This Is What's Actually Worth Buying At The Dollar Store, According To Shoppers — & What's Not

If the price of products at big box stores is giving you sticker shock, like many others, you might be turning more to Dollarama, Dollar Tree and other dollar stores to pick up the essentials you need like household items and groceries.

Over on Reddit on the threat r/frugal, one user asked, "What's actually worth buying at the dollar store?" and many chimed in with the items they prefer to buy from lower-cost retailers.

"Gift bags and special event cards! What a ripoff that these things are like $5+ at retail stores," wrote one person.

Another agreed, writing, "Cards are great at dollar stores! I usually hate giving cards, but there are some occasions where it is customary and Dollar Tree is a great place to get them, 2/$1."

As well, general holiday supplies seemed to be a common theme.

"I like to celebrate the holidays, but I don't want to spend a ton on extras that are just gonna get thrown away shortly (like wrapping paper & birthday balloons)," a user explained. "On average I get 5 bags worth of stuff for about $10."

If you tend to have guests over, this user's recommendation is pretty clever: "I buy the plastic food containers. Then if I give someone leftovers or take something to a party I don't have to worry that I won't get the container back."

Another noted that while you do need to pick through items carefully, there are some that they prefer buying at a dollar store, such as embroidery threads, knitting needles, handkerchiefs, decks of cards, pens, and craft-related items like googly eyes and pom poms.

Another shared that you can grab deals on items that generally cost much more at other places.

"For example I just bought a dustbin for my car for a dollar where a similar item was $2.99+ at a grocery store," they explained.

Batteries appear to be a point of contention, with one Redditor saying they buy Alkaline AA & AAA batteries from the dollar store, with another saying, "Quality is significantly lower... a Duracell will last several months in my remotes while dollar store batteries last just over a week."

You can also find super-specific specialty items at Dollarama that are good quality, but they appear to come and go.

"I haven't seen it since but Dollarama in Windsor, Ontario, Canada had re-furbished HD antennas for $3," wrote use Redditor. "I purchased one and got 8-10 channels in HD without too much fumbling around. It also picked up CBC Windsor if at the right angle, which the $15 HD antenna couldn't."

Now that's a bargain!

As for what not to buy from the dollar store, it seems to be a mixed bag, with many saying they've had struggles with the quality of tools.

"Anything in their tool aisle will only be useful for $1 worth of damage or wasted time," noted one person.

"A friend worked for a contractor that swore by dollar store brushes," said another. 'So cheap that it was better to throw them out at the end of the shift than to spend time, energy and water to clean them. They sucked if you planned to reuse them but were okay for one time use.

Guess you need to pick your battles!

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.