Dollar Tree vs Dollar General: Which Has the Best Deals in April?
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Despite having similar names, selling the same categories of products and being generally budget-friendly, Dollar General and Dollar Tree are very different stores. Dollar Tree uses standardized pricing storewide; most items are $1.25, and some stores have Dollar Tree Plus products that sell for $3 or $5. Dollar General, on the other hand, isn’t a dollar store in the traditional sense. It simply sells products for less than you’ll pay at many supermarkets.
Both stores have plenty of seasonal items for sale in April. Find out which has the best deals on spring essentials, groceries, cleaning products and more.
Spring Decor
Dollar Tree has the best deals on spring decor.
Dollar General has cute Easter decorations for $1, which beats Dollar Tree’s $1.25-to-$5 pricing. But Dollar Tree has a larger variety of Easter and spring-themed items, including dinnerware available in two fresh floral patterns.
Easter Basket Fillers
Dollar General has better deals on candy, with prices starting at $1 for a package of three Ring Pops. Dollar Tree’s cheapest Easter candy is $3.50.
Dollar General also has a better selection of small toys for $1.25 or less, plus some pricier items like Lego sets that you can’t get at Dollar Tree.
Outdoor Living
Dollar Tree can’t touch Dollar General’s selection of outdoor items, because its price points don’t allow it to carry higher-cost products like charcoal and potting soil.
But for items it does carry, Dollar Tree offers better deals than Dollar General. For example, you can buy basics like gardening tools and grilling utensils for $1.25 at Dollar Tree, whereas similar items are $3 and up at Dollar General.
Plastic Food Storage
Dollar Tree wins hands-down when it comes to April food storage deals. McCormick-brand semi-disposable containers are $1.25 per package, which typically has two smaller or one large container.
Dollar General sells Rubbermaid brand, which are similar containers that it sells at much higher prices.
Personal Care
Dollar General has a larger variety and better prices on personal care items, especially name-brand products. For example, Dollar Tree sells 8.5-ounce bottles of Listerine mouthwash for $4, while Dollar General sells bottles twice as big for $6.
Snacks
Dollar General offers a coupon for $3 off when you spend at least $9 on a large selection of snacks, including from Ritz, Honey Maid, Triscuit and Oreo.
The regular prices are better than Dollar Tree’s in many cases, because they’re for full-size products. With the $3 coupon, you can stock up to save even more.
Cleaning Products
If you prefer name-brand cleaning products, you’ll find the best deals at Dollar General. Dollar Tree’s products typically are either off-brand or smaller packages of name-brand items.
Gain original dryer sheets are $1.25 for a 15-sheet box, for example, while Dollar General has Gain 180-count 2 in 1: AromaBoost + Softness sheets for $7.50. Both are eligible for deals on Gain products — $5 off a purchase of $30 at Dollar General, and $8 off a purchase of $40 at Dollar Tree — but Dollar General still comes out ahead.
Dollar Tree vs. Dollar General: Where Will You Save the Most?
Which store has the better deals for you depends in large part on how you shop. If you’re looking for a good selection of full-sized or value-sized name-brand products, Dollar General is usually the better bet.
If brand isn’t important, and you don’t mind the limited selection, Dollar Tree might be the better store for you, especially for seasonal crafts and decor.
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