Dollar stores are good for CERTAIN items, but on most things they’re a disappointment.

Greeting cards for a dollar are a pretty good deal, but we purchased a couple small spray bottles (for ironing clothes) and both crapped out by the third or fourth use. I don’t care how much you can save, if it breaks quickly, it’s a waste of money.

The time and dollar limit force decision making about those impulse buys, and all the energy and excitement of a shopping trip is there.- and when I walk out of the store I can never remember what I opted not to buy. I’m not much of a shopper, in general, I hate to go into big box stores, but the dollar store is like the 5&10 of my youth.

NEVER go into a dollar store with more than $10 in my pocket.

For instance, locally, my dollar store has tissue paper in boxes for $1 but when you compare them (size/quality/number of pieces) you are getting fewer, smaller tissues at lower quality for the money.

Have to compare price per unit and quality before deciding if it is a better price. Some people just see, oh, tissue for a dollar when it is a $1.49 at Vons. Yeah, but it is actually cheaper (per tissue) and better quality at $1.49 and sometimes there are sales at Vons which make it even cheaper and then I stock up.

Price comparisons are your friend.

My 99 Cent store also has a HUGE fresh produce section. I can get a five pound bad of potatoes for $1. Eight heads of garlic, two pounds of apple or carrots, three pounds of onions… all for $1 each. Where else can you get those prices? And everything I’ve bought there is good quality, even if occasionally you have to pay attention when grabbing a bag (and I don’t ever buy organic, so the pesticide lecture is moot).

Wooden spoons, Ziplocs, aluminum foil, headphones, body soap, mixing bowls, flower pots… there are tons of things I’ve bought there that I have no complaints about.

WOrse yet: Google “Dollar Store vitamins”

Are you really THAT eager to save a little?

Oh, and at our dollar store, you have to ask for them. They have them behind the counter. I guess they had problems with people stealing them.

I’m about two months along and I took a dollar store test. Got confirmed by a blood test last week. Check peeonastick.com if you don’t believe me.

When my wife says, “Oh, I need to pick up wrapping paper…” I leap into action and say, “Don’t worry, my dear, I’ll get it!” then I speed to the dollar store and buy all kinds of it, and the coloured tissue paper that goes in gift bags, and the gift bags, and maybe some ribbons and bows.

The price they charge for this material in other stores is absolutely criminal. The worst is when she picks up a last minute present at the fancy bookstore, and buys the card and wrap while she’s there… almost doubles the cost of the gift!

Wrapping supplies, to me, is the only reason to go into a dollar store.

It’s also a really good place to get cheap picture frames. :)

I’ve gone into ‘The Dollar General’ a lot looking for things, and then found it cheaper at Target or Wal-Mart later.

The Dollar Tree has everything for $1, but MOST stuff is crap. The dog food is just… well, cardboard. The $1 dog toys fall apart almost before the dog bites into it.

I have bought cheap photo frames there for around the house – but the quality is so poor!

I’ve found that Ikea and Wal-Mart take care of pretty much all my supplies with a lot less issue than things at the dollar store.

Definitely go into Dollar stores with a shopping list in hand. That rule applies to ANY shopping, dollar stores, grocery stores or any sort of store.

And I second the notion that your Uncle probably would have done the exact same thing without any dollar stores around. It sounds like a hoarding problem, which exists as long as there is any kind of shopping, discount or other, to be had.

It’s also a decent place to pop into if you need a snack or drink on the run, as many have cooler cases now.