Dollar Tree sounds like a fairy tale that you’d tell your grandchildren: “Once upon a time, you could buy anything in the entire store for one dollar.”
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Until roaring pandemic-era inflation huffed, puffed, and blew that house down.
In late 2021, Dollar Tree raised prices above $1, much to the indignation of customers. It later expanded the number of items costing $3, $4, and $5.
So… does Dollar Tree still offer killer deals?
On some items, yes. On others — not so much. Steer clear of the following products at Dollar Tree, whether you live on a retirement budget or just want to get the most bang for your buck.
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1. Batteries
Not all batteries are created equal. Name brand batteries that power pink drumming bunnies use alkaline. But the cheapest knockoffs use carbon zinc, which doesn’t hold charge for as long. Worse, they sometimes leak, which can destroy your electronic devices.
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2. Off-Brand Skincare & Beauty Products
Watch out for shortcuts for your skincare routine. Again, the cheapest generic brands sold at the dollar store use the cheapest possible ingredients. These often don’t work well — or at all.
In particular, watch out for sunscreen and other skin products with SPF. It degrades relatively quickly, and expiring products with cheap ingredients make a bad combination.
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3. Toiletries
The same goes for shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and other toiletries. Buying these at Dollar Tree doesn’t even necessarily save you money.
These products usually come in smaller packaging than those sold at the grocery store or pharmacy. That means they waste more plastic packaging, and they often cost more per ounce. Unless you intentionally want to buy travel-size toiletries, stick with the supermarket.
4. Vitamins and Supplements
Notice a recurring theme? The cheapest vitamins and other wellness ingestibles use cheap, often ineffective ingredients. They can also expire faster — and in dollar stores, often sit on the shelves for months (or years).
5. Frozen Meats & Seafood
Sure, meat and seafood have gotten expensive in recent years. But buying the lowest-grade meats and seafood at Dollar Tree won’t do you or your digestive tract any favors. You might be better off eating the cardboard packaging.
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6. Processed Foods
If you skip the steaks and salmon at Dollar Tree, maybe the deli meats, dehydrated noodles or cereal bars offer a good bet? Steers clear. Ultra-processed foods are even worse for you than previously thought, per one recent study.
7. Expired Foods
Dollar Tree is not a grocery store. Sometimes food sits on the shelves for months or even years before being bought. Double check the expiration date on all food items at Dollar Tree before putting it in your basket.
8. Liquid Detergents With No Expiration
The cleaning chemicals in liquid dish or clothes detergent degrade over time. And like everything else, cheaper products usually degrade faster.
Look at the expiration date on liquid detergents before buying. Avoid not just expired detergents, but also any products that don’t even bother to disclose an expiration date on their packaging.
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9. Plastic Tupperware
There’s plastic, and then there’s plastic. High quality food-grade plastics are microwave- and dishwasher-safe. They don’t release toxins when exposed to heat.
Cheap plastics do. Buy glass or high-end plastic food storage containers — somewhere other than the dollar store.
10. Home Paper Products
Expect the cheapest, thinnest, scratchiest, least comfortable toilet paper on the planet at Dollar Tree. Think single-ply, with fewer fibers — the kind of toilet paper that breaks and tears on you when you try to use it. Which means you end up using more, going through it faster and spending more in the process.
When you do find name-brand paper products at the dollar store, they often cost more per unit than at the grocery store. The same goes for paper towels, and for gift wrapping paper.
Final Thoughts
Dollar Tree still offers some bargains. But you need to stay vigilant and selective about what you buy there. Single-use items may make sense to buy at the dollar store. The longer you want it to last, the less likely you are to find any savings at Dollar Tree, however.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Things You Shouldn’t Buy at Dollar Tree While on a Retirement Budget
