9 Grocery Items To Buy at Dollar Stores To Help You Cut Costs During Inflation
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Nicole Spector
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Molly Sullivan
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With the cost of food continuing to rise, Americans are all but cornered into finding ways to save on groceries. One way to save is to shop for some essentials at dollar stores. Note, we said some essentials, not all. This is a key distinction as there are definitely a number of items that you should steer clear of buying at dollar stores.
As far as what you should be buying in the grocery aisles of dollar stores, here’s what retail experts recommend considering.
Name Brand Breakfast Cereals
“For just $1.25 you can get 3.5-oz pouches of name-brand cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios, Froot Loops, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and more,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “These small pouches are a good way to keep the cereal from going stale before you can eat it all, and if you have multiple family members who like breakfast cereal but can’t agree on which kind to buy, this is an affordable way to make everyone happy.”
Badia Complete Seasoning
“This blend is a mix that makes it easy to season a variety of savory dishes without having to keep multiple spices on hand,” Ramhold said. “A 2.5-oz container is just $1.25 and is perfect for small kitchens because of the flavor it packs into one container. It includes dehydrated garlic and onion as well as some other spices and suggested uses include chicken patties, stuffed potatoes, and Cuban black beans and rice, so it’s great for a wide range of meals.”
Tajin Seasoning
“This fruit seasoning with lime is delicious on things like fresh mango as well as mango popsicles, but it’s also a nice boost of flavor on other savory dishes as well,” Ramhold said. “This bottle is 1.6-oz and only $1.25, so it’s an affordable way to carry the spice around with you to add whenever you want.”
Sugar-Free Drink Mixes
“There are quite a few name brand options and are a great way to indulge without worrying about increasing your sugar intake,” Ramhold said. “These little packets of powder get mixed into standard water and each box comes with six little pouches so they’re easy to carry with you wherever you go. Flavors include A&W Root Beer, Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale, 7UP Cherry, Starburst Blue Raspberry, Sunkist Strawberry, Sunkist Pineapple, Hawaiian Punch and more.”
Chocolate Candies
“The containers at Dollar Tree are actually good ways to indulge at an affordable price without having too many sweets on hand to wreck your diet or new year’s resolutions,” Ramhold said. “Shop things like M&Ms, candy bar minis like Kit Kats and Almond Joys, fun size Snickers, Milky Way and more for $1.25 per package. Each package is going to be around 2-4oz depending on which one you buy, but given the size and price, these are good ways to keep a sweet treat on hand without overdoing it.”
Coffee and Tea
“Having a hot drink available to brew at home is essential for a cozy evening at home on a cold winter night,” said Rebecca Gramuglia, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. “And luckily, you can find a variety of inexpensive choices at the dollar store. From herbal peppermint tea to a french vanilla cappuccino mix, you’ll be able to save on a warm drink of your choice.”
Gum
“Instead of picking up gum at your local grocery or convenience store checkout counter, Dollar Tree sells 20-stick pouches of gum for $1.25 each,” Gramuglia said. “Alternatively, Walmart has 14-stick packs for $1.38, so you’re saving about 13 cents by shopping at the dollar store. In addition to saving money, the pouches of gum at Dollar Tree are resealable, which means the product will stay fresh longer — especially in cold, dry winter weather.”
Baking Soda
“As a year-round staple, baking soda has a variety of uses in the household,” Gramuglia said. “And at 69 cents each from Dollar Tree, it’s fairly inexpensive. Target also offers a generic brand of baking soda for 79 cents each, depending on your location. However, if you use baking soda to deodorize your fridge, you’re supposed to change them each month. So on your next trip to the Dollar Tree, you can stock up and save 10 cents per box — which can really add up.”
Nabisco Big Bags
“Perfect for road trips or work/school snacks, Nabisco’s Big Bags come in a variety of flavor choices at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each,” Gramuglia said. “CVS sells the Big Bags for $1.89 each, which means you’re saving 64 cents per bag. So if you’re looking for bite-sized snacks, save the most by shopping at Dollar Tree.”
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