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Craft Ideas· Decorating· DIY· Dollar Store Projects· How To Save Money· Thrifty Finds· Thrifty Living

The BEST Dollar Tree Items You Should Be Buying

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Have you ever wondered if you are really saving money by shopping at your local Dollar Store?
I had never really checked out the entire inventory until a few years ago, and I will let you in
on a little secret…

It is the place to stop before you head to your regular discount retailer or

grocery store.  I make my local Dollar Tree my first stop every time I need to stock up on 
office supplies, gift wrap, household items, seasonal decorations, and much more.
The key is to remember how many of each item I would have purchased if I was buying an
item at Wal Mart etc…If I would typically pay $3.97 for a bundle of silk flowers for a craft 
project, then the goal is to not load 8 of them into the cart and feel great about my purchase.
Unless I really need that many, then I know I am at the right store when buying a large quantity.
Here is my must-buy list for the Dollar Store.  By adhering to a thrifty budget, shopping 
discount stores, thrift stores, making homemade meals and utilizing my local library I am 
able to stay home with my kids, home school, and have fun sharing projects and ideas 
here with you!

Back-to-school Supplies/Office Supplies: 
envelopes, heavy duty shipping envelopes, brown craft paper, Scotch tape,
paper clips, stretchable book covers, hi-lighters, Sharpie pens, 3-ring binders, acid-free
photo printing paper, scrap booking supplies, and so much more.

Party Supplies/Gift Wrap:
tons of tissue paper, gift bags, wrap, bows, shredded paper filler, greeting cards, and most
recently American Greetings cards, plastic flatware, paper and plastic tableware.  I could go 
on and on.  If you are planning any kind of event or party, from a kids birthday to a wedding,
check out how much money you can save by shopping here instead of a party store.  It’s crazy.
Household Tools/Craft Supplies:
I have purchased many small carpets to stencil and use as doormats, basic tools, tape, 
sandpaper, zip ties, hex key tools, wire, floral supplies, metal shelf brackets.  The Dollar Tree
is the first place to stop before you head to the craft supply store for sure!
Cleaning Supplies:
Spray bottles to make your own homemade cleaning supplies, ingredients for homemade
cleaning supplies like baking soda, vinegar, and peroxide.  The Dollar Tree carries many 
brand name laundry and cleaning supplies as well.  Many times we don’t want a container
that holds a gallon of Windex.  A small container fits in an apartment, small bathroom, 
cleaning bucket or camper much better.  And my favorite cleaning item to buy here is
the 2-pack of magic erase cleaning pads.  I like them better than the name brand and 
they are less than half the price, yes!!
Home Organizing:
Plastic is plastic.  Unless you need new laundry baskets, I would buy just about any other 
plastic organizer here.  Colorful bins, baskets. drawer organizers, fabric collapsible bins,
over-the-door laundry hooks, lint rollers, wire racks for organizing canned goods and 
spices. Non-slip underlay to go under your rugs too.
Kitchen/Cooking:
I am cooking for five people most of the time so I do not usually purchase a lot of food 
at the Dollar Tree, I will tell you that the whole wheat bread (my kids) is a great deal,
as well as good sized containers of spices and bags of dried beans.  Dollar Tree carries
a huge line of Betty Crocker kitchen items.  I think I have every single one.  Great storage
containers, measuring cups, you name it.  I also like to pick up the two-pack of flexible
plastic cutting mats as well.  Shelf liner, drawer liner, chip clips, disposable baking pans,
kitchen scrubbers, dish soap, dish drainers, coasters, place mats and so much more.
Health/Beauty:
We always buy large containers of hand sanitizer, and refill our small containers for car,
backpack and purses.  I buy their generic allergy relief, and it works great.  First aid supplies
like band-aids, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, shampoo, brand name body wash
and soaps, body poufs, and I have found great hairbrushes and barrettes too.
Books:
I have been very surprised by how many quality books I have found at Dollar Tree.  Not
only great kids reading and coloring books, but quite a few fiction and non-fiction books
for myself.  One of my best finds was a wonderful Country Living Book a couple years 
ago.  Score!
Since many of the items found at Dollar Stores are wholesale remnants, you can expect 
to be pleasantly surprised by the selection, brands and quality to be found.  Here are some
of my favorite projects I have made with one or more items from my local Dollar Tree:
I was not compensated to write this post, I just love this store and wanted to share
how much shopping there has helped my budget 🙂

