Friday, July 18, 2008

The worst dollar store bargins


No. 1: Toothpaste
Dollar Store Diva Says:
A 2.54 ounce tube of tartar control or cavity protection Crest or Colgate cost a buck, obviously, and that seems like a lot less than you'd pay for a full-sized tube in your local drugstore. But the same brands, in the same size, cost only 63 cents a tube at my local Wal-Mart store, so it still pays to shop around and read your local store flyers to find the sales and the best everyday prices for your favorite brand of toothpaste.
· A Word of Caution on Toothpaste ...


No. 2: Nestle Bottled Water
Dollar Store Diva Says:
I can get four 16.9 oz. bottles of water for $1 at the dollar store. That's great, but, if you use a lot of bottled water, it's better to buy it by the case. Wal-Mart often has sales on this brand, selling a case of 24 bottles for $2.65, which means you're only paying 11 cents a bottle, as opposed to 25 cents at the dollar store. Costco sells Nestle bottled water in a case of 35, 16.9 oz. bottles for $4.95 or 14 cents per bottle, a significant savings over the dollar store.







No. 3: 1-Ply Napkins Dollar Store Diva Says: At a penny a piece, getting 100 napkins for a buck is a pretty good deal. But, as with many things, the more you buy, the more you'll save. Buy a package of 350 napkins at Wal-Mart for $2.94 and you pay less than a penny per napkin. If you've got kids and go through a lot of paper products, the savings can really add up.



























No. 4: Sandwich Bags
Dollar Store Diva Says: The dollar store sells Hefty zipper seal sandwich bags in a package of 13 for $1 or about 8 cents per bag but, again, it pays to buy in bulk. Costco sells Ziploc sandwich bags, four packages of 150 bags each, for $12.58. That means each sandwich bag costs only 2 cents each. And, if you pack lunches on a regular basis, you won't soon run out with 600 bags on hand.








No. 5: Sugar Substitute
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Sugar Twin comes in a box of 40 packets for $1 at the dollar store. Wal-Mart sells Sweet 'n Low in boxes of 100 packets for $2.25 and you can get 800 packets of Equal at Costco for $16.84. Compare the costs: .025 cents at the dollar store, .023 cents at Wal-Mart and .021 cents at Costco. Not huge savings but every little bit helps, and if you prefer one of the bigger name brands of sugar substitute, you may not find it at the dollar store.



No. 6: Foam Cups
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Stocking your office? Having a brunch party? If you stock up, you can save. At the dollar store, you can get a package of 45 7 oz. foam cups at the dollar store for $1 or .022 per cup or shop at Costco where you can go big and go home with 1,000 foam cups for $12.18 or .012 per cup.




No. 7: Foam Plates
Dollar Store Diva Says:
Also an essential on your party-planning list are disposable plates. At the dollar store, a stack of 20 foam plates (9-inch size) are 5 cents per plate. That equates to $4 for 80 plates at the dollar store, but a package of 75 plates at Wal-Mart costs only $2.75 -- or just under 4 cents a plate. So you'd save about a dollar after accounting for the five fewer plates in the Wal-Mart pack.




No. 8: Dishwashing Liquid
Dollar Store Diva Says:
In order to sell brand names for a $1, dollar stores are reduced to selling these products in the smaller bottles. Thus, a 10.99 oz. bottle of Sunlight dishinwashing liquid isn't as cost-effective as the larger bottle in most supermarkets. I saw a 32.123 oz. bottle of Sunlight for $1.97 in my neighborhood grocery store. That's more than 21 oz. more soap for an extra buck. No contest.



No. 9: Bag Candy
Dollar Store Diva Says:Got a sweet tooth? You're better off buying a 2 lb. tub of jujubes or gummy worms at Wal-Mart for $2.94. You'd be paying $4 for the same amount of candy at the dollar store because there, an 8 oz. bag costs a buck. So, if you want to buy enough to treat the family, leave those four 8 oz. bags on the shelf and save $1.06 by buying the 2 lb. tub. How sweet is that?




No. 10: Batteries
Dollar Store Diva Says:Dollar stores sell good quality AA or AAA batteries from Panasonic and Sunbeam for $1 for a package of four. That's 25 cents per battery. Wal-Mart sells Maxell batteries in the same sizes in bulk. So, for $9.88 you can have a supply of 48 batteries for only 21 cents each. With that many batteries on hand there'll be no more rooting around in the junk drawer looking for something to put the spin back in your Spin Brush.

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