Do dollar stores save you money? Yes, in many cases they do. But there are also things you need to be aware of (and avoid) at dollar stores according to the Palm Beach Post Some things they highlight:

“You can find some great bargains at dollar stores. If you want to save some money, there is a way to do it if you shop for the right things. Be careful what you buy,” said Donald Mays, senior director of product safety at Consumer Reports.Mays said he has safety concerns over some of the products dollar stores sell, especially with small toys and party favors for children, such as small inflatable whistles.Mays said some vitamins and supplements sold at dollar stores don’t contain the right level of ingredients. Don’t be fooled by knockoffs using similar label colors and logos, such as brown and yellow labels that resemble Bayer Aspirin, he said.He also advises against buying brand knock-offs such as “Dinacell” batteries or anything electrical such as an extension cord or lamp. Some holiday string lights melted in tests Consumer Reports conducted, Mays said.When purchasing anything electrical, look for a legitimate safety certification UL label mark, a gold foil tag on the cord with a holographic image of the UL mark, Mays said. Other approved certification marks include ETL or ETL Listed and CSA.Watch out for the “treasure hunt” mood that overtakes many shoppers when they hit Dollar Tree. Instead of purchasing just the $5 worth of shampoo, sponges and paper towels they came for, shoppers might be snagged by something unexpected, such as the “in-store item of the week.”Sometimes, Dollar Tree doesn’t offer the best value. For example, small quantities in packages of some items make the price per item higher than at Publix Super Markets, Walmart and other retailers.

We don’t do a ton of shopping at dollar stores. They tend to be junky IMO and are not located conveniently for us. That said, when we need something cheap and/or disposable in large quantities — like frames for pictures of our basketball team (which we purchased 35 of a few months ago) — it’s hard to beat them on price.What’s your take on dollar stores? Good, bad, or somewhere in between?

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