the same package was $1.29 and at Walmart it was $1.32.
So not a huge difference but if you’re pinching pennies, it adds up.
All of the big dollar-store chains have a retail website.
Some even offer coupons that you might not be able to find in stores.
Also, in some instances, when you shop online at a dollar store, you’re not shopping to have something shipped to you.
For example, if you shop on the Dollar General website, you need to choose your local store so you can know if inventory is available.
Then, once you complete your shopping trip, you have to do an in-store pickup.
However, at other dollar stores, you can have products shipped to you.
For instance, when I visited the Family Dollar website in December, there was a banner on the homepage reminding me of holiday shipping deadlines.
It appears that Family Dollar uses UPS to deliver orders.
Finally, Dollar Tree (which also owns Family Dollar) has a legit e-commerce arm.
In fact, it participates in Rakuten cash back.
So you can “earn” money when shopping online at Dollar Tree.
On the other hand, when buying online, you have to buy in bulk.
You’ll see the minimum amount you need to order online spelled out under each product, as shown below.
Hacks with private label or dollar store brands
Store brands are great bargains, as I discovered when I did this taste test with Giant Foods brands vs name brands.
However, I’m told that buying a dollar store’s private-label food brand can save shoppers 29 percent on average over national store brands.
For example, on my trip to Family Dollar, I discovered that the store brand caramel and coconut cookies were an exact replica of the Girl Scout cookie Caramel Delights.
However, you can bet they didn’t cost $5 a box like during Girl Scout cookie sales time.
Instead, at Family Dollar those cookies were at least 50 percent cheaper.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Family Dollar is offering this kind of cookie anymore–darn!
But there is a caveat to this dollar store hack–I would only recommend private labels with shelf-stable food products.
Everything else, caveat emptor, as I explain in the next section.
Avoid off-brand vitamins, medicine and electrical products at dollar store
When buying non-food items at the dollar store, buy brand name only.
And even then look closely at labels.
This Readers Digest article said that sometimes you could find counterfeit products at a dollar store that look totally legit.
In addition, watch out when buying electrical products without UL labels, or with fake ones.
How do you know they’re fake or counterfeit?
Safety labels from Underwriters Laboratories always include four elements spelled out.
Fake ones usually do not.
I grabbed this picture of a real label vs a fake one from the UL website.
Check expiration dates on food and medication
Be sure to check the date when buying food or medication in a dollar store.
You want to make sure the product hasn’t expired.
In fact, if you’re shopping for perishable items or medicines–you know, things with expiration dates–you may be better off shopping at a big box store.
Sometimes these items are so cheap at a dollar store because they’re close to their expiration date.
Dollars stores can be great for crafters
When I was leading a Girl Scout troop and needed quick, easy and cheap supplies for crafts we had to do during our meetings, I always went to my local dollar store.
Also, tissue paper is a must-buy at the dollar store.
If you’re wrapping lots of presents, you’ll do well to stock up here.
Don’t buy on price alone
One of the dangers (figurative, not literal) of dollar store shopping is buying something you don’t need simply because of the price.
For example, you think this is such a great deal that you can’t pass up–except it’s something you don’t really need.
Buying something just because it’s a good price has nothing to do with quality.
You want invest in most things because they will hold up over time.
For example, there are no lifetime guarantees on products from dollar stores as there are from other retailers and manufacturers.
In addition, at some dollar stores, you may not like their store return policy.
Dollar store return policies
According to the Dollar Tree return policy, all sales are final.
However, if you return something with a receipt, you can get an exchange only, not a refund.
At Dollar General, return policies are a bit more generous.
However, they vary based on how you shop.
If you bought something online, here is Dollar’s General’s policy:
“Unused items can be returned within 30 days of purchase. We do not accept returns of food or hazmat items. Store locations are unable to accept returned products that were shipped to you. Return postage will be the responsibility of the customer.”
Dollar General will refund your purchase to your original form of payment or to a Dollar General gift card.
With regards to in-store purchases or pickup orders, you can return unopened or unused packages, with a receipt, within 90 days.
There are some exceptions to this return policy, which are spelled out on this Dollar General help center page.
Family Dollar return policy
I was surprised to learn that Family Dollar offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Here’s what it says:
“If you are not 100% satisfied with any Family Dollar brand product, simply return it within 30 days to any of our stores with a receipt for an exchange or full refund.”
This Family Dollar return policy page explains more about this Family Dollar guarantee.
Final thoughts on dollar store hacks
I think I’ve covered all of the important stuff you need to know to make the most of shopping in dollar stores.
I hope you can put some of these hacks into practice the next time you visit Dollar Tree, Family Dollar or Dollar General.
If I’ve missed any tips that you think others should know about, please post a comment and let me know.
Finally, keep in mind that when creating a gift closet, you can do very well shopping at a dollar store.