15 Things I Love To Buy At The Dollar Tree (or Dollar Store Near You)

The Dollar Tree is the main dollar store in my area, and can be such a great resource to stock up for your household items on a budget. I have been shopping at my local Dollar Tree for years now! However, not everything at the dollar store is a great deal in my opinion. It is a great idea to shop around some so you know what is a good deal, and what you can maybe do better on elsewhere. After shopping around quite a bit, here are 15 things I love to buy at the dollar store personally!

This is from a recent trip I made to my local Dollar Tree, to show you all the items I found in stock there. While inventory regularly changes at the Dollar Tree, this list includes items I generally do find in stock on a regular basis at my store.

One of the things you will find on the list below, is craft supplies. If you are a crafter, then the dollar store is already likely one of your best friends. Before we get into our list of things we love to buy at the dollar store, I wanted to share a few other resources that might be helpful, in terms of what to do with some of the items you have purchased from the dollar store. These include:

Now lets talk about all of the things that I think do make a really great deal at the Dollar Tree. Let us know what your favorite items to grab from the Dollar store are too!

Here is what you SHOULD buy at the dollar store:

Greeting Cards

Hallmark greeting cards are definitely at the top of the list for me. Honestly, I make most of my cards, but it would be hard to beat the price of $1 for the Dollar Tree Hallmark cards. These can run you close to $3 – $5 per card in any other store. The only way I have found to beat this price, is to grab the free Hallmark cards they offer from time to time, but outside of this, the Dollar Tree Hallmark greeting cards are the very best deal around!

Lighters

Ok, I love to keep the Dollar Tree lighters stocked up in my house. I use them for lighting candles and for fires while camping mostly. But lighters will easily run you around $5 or more other places. They may last longer, but I would rather grab a couple at $1.25 each at the dollar store, and always have them on hand when I need one. Plus, they are often locked up at other stores (you will find they may card you to buy these now days, so be sure to have your IDs). At my local Dollar Tree I often find them right at the register, so I usually just grab one when I am checking out to stay stocked up.

Chip Clips

This is another thing I grab while at the register usually. Like socks, chip clips dissappear at my house, and I always like to have them on hand. The Dollar store is where I find the best price on 6 packs of these. I use them for chips, rice bags, cereal bags, frozen fruit and other freezer items and more. Basically anything I open that does not have its on resealable option these days. I can’t seem to have enough of these on hand, so for $1.25 for a 6 pack, I find these hard to beat in price.

Craft Supplies

If you are a crafter, you probably already know. Head. To. Your. Local. Dollar. Tree. For. Craft. Supplies! They carry everything from paint supplies (including canvas’s), to wood supplies and much more! I think that craft supplies are the single category I have bought the most things from the Dollar Tree for over the years.

If you love to craft, we have a big list of Dollar store craft projects to inspire you too!

I mean they even carry items that will work for your Cricut these days! Depending on the season your craft supplies may change some, but my local Dollar Tree always has an isle or two of tons of craft supplies that can help you save over other stores.

Related to craft supplies, they also have a school supply/office supply section. In general, I have found better prices on those items in the back to school sales at other stores. However, the two things I do love to pick up from that section are the science project boards (if you see those and you have kids who will be doing science projects – grab them! They are seriously the very best deal you will find on those by far). Also I like to grab the Dollar Tree foam boards (also the very best deal on these).

Dollar Tree Party Supplies For Kids Parties & More

When my kids where in elementary school I did all of their parties at school, and my first stop was always the Dollar Tree to gather my Dollar Tree Party Supplies. Table clothes are a great deal, and party favors too. Napkins are party bags or hats are also great buys. Things change seasonally, but they often have popular characters. My best suggestion is that if your kiddo has a favorite character and you spot party supplies for that character – buy them for their next party. There is no guarantee they will still be there if you wait until closer to the party, so grab it when you see it! You can always come back later and grab other items you might need in matching colors.

Plus, do not forget to check out the wedding section. Sometimes they will have some items that may work a little better for your party.

Gift Bags & Gift Wrap

This is the very best deal on gift bags I can usually find. Especially if you need one of the bigger size. These bags can cost $5 and more at other stores. So this is a super savings. If one I love catches my eye, I buy it to keep on hand in my gift bag stash at home. You will find tons of characters that kids like, or more sophisticated designs too.

I love to grab the brown bag sets when I see them available, and add to my collection for when I need them. You can dress them up with ribbons for just about any occassion.

It is also about the best deal you will find on wrapping paper and ribbons. The wrapping rolls are not big, but for the price grab a couple when you see a design you like.

Helium Dollar Tree Balloons

Where else can you get helium balloons for $1.25 each? The Dollar Tree balloons are such a good deal. The dollar store is a super place to grab these for any parties or special occassions you might need them for.

