Shopping at Dollar Tree: Do's and Don'ts

I LOVE me some Dollar Tree! I stroll in on a "way to often" basis just to check out the newest items that they have in stock since they are always rotating their inventory. Shopping there for a few years now (they are located right down the street from my house) I have learned what to BUY and what to run AWAY from. Here are collectively some of the goodies I have collected:

1. Gift Bags, Tissue Paper, and other gift wrapping products.

Can you believe how much people charge for gift bags? I can go to Target and easily drop $3.00-$5.00 alone on a bag. Dollar Tree has bags individually for a buck, and even some that sell 2-3 for a dollar. Stock up!

2. Glitter for us crafty folks!

There glitter is very comparable to Martha Stewart brand at Michaels. And who can complain when you receive 6 colors for a dollar?!

3. Incense

Ok. I will admit it. My love for incense started in high school and still hasn't left. They offer some awesome scents!

4. Water Bottles

Another great snag are there dishes. Everything from their glassware (which I tend to break on a regular basis) and their water bottles (I have even had luck washing these in the dishwasher if the plastic is thick enough!)

5. Energy Shots

Have you seen the cost of 5 Hour Energy lately??!! $3.00 for a pick me up! No thank you, I'll stock up on Dollar Tree's different versions and flavors. They work just as well!

6. Sunglasses 

If you are anything like me, I am constantly loosing/breaking sunglasses. I don't seem to mind as much when they only cost me a buck! Also, there are some AWESOME Sunglass crafts online! These have been fun to pick up and paint bright and fun colors with nail polish!

7. Kitchen Utensils (including the silicone basting brush and spoon rest)

Dollar Tree has a wide selection of kitchen utensils. My favorite is the Betty Crocker line. They are quality products that wash nicely in the dishwasher.

8. Storage Containers

Thank you, Dollar Tree, for providing me with awesome storage containers in so many different size options. Because of you, my craft room will remain organized!

9. Hair Accessories

I have another soft spot in my heart for hair accessories. They have quality products that are much less expensive than even those you could buy at Wal-Mart.

10. Microfiber Hair Wrap

No kidding, I own about 7 of these. They dry my hair twice as fast as if I didn't use them. The ones that sell on TV are $5.99 each! No thank you!

11. Nail Polish / Make-Up

Make-up brushes from ELF are great to have on hand. They also carry a large selection of nail polish. Dollar Tree is a great option for really stocking up your make-up collection. 

12. Pet Toys

Our furry friends need goodies, too! Petsmart/Petco toys sell for double that Dollar Tree does.

Products to Stay away from (from my personal experience and what others have told me)

• Toilet Paper - This one is pretty obvious to me. Some things you just should spend decent money for.
• Drain Snake - I guess I should have known better, but purchased one of these and it ended up breaking in my bathtub drain. Ooooops. Sorry, hubby.
• Laundry Detergent - Someone once told me they purchased some from dollar tree, and it ruined there entire load of clothes in the washer. Not worth the risk to me.
• Band-aids - They stay on for maybe 10 minutes before peeling off.
• Perfume - No smell after about 5 minutes on these.
• Fabric Refresher - What am I spraying on this couch? WATER??
• Medicine - Always buy medication approved by the FDA. I have heard that Dollar Tree isn't required to have their products approved by the FDA to sell them in stores. I don't think I'll risk that one....

And there you have it. Did I miss any other great products??!!