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Wondering what to buy at Dollar Tree? Find out 25 items you do NOT want to miss and also find out what NOT to buy at Dollar Tree!
What to Buy at Dollar Tree – 25 items to NOT miss!
Have you ever wondered what to buy at Dollar Tree, and what's not really a deal? One dollar One Dollar and twenty-five cents (Yes – Dollar Tree released Dollar Tree Plus and is raising prices too!) is often easy to spend, and it's easy to put things in your cart without really knowing if you're getting a good deal.
One way to know if you're getting a good deal is to look at the size of the item. More and more manufacturers are making smaller sized packages to sell at the Dollar Tree, which definitely can affect your savings! We have made oodles of Dollar Tree crafts over the years too – and they always have a seasonal section that is just SO MUCH FUN!
Here are 25 items we found that are definitely great to pick up at the Dollar Tree:
Personal Care Items
Epsom Salt, 1 lb
Compare to $5-$6 for double the size at Kroger or Target – even after getting a smaller size this still is a great price
Q-Tips, 250 – 350 ct
Compare to $3-$4 in most stores
Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Predictors
I work at our local pregnancy test center, and have learned these are pretty accurate (and cost $10-$15 each at other stores!)
First Aid Products: Band Aids & Gauze
These are great to have on hand, extras in your purse or car, or in a kiddos sport bag
Educational Resources & Office Supplies
Envelopes
These range $1-$3 at other stores
Post It Notes
Compare to $2-$3 at other stores
Dry Erase Markers & Sharpies
Compare to $2-$3 at other stores
Learning Books, Coloring Books and Word Searches
Compare to $5-$6 at other stores
Preschool/Kindergarten Manuscript Tablet
Hair Items and Other Household Organizational Items
Hair Wraps, Clips, Headbands & Other Hair Care Products
Compare to $3-$8 at other stores
Trash Can (perfect for bedrooms or bathrooms)
Compare to $3-$5 at other stores
Plastic Bins & Storage Containers
Compare to from $2-$4 at other stores (You can do a WHOLE Dollar Tree Organization setup with these!)
Sponges
Compare to $2-$3 at other stores
Vinyl Gloves
Compare to $3 – $5 at other stores
Project Display boards & Poster Boards
These usually are a little smaller than you'll find at the office supply stores, but you'll pay $1.25 instead of $8 – $10 per board ~ if your kiddos has a class project, these work perfectly.
Party Supplies
We've always purchased all of our party supplies at the Dollar Tree – they have a great selection, and the kids usually don't care what the plates look like to begin with!
Gift Bags
Compare to $3-$5 at other stores
Party Invitations & Party Hats, and Decorations
Compare to $3-$10 at other stores
Party Hats
Compare to $3 – $5 at other stores
Greeting Cards are crazy cheap (and they have AWESOME seasonal selections too!)
Compare to $3-$5 at other stores
Groceries at the Dollar Tree:
Groceries are very hit and miss at the Dollar Tree, but there are a few deals to be found. Be careful when shopping for groceries at the Dollar Tree to consider the price per ounce to make sure you're getting a good price, and don't forget they do accept manufacturer coupons which can make for some really great Dollar Tree deals!
Spices
Compare to $2-$6 at other stores
Movie Theater Candy – HUGE savings! 🙂
Head to the Dollar Tree before going to movies and you'll save a whopping $4-$5 per box of candy – crazy!
Soymilk or Other Milks (usually quart size)
Compare to $3 – $5 at other stores
Glassware
Compare to $2-$4 at other stores (perfect for birthday party favors, tea parties, and seasonal decorations)
Holiday decor
25. Small gift idea
What else do you regularly buy at the Dollar Tree? We also took at look at school supplies at Dollar Tree – you might be surprised with what we found.
We'd love to hear what you would add to this list ~ leave a comment to share!
If you love shopping at Sam's, check out our top items to buy at Sam's Club too!
More deals today:
Dried beans. The selection is small but the value is good.
The foil pans for the freezer meals sold by PPP.
I needed 1 placemat (instead of a pack of 4) for a decoration.
Nail polish.
Travel sized items for the plane.
Picture frames.
Let me add one more thing about the Dollar Tree…it is a great deal to buy their smaller condiments since it is just my husband and myself! We have thrown things away from other stores that are “normal” size for families!
