Dollar store is PERFECT for party supplies, wrapping paper, cards, and cheap goodie bag fillers for kids parties.

Plastic ware, like dishes, cups etc, for the travel trailer too If it gets ruined or lost no big deal.

Candy maybe.

:0)

They stock a tiramisu dessert in the cold case I'm not allowed to have on Atkins, but...

It is easy to get suckered in to stuff you don't need because you're thinking, "How in the world can they sell some of this stuff so cheaply?"

But there are incredible values. I've been surprised at the quality of fruits and veggies at the 99 Cent Store. For example, you can buy locally grown baby carrots, bags of good-quality tomatoes, lettuce, etc. -- for 99 cents! And, believe it or not, some of it's the same name-brand stuff that costs 3 times or more at the chain groceries. 

Some of the boxed or canned stuff is of a lower quality, and you kinda know to stay away. The electronics stuff looks like it'd fall apart as soon as you take the tags off. And the selection is narrower than higher-end stores. For example, there aren't 10 varieties of saltines.

But all in all, it's worth checking out at least once.

There's a music video in Subterranean's* rotation which features a guy and his kids robbing a 99 cent store with a cardboard "gun." They then take their loot and set up a store across the street. The new 97 cent store forces and 99 cent store and 98 cent store on the same corner out of business.

*the one hour a week that two MTV networks combined can find to play good videos. It's so loaded with commercials it takes 40 minutes tops to watch.

TIRAMISU????  yummmmmm...I gotta get on Atkins too...

"Subterranean" indeed rocks. I miss "120 Minutes." 

Back on topic: When I used to live up in AltaVista, if I recall correctly, there was a 98-cent store on one side of River Boulevard and an "Everything Under 98 Cents" store right across the street. But this is no joke: While the DollarTree and 99 Cent Store are pretty similar, there's a big falloff in quality from there. Sounds goofy, but it's true.

Lmolen, that's just way too funny.

I'm almost convinced to go check out a 99 cent-ish store this weekend. Notice "almost."

If I go I'll let all of you know what I find. Yes, I promise to keep an open mind.

— Christine Peterson

Once in a while you hit a big winner.  Like a gallon jar of name-brand dill pickles.  Buy all ya can, it won't be there tomorrow.

.

Spouse developed a liking for pickled green beans.  I neglected to do this, and wound up spending $1.50 a jar (outrageous!) to buy 'em at the Used Food Store.  Uxorious effort.

My idea of a shopping spree is $20 at the 99-cent store. Like RF says, what you see on the shelf today may not be there tomorrow. I was surprised when I began to pay attention to the food items and noticed most of them were quality.

My favorite 99-cent true story: Saw about a dozen scientific calculators on the shelf. Bought one for my kid's algebra class. Told her I paid $60 for this thing, take care of it. She believed me. Next visit all the calculators were gone. The math teacher ran across them & bought all for loners. That's how my kid found out about hers. She had the audacity to call me a jerk. 

Christine: You go first. Then maybe I'll follow. Notice "maybe."

 I like dollar stores for candy, cards, and balloons. However, I'm lucky if the candies not stale, the cards have a matching envelope, and the balloons last afloat after the ride home...

Great place to buy Christmas and Birthday present wrap.  smaller roll sometimes but still much cheaper than any where else. Also good for stationary.