Favorite Frugal Dollar Tree Finds

I have a feeling that you might be in one of two categories:

“Everything at dollar stores is junk!” Or

“Oh my gosh, dollar store items are awesome!”

Or, you could be somewhere inbetween! I will admit that there are some things at dollar stores that just aren’t worth the bill. But if you look closely, you’ll find some real gems and save major money. My absolute favorite dollar store is Dollar Tree because you never know what you’ll find.

I don’t know about other stores, but Dollar Tree will sometimes receive items from the regular grocery stores that either didn’t sell well or just aren’t being made anymore. It doesn’t necessarily mean the food’s about to expire, but that you’re about to get an awesome deal on something. I’ve rounded up my absolute favorite frugal Dollar Tree finds; and while you may not find these exact items at your own store, I encourage you to look around carefully because you might find similar items!

Kids stuff

Stickers- Allison is a huge fan of stickers, and I love how Dollar Tree has Disney and other brands! 150 stickers for a dollar is an amazing deal, and I’ll buy a few as prizes for the little things we do.

Blind bags- Have you seen blind bags at the store? They’re collectible figures inside a small bag you can’t see inside; and there are usually 10-20 figures in a collection, so you’re encouraged to keep buying until you have them all. They sell for around $3.00 usually at the regular stores, but sometimes they don’t sell well so they’ll be sent to Dollar Tree. These aren’t a regular item; so if you’re a collector, keep an eye out!

Bubble bath- Where else can you get a big bottle of PAW Patrol bubble bath for only a dollar? Allison likes LOTS of bubbles, so we don’t worry about using too much at once because it’s so cheap.

Home Items

Storage containers- As a mom, I’m naturally drawn to storage containers. Being able to organize toys and kitchen tools for cheap is like a dream come true! These containers come in all shapes and sizes; some of the smaller ones also come in a 2 or 3-pack, so you’re really getting more for your money. Want to see them in action? For $3.00, I was able to organize Allison’s entire LEGO table!

Coffee mugs- Dollar Tree coffee mugs are actually quite stable, and they have the cutest designs. I host a table at a women’s group at church, and I bought 7 mugs to share each time the ladies sit with me. They’ve lasted at least 3-4 years and are still going strong, so I’d say those were a good deal!

Food

Frozen fruit- Yes, you can get frozen fruit at Dollar Tree! I’ve bought the frozen strawberries and blueberries, and both are really good. 12 ounces for a dollar isn’t bad when those fruits are out of season. Be careful with the blueberries, though- I think I bought a bad batch one time, because the 3 bags I bought had lots of stems still attached. Just pour them into a cup first and pick through them to make sure.

Instant coffee- I like using instant coffee in homemade frappes/smoothies, and 5-6 packets for a dollar isn’t bad! Here’s one of my favorite recipes for a morning coffee smoothie:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter or PBFit powder
• 1 handful spinach
• 1 cup milk
• 1 packet instant coffee

Pickles- This particular brand, Vlasic Purely Pickles, must have been discontinued at the grocery stores because my store had a shelf full. They were really delicious!

Dried beans- Cooking your own beans from scratch can save a lot of money in the long run. My store had 16-oz and 24-oz bags of Great Northern and pinto beans, which are a pretty good deal.

Rice- This one is by far my favorite. I can’t find a 2-pound bag of brown rice for a dollar anywhere else! This isn’t always at my store; but when it is, I buy a few bags at a time.

Annie’s products- I’ve never actually tried these soups, but this shows that you can find organic products at Dollar Tree! One time I also found Horizon cow crackers/cookies, which are some of Allison’s favorites.

Spices- I only buy spices from two places now: Dollar Tree and Big Lots. I can find pretty much all of the basic spices here, and I happily pay a dollar for a big container! I used to buy spices from Aldi, but they made the bottles smaller and raised the price a bit; so this is a much better deal.

Lance cookies/crackers- I love their cookies! You can buy a 4-pack for a dollar here, which is nice if you want a treat but don’t want to buy a huge box.

Freeze-dried fruit- This has become one of my favorite snacks. It’s simply freeze-dried fruit: No other added ingredients. My favorites are the apples and peaches; but watch out for the strawberries, because they do contain added sugar. But otherwise, these are some really good portable snacks!

Boom Chicka Pop- Dollar Tree, at least my local one, now has a big snack section where they sell a lot of name brand snacks. Boom Chicka Pop is one of them, and it’s a pretty big bag!

Popcorn kernels- I like making my own popcorn too, using this microwave popper. I’m still excited that I can find kernels at Dollar Tree, because this makes for a really cheap movie night snack!

Cleaning Supplies

Toilet cleaner- I’m not too picky when it comes to cleaners. I tried using baking soda and vinegar to clean my toilet but it just didn’t work well. This seems to do the job pretty well, though!

Generic Magic Erasers- Have you ever used a Magic Eraser? It’s like, well, magic. I can easily scrub marks and dirt off of surfaces that would usually take me forever with a regular sponge. My favorite use for these is cleaning the bathtub; and I do use baking soda and vinegar/blue dish soap for this!

Glass cleaner- I remember looking at Meijer and thinking, “There’s no way I’m paying $2.79 for glass cleaner!” Then I remembered that I can probably buy some at the dollar store- and I was right. Honestly, there’s no difference between this one and a more expensive brand at the grocery store.

As you can see from above, my favorite things to look for are food. And there are some great deals on food here if you look carefully and get lucky. Where else can you get organic brands for only a dollar?

Now that I’ve shown you my favorites, tell me yours: What’s the best deal you’ve found at Dollar Tree? Share with us in the comments so we can keep a lookout!