Worst Things to Buy at the Dollar Store

Yes, there are scads of great bargains at the Dollar Store.  If you’re trying to be frugal, a bargain is a bargain, right?  On the other hand, there are several products you should probably cross off your list. Here are a few of them to consider and why some of these are the worst things to buy at the dollar store.

Worst Things to Buy at the Dollar Store

Canned Goods

Many dollar store canned goods are priced at $1. No surprise, right? But, while this may seem like a great deal, you may not actually save any money at all. Often times, it’s easy to find the same products for sale at the grocery store for less than a dollar. Not only that, you usually have access to better-tasting brands and a bigger selection of food items to choose from.  Many store brands are just as comparable to name brands and are often only 50 to 60 cents in a grocery store.  This is a significant savings from the dollar store!

Batteries

This chain is known to stock lesser-known brands of batteries at bargain prices. But, these cheap batteries also tend to be low-quality. More times than not, these batteries are dead within a few days of buying them, especially if you use them in a device that takes a lot of power to operate. Spending the extra money for name-brand batteries that last longer ends up saving you quite a bit of cash.

Tools

Tools are one thing that really take a beating when you use them. Because of this, it’s important to buy tools that are well-made and built to last. If you settle for dollar store tools, you’re much more likely to break something in the middle of a project.

Big box or hardware stores are the best place to shop for new tools. Not only do these merchants carry a great selection of products to choose from, the majority of these items come complete with a warranty of some sort.

Toys

Dollar stores typically stock a wide variety of toys. However, many of these same toys are rather low quality. This means they may break easily and even present a safety hazard. Honestly, you’re generally better off staying away from these cheap toys and making your purchase elsewhere.

Armed with this information, there’s no need to worry as much about wasting money on sub-standard merchandise. Shop for fantastic buys on things like party supplies, seasonal decorations and dishware instead.