To save money shopping, purchase your incidentals at Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Big Lots. You'll be surprised at how much money you'll save by buying shampoos and cleansers. Most of their snacks are quite good, also Giant Eagle's bread is cheaper than Wal-Mart. I used to do all my shopping at Wal-Mart, but now I split it up amongst these stores to save 75 dollars in groceries. That is, of course, if these stores are located within close proximity because of the ever increasing gas prices.
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I totally agree. Dollar general. Family Dollar and Dollar Tree have became some of my favorite places to save/survive.
Watch out for the trans fats in the ingredients. I'd buy a lot more from these stores if they'd clean up their act.
Just be aware that a lot of the products in these types of stores come from China and their requirements are not the same as ours and you may be getting something that you are not aware of. There have been a lot of recalls because of lead content. What you may think of as a brand name that you know could very well be a knock off.
Some things I buy at dollar stores are great deals. Like sometimes my kids like lunchables, and those kids yogurts. Which are very expensive even with coupon at the grocery store. At the 99c store where we live they often have bryers ice cream which my husband loves
But for most things I have found that I save more money at places like walgreens where I can use coupons and then save additional money after rebate. A lot of times I have bought products with coupon that are free after rebate.
I have a system I use when I go shopping. I go to Dollar Tree first, then Dollar General, then Food Lion (making sure I have my MVP card with me), then Wal Mart. It's amazing how much you can get at the dollar store for just $1 when the other stores have it for much higher. They've recently begun carrying the brand of bread that my husband likes, that I have been paying almost $2.50 for, now the dollar store has the same bread for $1.
Dollar stores and Walmart have some good prices but neither one sells very many, if any American made products. I look for those products and will buy them first even if they are a few cents more. If you want your family, friends and neighbors to have a job then you need to make an effort to buy USA made products and maybe cut down on the amount of snacks you buy.
Agreed. I'm not too proud to shop at the dollar stores to save money. I did a survey of my area and keep a spiral notebook of frugal tips I list which stores have the better prices (in general) on what items. Be careful of '2 for' advertising it is often false. Was at a store the other day say a bag of candy I like the original price for a bag was $3.50 but that day they had it on a special Rollback price of 2 for $7.00. What kind of sale was that? I saved myself $7.00 and tons of calories as I was insulted by that kind of sale and didn't buy any.
Of course, always take a list with you to the store.. Also it's an eye opener to take a pocket calculator too and add up your items as you go along. Then you really have an idea of what you're spending. And/Or leave all the credit cards and ATM card at home and just take a certain amount of cash and purchase to stick within that certain amount of cash. I know that's old fashioned but it works.
You are right. The laundry soap, toilet paper and paper towels are alot cheaper. I split up my purchases also because of prices. Dollar General has gotten better at carrying better products than they did years ago. Years ago my father-in-law refused to purchase his groceries at Wal-Mart and the reason he gave was that Wal-Mart will put the other grocery stores out of business with low prices but then they will go up on prices after you don't have a choice to buy anywhere but from them.
When you shop at the Dollar Store, Dollar Tree or any of the others you are supporting China because that is were their stuff comes from.
Yep, dollar stores are indeed awesome places for a bargain, as are stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot. I hit these stores first for the basics for both personal care and grocery items, then I head over to the big grocery chain store for whatever is left over on my list that the cheaper stores don't carry. I save a BUNDLE that way!
Most of the food products at the cheaper stores are great-- comparable to the big chain brands. However, I bought a can of canned white chicken meat at the cheaper store and it was AWFUL! Lesson learned: try the item once before you stock up on it to be sure you like it. Sometimes you do get what you pay for, so buy with discretion.
A final piece of advice: don't go crazy! It's easy to go off the path of your shopping list, buying things you don't really need/want because "it's just a dollar." Those dollars add up! I know because I do this a lot. Y'know, go in to buy 3 items, come out with 6! LOL! Still and all, dollar stores can be a great blessing!!
You have to watch your comparision in size VS price at another store. Some places, esp the Dollar Tree, I find there is a difference. 6 4oz pks apple juice boxes $1 at DT and then 6 8oz pks at Walmart for $1.35 - 1.39 (for example). Just watch your prices and country of origin and you will be o.k.
Our Dollar General takes coupons, so I collect coupons for shampoo, bath soap, cleansers, etc. and buy all that there--Suave, VO5, Palmolive. I do watch at both DG and Dollar Tree for "Made in China" on pet chews and snacks and avoid them. (Some are made in Brazil.) I also avoid food items that list who they are distributed by and not where they are made or originate.
A few years ago I purchased several jars of jam that were made in Poland at the Dollar Tree Store. They were delicious, so I went back and purchased more so I could make up gift baskets for V.V.A. It was for their annual scholarship spaghetti dinner.
O.K. Made in China. It's everywhere. If you can find something made 'completely' in America go for it.
#1 The mall the high end stores the 'big box' stores are selling mostly imports.
#2China is not the only place in the world that produces something that's been recalled.
#3 The people working in Asia for wages and conditions that can only be considered sweatshops or near slavery.
Tough choices folks, save a buck, save a U.S. business, save a life? Most of the time I can't afford the choice but I will at some point.
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