The dollar store is typically not the best place to purchase items that are fragile or have multiple components. That means shying away from many electronics and most things made of glass. Cheap doesn’t translate to a bargain if your purchase doesn’t last.
“I wouldn’t go to the dollar store for anything that needs to work well for a long time,” says shopping expert and editor Kristin McGrath of RetailMeNot, a coupons and deals company. “You might want to steer clear of scissors or a stapler, or anything you need to use often or for a long time, anything made with moving parts.”
If you want to save money, dollar stores are a fantastic option. Of course, there are things you shouldn’t buy at a dollar store (expired food is on the no-go list, for example). But if you shop sensibly, there’s no reason dollar stores can’t help you save more money.
Additionally, many dollar stores also operate online. If you want to take your savings to the next level, online dollar stores are worth adding to your list of shopping options. Pro Tip: Before shopping online, add the Capital Online Dollar Store Shopping browser extension. It automatically adds any available coupon codes to your purchase. Capital One Shopping compensates us when you get the browser extension using the links provided.
A dollar just doesn’t go as far as it used to — even at the dollar store.Inflation is hitting all retailers, and the discount stores that have historically kept their prices under a buck are struggling to hold the line. Dollar Tree, one of the country’s largest dollar store chains, announced in November that it would hike its minimum price for items to $1.25.
While competitors Dollar General and 99 Cents Only Stores still have items priced at a dollar, they also sell products priced higher, as does Family Dollar, which is owned by Dollar Tree. Even so, shopping experts say it’s possible to find deals at dollar stores during these inflationary times, although they may not be as plentiful as in the past.
“They still have items that are good buys. You just have to know which things to look for,” says Marilyn Anderson, author of How to Live Like a Millionaire When You’re a Million Short. Here are some tips to stretch your dollars further.
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