Coffee Mugs
Plain ceramic mugs are good for so much more than just coffee and tea. You can microwave soup and oatmeal in them, etc., which makes them a smart investment when you need to feed the family without breaking the bank.
You’ll find some solid color varieties along with some funny graphics if they’re more your style.
Books
With Amazon, many people are simply reading free eBooks on their Kindles today. But for those of you who still prefer to hold a physical book in your hands – you don’t have to spend a fortune for the privilege, at least, not for any of the books you’ll find in your local dollar store.
The coolest part is you can find both paperbacks and hardcover copies of some great stories for a fraction of the price you’d pay at a bookstore.
Trash Bags
For something that literally goes right back into the garbage can, trash bags can be super expensive - but not at the dollar store.
They sell both store and name brand, the latter of which is typically sold in smaller quantities than you’ll find at the grocery, but they’re still a good deal.
Caramels
While you’re still hanging around the candy aisle, make sure you take a look around for the caramels.
Stock up and keep some handy for the next time you feel like baking some extra-delicious cookies (if you can keep from eating them all straight, of course.)
Reading Glasses
While reading glasses may seem like something that would require a visit to an eye doctor, that’s not necessarily the case. Before you run off to get a prescription, try the (much) cheaper version and simply buy a pair of reading glasses from the dollar store.
They carry several different strengths, from 1-3.5 diopter. You can even buy an extra pair ahead of time for when the first pair gets inevitably misplaced!