Does anyone regularly shop at dollar stores..

[Kathleen04]

We have a number of dollar stores that actually have alot of grocery-store type items in them.. Has anyone saved money by shopping at these regularly?

I have to admit, before I was wary about quality, but these days I'm seeing alot of recognizable brand-name stuff in the stores, so I'm going to give it a try for some things, I think.

[NMDemDist2]

1. i don't buy food at $ stores, but I don't buy soap at my food store

I get all my notions, cleaning products, hair goodies etc at the dollar store. I buy food on the outside walls of the grocery stores (dairy and meat) and I get staples (flour, grains, pasta) at the bulk food store, but i'm lucky to have a reasonably priced bulk food market in my area that has a lot of local produce as well www.sprouts.com

everything else comes from the thrift store or costco

[egadsbrain]

2. yes and no...

I get cleaning supplies and personal stuff like shampoo and hand lotion. I try to stick to the familiar brands because some of the "off" brands don't go as far. For some reason some of the name-brand items are printed with non-English labels... the products seem the same though.

BTW, where I am we call 'em 99 Cent stores! :rofl:

[supernova]

3. I don't buy food there

because most of it is the highly processed overly salted stuff we're not supposed to eat anyway. I might buy a bottle of onion powder or something like that.

Also,do check the dates, usually its there because the stuff is about to expire.

Like the others though, I do buy stuff like toiletries, or batteries, or cleaning supplies, or even hobby supplies. You can really save money with that aspect of it.

edit: I'll add seasonal decorations too.

[Angry Girl]

4. A lot of the products are the same as in the stupormarkets

It's just that the goods vary from week to week. I buy all plastic wrap, plastic baggies, wax paper, and aluminum foil there (but NOT toilet paper, which is cheaper at Frye's - their brand - or just Scotts anywhere). Also batteries, ibuprofen, hand soap, and occasional kitchen-related items (like oven mitts, ice cube trays). And also decorations, like SN said. You can save a buttload there.

I've seen food there that's the same as anywhere else, except half or a third the price, but mostly candy and junk food. But there's also occasionally stuff like imported Greek olives, organic tomato sauce, and pasta that I'll buy, depending on where it's from.

Also try stores like Big Lots, which have craploads of marked off items, from printer ink ($7 for a Lexmark replacement ink kit) and office supplies to detergent to furniture.

[sofedup]

5. Sometimes...

...I buy peanuts, canned tomato products- the selection varies at our local store.

Can't beat the dollar store for holiday items and giftwrap!

We don't have dishwasher (except for me :rofl: ) and I've bought several heavy drinking glasses to replace lighter weight ones that have slipped out of my hands and broken while washing. They were less expensive at the dollar store than the thrift stores!

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Here in Brooklyn there is one particular .99 store that is incredible.

One does have to be careful about quality in most stores of this type, but this particular store has been around for years.
They get fresh food daily and it is brand names that I see in supermarkets for 5 or 6 times the price. I check the expiration dates and have never been sorry that I bought food there.
Refrigerated and frozen goods should be date checked.
Canned goods are not a problem.

[Rich Hunt]

7. hell yeah....

The dollar stores in my hood are veritable canteens! You can get some of the same things you'd find at a discount department store, only cheaper.