Thanks for all you do…finding bargains is really fun!
Readers!! For only $1, I buy a pair to match my outfit of the day! I wear bifocals, but need trifocals. But I’ve never heard anyone who liked trifocals. So I just carry a pair of readers with me to wear when I’m shopping. I also have several pair at home in different rooms.
That’s a fun idea – thanks for sharing!
Dollar Tree has started carrying pre-made tissue pompoms, mini pom garlands and tassel garlands, in numerous bright colors (you do have to unfold and pouf yourself), with scalloped edges. I’ve followed DIY tutorials online for these (and cut my own scallops), but what a timesaver the DT packs are!
I didn’t know that Valerie – I’m totally going to look for pom poms the next time I go! Thanks so much for sharing!
I find makeup remover wipes, several different kinds. Much less expensive than even store brands. They come in pkgs. of 25 or 30. Collagen and vitamin E, Retinol, Lavender and Citrus and more.
Also some Elf cosmetics, lipsticks, eyeliners, mascara, lip gloss, brow pencils, concealers, blushes, bronzers, individual shadows. All $1.
these are just a few thing I purchase on a regular basis at Dollar Tree , ground black pepper I mean have you seen the price of a small can of pepper at Wal-Mart? $3.99 DT $1, dill pickles , olives, green, & black, sliced, pimentos. Bounce dryer sheets. tooth paste what ever coupon I have at the time and it is usually free! bath soap sometimes I have coupons and this is free, also get coupons on shampoo and body wash so these items are free also..
Kitchen utensils & tools!! They have a huge variety that are surprisingly good quality.
I buy many items at the dollar tree but recently found Prego spaghetti sauce in an 18.5 oz can, two of them are still cheaper than the 24 oz jar.
You ladies are so helpful thank you for all you do. I love the ideas for dollar tree never thought about spices until now.
I always buy the stuffed olives….compared to $4 dollars at Walmart, I stock up.
Facial Tissues (Scotties, Kleenex, Puff Tissue), Purse size tissue(comes in packs)Napkins,
Brown Paper Lunchbags, Carefree (brand)pantyliners
Thank you for your tips! they’re great!
Some of the best buys I’ve found are the long fire starter lighters and plastic dome cake platters. They’re perfect for bake sales.
Great tips Anita – thanks so much for sharing!
Frozen fruit for smoothies are cheaper there. I buy several bags which is cheaper than the big bag at my local grocery store
Also, Yardley soap is a good buy—quality & nice smelling.
Dry onion soup mix has 3 packets in the box vs 2 packets in other stores and is cheaper. I always stock up.
I buy the hand wipes in the individual packets for your purse and the larger packs, hand sanitizer individual and pump bottles, laundry and cleaning products, vitamins, cold and cough medicine. I have a huge weakness for all the colorful organizing items and baskets. So many things I buy on a regular basis that we keep a dollar tree list. One real great bargain I’ve found is the pads for swifter mops. They normally cost around 50 cents each, at dollar tree there are 4 in the package for $1!!! When you find them grab enough to last a while, they’re hard to catch in stock. Light bulbs are another item we purchase there, they’re very expensive these days.
I’ll never buy gift bags (especially Christmas) anywhere else. Everyone else is a rip-off.
I really like the scented 4 gallon trash bags we use them for pooh bags to pick up dog poop and then put it in the diaper pail and they cut down on the smell
They have an “off” brand of the powdered OxyClean that works just as well, I always get the orange scented, and every once in a while they have the dustpans with the long handles so you don’t have to bend over when you use it, lol, and they last for a long time.
Canned fruit, peaches, apple, pineapple.
I make dump cakes, fruit pies and throw in salads.
Larger cans and money savings. Just bought Orchard Blend cranberry juice 64 ounces.
Pretzel sticks and JIF peanut butter individual size. 3 pack.
Beware of their cheese and cream cheese; neither has any “real” ingredients!
Ear buds for a dollar !! My son, a teacher, asked me to buy these and donate them for his class.T here are other cell phone accessories . I also buy the sugar free Wyler’s drink mix just like Crystal Light, love the lemonade and orange. I always buy several boxes.
