Are dollar stores that much cheaper?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
I stopped at a dollar store. There were several with carts filled with food items, like at a grocery store. I did some price checks. I don't cook, so I eat lots of frozen dinners. At the dollar store, they were a dollar more expensive. I noticed that toiletry items were the same or a bit cheaper at the grocery store. Maybe it's me, but when dollar store started getting heavily into food, it seemed their prices went up.
Are dollar stores that much cheaper?
 

Some people shop there because the store is smaller or more convenient than a grocery store. We used to buy some things there like paper plates and some health and beauty stuff, but now it's more expensive than other stores. Now we only buy a few calendars because we can still get them for a buck.
 
I like Dollar Tree better than the other "dollar" stores. I usually get the fake flowers, gift bags, wrapping paper, bows & ribbons. Holiday decorating nick-nacks are something I'll look for. For kids gifts I'll look for coloring books.

I can find a decent selection of colored t-shirts for my husband when they are on sale at Dollar General.

I will go to these stores on vacation, because they are easy to find & I know they will have what I'm looking for.
 
I go to Aldi’s mostly, occasionally Waldo worlds.
The lil woman likes Rulers and Sales at major grocery chains.
I doubt that I save much but she shows me incredible beef and pork buys.
She has a lot of patience when she shops.
 
For some items....yes, as long as they are true "dollar stores". Some so called dollar stores have more items closer to $5 than $1. Dollar Tree (DT) used to be the only true dollar store, along with maybe a spattering of 99 cent stores here and there that kept to that pricing. One was in Atlantic City, N.J. Now that Dollar Tree's basic price is $1.25 and they are selling $5 items too, it's easier to find better deals elsewhere on some items.

An excellent example of Dollar Tree being cheaper is gift cards. Supermarkets and card stores sell them from about $3.99 to $6.99. Dollar Tree sells very nice cards for $1 each. I'm not sure if they still have some for 2/$1.00. They also sell gifts bags much cheaper than other stores. Before they raised their prices, for $1.00 each I've gotten nice sunglasses (even reading ones) and reading glasses that sold for $10 each elsewhere.
 
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The "Pound Shops", over here, started selling everything for
under a pound, then when they couldn't get stock at a good
price, they started selling lots of expensive stuff at well over,
the idea for their existence, some of the things they sell are
expensive. I can't give any specific examples, because I never
went in one for years, but I hear people speaking about them.

Mike.
 
My nearest “Dollar General” store exists in the vicinity of a failed and closed shopping mall, which I miss. If I just want a few items, it saves me from a 15-minute drive to either a large supermarket or the packed zoo that is Walmart. If I buy any food at the dollar store, I just buy recognizable brand names, usually only an item or two.

The store sells usable stationery items, name brand drug store items, and off-brand household cleaners that are cheap and usually serviceable. In a pinch, you could buy socks and underwear there, as well as cheap seasonal items. I ever bought a small sack of grass seed there for a quarter or less of the price that I would have paid for the smallest bag at a “garden center!”

If you’re selective, a dollar store can be convenient, economical, and often offer an item that at least approximates your needs…
 
I can buy Cheerios cereal cheaper at Dollar General than anyplace else. They’re usually on special and I also use a digital coupon for more savings.
A good deal on Cheerios is important because my mom eats a bowl for breakfast every single morning.
 
I use to get a few things at the dollar store but haven't been in one in a long time. I shop at Aldi and order online from Walmart and go pick up my stuff. I went to Aldi yesterday and it was a zoo! I don't go in to Walmart because it always costs me more $$$$. I watch an older gal on Youtube that allows herself $20/week for groceries. She gets a few things at Dollar Tree. Last time I was in Dollar Tree was when we lived in AZ and things were still $1....haha :)
 
I make a dollar store run for greeting cards, gift wrap and gift bags when my supply won't cover a particular need. Some cleaning supplies can be good buys there, too. I only go a few times a year these days.

Agree with others, the days are long gone when dollar store wares sold at better prices than elsewhere.
 
I agree dollar stores are good for gift bags, wrapping paper, brown rolled paper. I also got some tape because the little hanging tabs were broke on all of them. So good price. I have some nice, made in USA drinking glasses I got there years ago. Probably seconds, but who can tell. I rarely go anymore.

What I need I can find more at Walmart. And I try to avoid made in china for plastic items like ice cube trays etc. I can still find made in USA at Walmart.
 
Dollar stores have gone up in my area as well. I went to one a few weeks ago—I can't remember if it was Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, etc.—and noticed that the prices were simply very low, not always a dollar. However, they are a godsend for greeting cards! I refuse to pay $4.99, or $7.99, for a card.
 
Colleen said:
I watch an older gal on Youtube that allows herself $20/week for groceries. She gets a few things at Dollar Tree.
Click to expand...
Can't imagine what she eats for $20/week. Can't be much fresh food in the mix. Interesting to ponder though. If my budget only allowed $20/week, my meal plans would likely be centered around oats, rice, dried beans, sale items, and some fresh fruit and veges from the bruised bins.
 
StarSong said:
Can't imagine what she eats for $20/week. Can't be much fresh food in the mix. Interesting to ponder though. If my budget only allowed $20/week, my meal plans would likely be centered around oats, rice, dried beans, sale items, and some fresh fruit and veges from the bruised bins.
Click to expand...
Here's her Youtube channel. See what you think.....https://www.youtube.com/@simplefoodsimplelife9632
 
Dollar tree. And yes, some things are quite a bit cheaper. Cookies, cereal, odd foods that are new or exotic. Then as others have said…paper goods.
 

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