What I've Found Wednesday

The other day, I came across this blog post about what to buy and not buy at the dollar store.
I love this kind of thing, because I'd rather spend my alotted money on what I consider 'fun' stuff instead of on household necessities.

I shop at the Dollar Tree about once a month. With my kids. They each get to pick one thing to put in our basket. This keeps them happy throughout the trip. A well spent $2 in my opinion. Annette will say, "I changed my mind. I want these glitter glue sticks instead. I'll put the Strawberry Shortcake Shampoo back." While Charlie usually chooses something pole shaped. He loves long things like water squirters or foam swords that he can poke at us.

Much like the gal blogger mentioned above, I have started a mental list of what is a bargain and what is really just not even worth a dollar.

My mental list of yesses and no-no's are now a written list.


       This is the bread I always buy at Kroger or Walmart or Sam's. And about every other month, I have found it at the Dollar Tree. Less than half of the price I pay other places. This bread freezes and thaws very well too, in case you want to buy several loaves and can't eat them all before they go stale.

On the freezing things note...  The other day I was at Kroger when I found the soy milk I buy for the kids was on sale for $0.50 a half-gallon carton. That's like TONS less than I usually pay. I bought lots of them, hoping to freeze them before they went past their expiration date. I'd just read a blog about how thrifty moms freeze milk when it goes on sale and how it tasted just the same. Well well well. Soy milk does not thaw real well. Won't try that money saving trick with milk again.

These foil babies are perfect for taking dinner to a friend, a dish to Bible study, or for a messy baked dish. 

I use my Corningware and glass casserole dishes often, but it's pretty nice when I use these and can just toss them after our meal. Three for a dollar is way cheaper than they are at my Kroger. 

This one is a no-no. Do NOT waste your dollar on these safety pins unless you are using them to attach paper to clothing for consignment sales. Or some other very light task. They will not hold two pieces of fabric together like the JoAnn or Hancock's brands. Flimsy flimsy. 

These are a Yes in some situations. Isaac gets mad when he grabs one of these for a marinade and starts shaking. They ain't that strong. But, for other tasks like grouping toys or for storing non-liquid leftovers in the fridge, I quite like them for their dollar price tag. 

Bandaids! We go through way too many of these. These are cheap and work just right. And there isn't a $4 box of princess ones sitting on the same shelf calling out to Annette to start begging. Huge perk. 

Another No-no. These things fall apart way too easily. Who knew that clothespins could be poorly made?!? Not me. Until I bought these. I use them to hang artwork on a string above my kitchen sink now. They aren't strong enough for the 'real' jobs like hanging clothes or cinching a chip bag closed. 

For selling and shipping things on eBay, I've found these supplies to be quite nice. They have bubble wrap, envelopes, and the brown craft wrapping paper that I use to keep my packages light weight. (My pal Mandy taught me shipping tips a while back : )

I've tried their dishwasher detergent. It takes like the whole bottle to get one good wash done. So that's probably also on my no-no list.

I do buy number and letter workbooks that Annette currently thinks are super fun and big-girlish. 

We get construction paper and markers there. And googly eyes. Not crayons-- theirs aren't great. And when you can buy Crayola for a dollar right now at the back to school sales, who'd want to settle for less?

 No bright white paper either... that must cost way more than one buck to make because I've yet to find that in any Dollar Tree.

There are lots of things I haven't really tested yet.

-batteries

- light bulbs

-pregnancy tests -- according to the blogger above, they work. interesting. 

- foam rollers for painting

- scissors

-trash bags (though I LOVE buying mine at Sam's. They're like 150 for 9 bucks.)

Anybody tried any of those? Or have any other tips on things I should buy while there?

Hope to learn some other Dollar Tree goodies!