I love that Rose – great tip! 🙂
Reading glasses! If you buy the OTC ones anyway you might as well buy them for $1 each. They also have sunglasses. And kits for repairing glasses, and other items like cases to carry them in.
I’m sure there are lots of people reading this who are grateful for you sharing what you know about the pregnancy tests. I know I’ve noticed them before and wondered about the quality. Thanks for the info.
GREAT reminder Belinda – thanks for the tip on glasses! 🙂
I buy all my laundry items at the dollar store. I don’t need fancy laundry items, I NEED clean clothes. I have been buying them at the dollar store for years. They work just fine, I swear by them. Also Betty Crocker kitchen items. Books…they sometimes have a great selection. My tip for getting the good books is if you shop at the Dollar Store, 99 Cent store, etc. and they sell book take a mental note of when the section is looking empty. Normally within 2 weeks they will receive a new shipment with a load of different tiltes. You never know what to expect but I have found books that at regualr price would sell for $25.
Sometimes you can find bowl covers(kind of look like shower caps) where aluminum foil and such items are.
MYLAR BALLOONS….they have been known to last three months in my house! Best you can find and only a buck! Do bring your own weight or you can buy one there. Tie it to your bag if you forgot until you get home.
We bought 6 huge wine goblets at the Dollar Store and used them to dye Easter eggs. They each held an egg perfectly, and we could see the egg through the clear glass to sort of guess at the level of tint. Now we use them around the house as sort of a joke to drink ice water in the hot summer. =-)
I love the batteries and the zip top bags!
cheap spices are actually known to be filled with chemical fillers. It’s better to spend a little more to know what u r actually injesting. 😉
I buy all my tissue paper (the kind you stuff in those awesome $1 gift bags!) at Dollar Tree. Plain white I think is 35-40 sheets, glittered 20 sheets, and colored 20-25 sheets. Also, rolls of wrapping paper – especially at Christmas, and the jumbo plastic gift bags that you can fit those oversized toys and things in. Sesame Street/Disney board books for my baby grandson, super hero coloring books and crayons for my little neighbor.
Another “hidden surprise” is their frozen food section. Seven cheese sticks for a buck? Heck yeah! Jimmy Dean, Marie Callender individual size breakfast items, half a dozen eggs (fridge section) are a good deal since they’ve been running $2.29/dozen or more at Publix. Oh – and scissors! I’m forever losing them, but at $1 I keep a pair in every room lol!
Great tips Kathy – goodness, my favorite is the scissors because I always seem to lose those too!
I found reusable K-cup filters here and they work better than the ones I bought on Amazon!
I had no idea – that’s so good to know Jaime!
I recently broke my mop and needed a new one. At other stores the cheapest I could find was $5. I decided to check at DT and sure enough, I purchased TWO mops, different styles and after using the first one I don’t think my floors have been cleaner!! …except for when I scrubbed them on my hands and knees!!
That’s fantastic Meredith – I would never have thought to look for mops there but that’s a HUGE savings! 🙂
Sam’s Club beats Dollar Tree on:
Sharpies
Post It Notes $.47+ per pad vs $.50
Sharpies $.62+ vs $1.00
Dry Erase Sam’s over $1
i always find great deals on whole wheat bread at DT. My store
Consistently has Natures Own brand for a buck!! A steal compared to the $3+ at the grocery store!
I love when I find Nature’s Own bread there – great suggestion Sherri!
I picked up 2 bar packages of Dial and Zest soap for a dollar.Those ate usually much more than that.
Great find Kathy – thanks so much for sharing!
Keep your eye out for homemade “uncrustables” maker. I bought a wonder bread one at my Dollar Tree and it works great! Also tons of Disney items at Dollar Tree. These are great for parties or cheap souvenirs.
This reminds me it has been way too long since I’ve visited a DT. Thanks for posting! I need to look for one of those school poster board displays! 🙂
Hi Mary – just saw those at the Dollar Tree in Lewis Center a few weeks ago! I never thought about the Disney items and forgot bread ~ great tips! 🙂
The 2/$1 and $1 and all manufactured and stocked by American Greetings. There is little difference between a $1 card and a $5 card other than the weight of the paper. Often they use the same design on both types of cards. Dollar a General also has a better selection of cards, especially during holidays.
Thanks for sharing – I have seen great prices on cards at Dollar General too!