Dollar Store Deals -- What to Buy and What to Skip

A bottle of chili powder for a buck is a great buy. But a roll of paper towels? Not so much. Here's how to spot the real bargains (30 Photos)

Jennifer Steil on Jan 1, 2013 at 2:51PM

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Dollar Store Deals -- What to Buy and What to Skip

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The Dollar Store Lowdown


Who doesn’t love a great deal at the dollar store? It sounds promising -- but does it deliver? The answer is yes and no, say consumer savings experts. If you’re a savvy shopper and avoid shoddy merchandise or products that are still overpriced at a dollar, there are definitely deals to be had.

A word of warning: not everything at every dollar store costs a dollar, says Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings expert at kinoliinc.com. The Dollar Tree charges a dollar for every item but Dollar General offers pricier stuff, too. That’s where you need to be careful. Impulse buying could get you into trouble even at dollar stores, says consumer savings expert Regina Novickis. While the values may be terrific, it’s easy to get caught up in a shopping frenzy and leave with more than you need. “Just because it’s a dollar, doesn’t mean it’s a deal,” says Farnoosh Torabi, Yahoo! Finance contributor and host of Financially Fit. “If it’s not something you need or even want, forget about it. Come to the dollar store with a mission.” Read on to find out how to get the most for your buck.

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