{fabulous places I party}

Monday
The DIY Showoff
Craft O Maniac,
Skip To My Lou
Alderberry Hill 
The Scoop @ The Farmhouse Porch 
Mod Vintage Life

Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
A Diamond In The Stuff 
Home Stories A to Z 
The DIY Dreamer 
The Winthrop Chronicles 
Today’s Creative Blog 
House On The Way
Clean And Scentsible-The Inspiration Exchange

Wednesday
Ginger Snap Crafts 
Southern Lovely 
Lil’ Luna  
Vintage Gwen
 http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
The Blissful Bee 

Thursday
Live Laugh Linky Thursday 
The Shabby Creek Cottage  
House Of Hepworths 
52 Mantels 
Beyond The Picket Fence 
The 36th Avenue 
Stone Gable

Friday 

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Comments

  3. Sandy says

    I love Dollar Tree, it is by far my favorite dollar store (mainly because everything really is a dollar, unlike some of the other ones!) I need to shop each aisle more often now 🙂

    Reply

  10. Kate says

    Tanya
    Thank you for the dollar store FYI good stuff girly. You always have the best stuff around. Hope you are having a great summer

    Kate
    xoxo

    Reply

  11. Allie says

    I love shopping at the Dollar Tree as well. I find it kind of like a scavenger hunt to see what I can find! I have also noticed that all Dollar Trees are not created equal. Ours is quite small offering no bread or cold food while a few counties over they have monster sized Dollar Trees so just look around.
    http://www.therandomcrafter.com

    Reply

  13. scrapfancy says

    I enjoy buying form the tree also and find a lot of savings from there. I found the great 10" foam wreath and also Styrofoam balls in a two pack for $1 awesome deal.

    Reply

  14. Shana M says

    I LOVE the Dollar Tree! I have to keep myself in check though, it's sooo very easy to spend a pile of money in that store!! I have to remind myself I'm suppose to be saving money 🙂

    Reply

  15. Cathy Compeau says

    I love the Dollar Tree and the dollar section at Target!
    I would love for you to share and link up at my weekly TGIF Link Party if you haven't already this week. Your favorite posts, most popular, recent or new! The party is open every Thursday night and closes Tuesday's at midnight. Followed by (Not SO) Wordless Wednesday! http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/.
    I would be

    Reply

  17. Mandi Noel says

    I love Dollar Tree!! It's my favorite for office supplies and party stuff, especially. I also buy so many books there! Many times, they are hardcovers and by bestselling authors. I've managed to buy books from series I read there sometimes as well. I love it!

    Reply

  21. Brooke says

    I have to say one of the happiest moments in my life (as crazy as it sounds) was when I found out a Dollar Tree was coming to my town. We LOVE the dollar store! I don't know if you own a Swiffe, but Dollar Tree carries the disposable pads for it, such a deal! Thanks for all your great tips! Have a wonderful day, Tanya!

    Reply

  23. Libby says

    I definitely have to agree with you on these items. I was just at the $ Tree today getting ready for back to school items for my classroom, etc. Staples are staples, right? LOL

    Reply

  24. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon says

    LOVE the Dollar Tree! So glad you had that two-pack of small water bottles in that picture… heading to get some for school lunchboxes this week! Thanks for sharing with us this week at Monday Funday!

    Take care,

    Trish

    Reply

  25. April says

    Another great thing for those with babies is their diaper disposable bags (for public disposal or smelly diapers). They come in packs of 75 for $1! At Babies R Us, the same quality bags are like $5-$6 for 50 of them.

    Reply

  26. Mytripletsrock says

    Even if I didn't have triplets I would still LOVE Dollar Tree. I get stickers, construction paper, Lightning McQueen and Spiderman sandwich savers (plastic with lid for lunchbox), holiday goodies for deco and crafts, small scented trash bags for bathroom, boxed candy for movie outings and so much more. Also great for gift bags and greeting cards. Mine also has Sunday newspapers for a

    Reply

  27. Jeanne says

    I love my Dollar Tree(s)! When a new trend hits Pinterest I usually need to visit several locations to find what I am looking for. I make a lot of gift baskets for school functions, etc.. I stock up on their paper shred and shrink wrap bags. Everytime I go in the store I discover a new “find”.

    Reply

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