Dental Care – Toothbrush/ Toothpaste and Floss

No need to buy off brands at my local dollar store. And yes, those are three packs of Colgate toothbrushes for just $1.25 each. It is hard to find these prices with coupons at other stores, and no need for a coupon to get them at this price at the dollar store. It even includes whitening toothpaste options.

Some Personal Care Items

When it comes to personal care items, I find these hit and miss. I have teens and they are picky about brands for things like deodorant and razors, but we sometimes do find regular brands in stock. Often times it will be off brands though, so you will need to decide if this is something you want to grab based on what is in stock at your store.

Here is a list of the some of the items I do check for in the personal care section, that generally work for us at these prices:

Q-Tips
Cotton Swabs
Hydrogen Peroxide
Rubbing Alcohol
Epsom Salt
Lint Rollers
Disposable Razors for travel
And many people mention buying the Dollar Tree pregnancy test if you are in need of one of those.

You can also see how we have shopped this section to put together the fun DIY pedicure kits for a fun gift idea, if you need one of those.

Dishes / Mugs / Wine Glasses

Over the years I have found some great deals on various glasses, mugs and dishes. You can find dish sets that will go on sale at places like Target, that can work out to be a better deal. For example, now that items are $1.25 each, a 20 pc dish set will cost you $25 at the Dollar Tree. So keep that in mind, if you are looking at boxed sets that may be on sale elsewhere.

The Dollar Tree generally has a pretty decent sized collection of dishes, bowls, glasses and more though. They also change them out seasonally, so if you are looking for a few peices to use for a special holiday or season, and on a budget, this is a great place to look.

It is also a great spot to find barware. Things like wine glasses, stemless wine glasses, margarita cups, beer mugs and more can often be found – and for $1.25 each that will be hard to beat. I have a couple of margarita glasses that are thick and sturdy, and no one would ever know I grabbed them at my local dollar store and not some department store!

Cleaning Supplies

Cleaning supplies is another area that I am a bit picky on the brands (I prefer natural cleaners), and I do not personally use many of the ones I find at the dollar store. They do have lots of options though if you are not as picky as I am in this area.

However, they do carry many items at great prices that help with cleaning. Things like reusable gloves, sponges and cleaning brushes.

The scrub brushes can cost alot more elsewhere, and I love to have a clean one on hand, so they are something I will stock up on.

Pet Supplies (Select Ones)

In terms of the Pet Supply section you can often find pet foods, leashes, mats and more. I have a very picky cat, so I do not buy any pet food here, but I have found things like pet food bowls that are a super price.

I do not think I have ever seen a $1.25 pet bowl at my regular pet supply store, so these ones looked like a super deal when I saw them at my local dollar store.

Tin Pans –

The Dollar Tree is my go to spot to keep my pantry stocked up with these tin pan sets. They are pricey if you buy them at the grocery store, and I love to keep them on hand. I use them for church events, potlucks, when I am bringing someone a meal or sending them home with left overs and more. So these are something I will make a trip to the dollar store for whenever I need them.

And be sure to grab the tin cookie sheet sets, to make these fun metal flowers for garden or indoor decor!

Seasonal Items

The Dollar Tree is the perfect stop to grab so many fun seasonal items for all holidays. They are great if you like to craft for the seasons, or fill kids Easter baskets or Stockings, or make some fun decor or party bags for other holidays. We share lots of ideas at the top of the post of projects you can make for different seasons, but it is always fun to head in to your local dollar store before a new season or upcoming holiday to see what new things they may have in stock!

Some Garden Supplies

I have often grabbed some of the smaller items for my garden when they are out. In fact, you can find a list of Dollar store garden projects & hacks I have made from these items here. Some of my favorite garden items to look for include:

These garden hooks shown above. They are much more expensive if you buy them at a garden store
They sell the solar garden path lights at about the best price I have found them for
Fair garden items. These can sell out quickly, so if you find them in your store – grab them!
Smaller plant containers
Hanging planters
Edging material
and twine, for tying my flowers back as they grow

Dollar Tree Toys (select ones)

There are some fun Dollar Tree toys to grab for kids, especially if you are trying to fill a stocking or Easter basket. Or just to have on hand for rainy day projects. These pictures above all came from my local Dollar Tree, and you can see they even carry name brand items from time to time. The toy section does often change, but here are some items I have kept an eye out for my kids over the years.

Dollar Tree pool noodles & Goggles are fun for the summer
Travel Games
Coloring books
Glow Sticks
Craft Kits
Building blocks (like Legos, but not that brand).
Matchbox Cars
I have found mini etch a sketchs in the past (these are great for car rides)
Dinosaur Toys
Dress up items (shop for these around Halloween especially)
Play dough
Stickers
Jump Ropes
and lots more!

15 Things I Love To Buy At The Dollar Tree (or Dollar Store Near You)