Give Dollar Tree A Closer Look

Give Dollar Tree A Closer Look

While Many, if not Most, Items are OverPriced at Dollar Tree, 

You Can Really Get Some Great Finds at Dollar Tree

When I go to Dollar Tree, I only shop for certain items. Many of the items are cheaply made there, or overpriced. You can't use a coupon. $1 for an Oral B toothbrush might seem a good deal at first. But when you can use a coupon at another store and get them for 50c or less, it isn't such a good deal. Also, look at the size/quantity of the items you are buying. Many times when you take it down to an ounce or quantity level, it really isn't that great of a deal. 

Many retailers have regular clearance. Those clearance prices are usually better than Dollar Tree prices. So, get to know where and when these stores have clearance items. Old Navy has nice thick socks for 75c or less from time to time. Target puts their paper plates to 75c-35c after major holidays and at the end of seasons. Stock up in advance.  Drugstore deals change weekly. You can get items way cheaper than $1 when you work these.

HOWEVER! There are items that I go to Dollar Tree for. Items you may not think to buy at Dollar Tree.

Here are my fave picks for the Dollar Tree:

• Rolls of thick brown wrapping paper. These are actually good quality. I buy them here and often can find simple designs like polka dots or stars.  You can make presents look simple and boutique-y with these. Also, I love using these to mail out my Ebay items. My buyers on Ebay love to get the cute packages in the mail.
• Mylar Helium filled balloons. Yep. They have the fancy ones like at other stores for only $1 each. I just snagged some Disney Princess and Elmo ones for a bday party we attended. They were really good quality.  
• Pregnancy Tests. NO LIE! Seriously. The Dollar Tree pregnancy tests are $1 and work BETTER than the name brand ones. I have many stay at home mom friends that have between 4 and 6 children. They first told me about these tests. They work perfectly most of the time. And, in my case, they show up a positive WEEKS before the name brand tests show a positive. Last time I was pregnant, we did a side by side comparison. Dollar Tree beat out First Response, Clear Blue, and EPT.  
• Make up: Almay, elf, Revlon, CoverGirl, Neutrogena, Sally Hanson, etc. all seem to sell their overstock to Dollar Tree. 
• Hardback Books:  Big Name Booksellers sell their overstock to Dollar Tree. You can find some really great deals looking for books at Dollar Tree sometimes.  A lot of times, you can even find current big name authors there.  You just have to check your Dollar Tree from time to time.
• Every rare once in a while, you can find some good dvd's at Dollar Tree. I have found A Guy Thing on DVD there.. and some of the Food Network Stars Dvds like Bobby Flay and Rachel Ray.  Also, I have found Veggie Tales VHS tapes and even Elmo.  

So, keep your eyes peeled at Dollar Tree. But also, don't just automatically and blindly think you are getting a good deal just because it is only $1.Be a critically savvy shopper and don't fall for the gimmicks and just watch the savings pour in!

A Different Kind of Bargain Puzzler

Recent Birthday Parties, Holidays, Events, Etc 

Have Me Puzzled:

What is an Appropriate Gift When You Are a Bargainista Extroadinaire?

This is more of an open question without a multiple choice or clear cut answer.  All these holidays and birthdays have me pondering: What is an appropriate gift to present to someone when you are a bargainista extroadinaire and snag very valuable gifts on the cheap?  

One example scenario is this:  

Over the holidays, we had a Dirty Santa gift exchange at our Bunco group.  The idea was to spend about $10 tops to get a (nice, not crummy) gift for the exchange.  I did bargain hunt and take a gift that I "cheated" on.. It was about a $15 gift I spent $10 on.  However, one lady at the exchange, the one that sent me on my couponing path to begin with, really cheated. She is the KNOWN COUPONER of the group. She brought a gift basket FULL of awesome "drugstore" products.. Lady Schick Razors, refills, Olay stuff, etc etc etc. This was like a $60 basket she paid less than $10 for by working her coupon deals, etc.  

That is an interesting and funny example. We got a kick out of that gift. It was stolen the max number of times, even.  

But still. Here's the dilemma:  You are known to be a couponer. You can get $55 Disney Princess costumes for $12 at the outlet. $35 OshKosh Sandals for $1.35.  So... your child gets invited to a birthday party.. what do you bring? Do you pay $15 (more than what you spend on a fancy Disney costume dress) for a gift that looks more in line with what the host might expect? Or do you coupon, save money, and give a nicer gift?  Ok, friends and such don't care about the gift.  That isn't what it is about. I get that. But, if my child walks in with a gift I can afford that has been stashed in my gift closet for 6 months, but looks really nice, that's bad, right? What is a couponer to do??  Don't say gift card. That hurts the heart. LOL! (Although, couponers LOVE to get a modest gift card.. we can stretch those bad boys out!)

OR, what about the flip side? Your in- laws know the deals you get. SO, when you present them with something nice, they are going to know you got it on the cheap. Do you gift them with more to compensate for what you really would have spent on that item??

It really boggles the mind.  I recently put together a gift for a 4 yr old. It was a nice gift. Original value of all the items was more than $30. I spent $8 on all of it, total.  I was like this is a rockin gift. Then, I added up the out of pocket expense. I was like whoa. I only spent $8 on all this? That's great.. but... the friendship there deserved nicer than an $8 gift. My husband walks in and is like WOW, NICE GIFT! He didn't know the out of pocket meagerness. So, I resolved to call that gift "done and good".  And it was.  

SO, how do you balance your deals with the feeling that you are being too cheap.. Or worse, that your deal saving makes you give gifts that are too nice sometimes.. oops.  It is a fine line I walk. 

And I wonder, do I walk that line alone? Are others as gift conscious? When you get a gift from me, untold amount of thought goes into it. Am I alone in that? Do you wonder about your gifts from your Deal Steals Gift Closet? LOL.

My mother loves Pantene Products. I get these free from time to time and gift her with my overstock.. Just thinking of her... and she loves that. But she also knows I am being cheap with those types of gifts! Catch 22!

So, how do you all handle these situations? 

*On the other hand, my neighbor LOVES the freebies gift bags I put together for her every month! She just totally chuckles when I bring her dish soap, paper towels, and toothpaste!