The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (2024)

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Besides its built-in low prices, shopping at Dollar General can be a convenient one-stop option for many of the items you need. The bargain retailer stocks everything from groceries and cosmetics to personal care products and apparel—and even stands out among its competitors. But what few may realize is that the chain is also a fantastic resource for a lot of everyday items that could be helpful around your home. Read on for the best household items to buy at Dollar General, according to retail experts.

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1

Cleaning Supplies

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (1)

There's arguably nothing more important around your household than keeping it fresh and clean. Fortunately, experts say you can stay on top of it for less, thanks to the bargain retailer.

"Dollar General tends to have decent prices on things like Comet powder (21 ounces for $1), various kinds of Fabuloso (56 ounces for $4.50), toilet bowl cleaners (two 24-ounce bottles of Lysol for $5), as well as things like 60-count packages of Wet Wipes for $1," says Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. "Again, you may be able to find better deals to some degree at big box stores, but these aren't huge markups and they're name-brand products, so you should have an idea of their performance rather than risking trying a store brand that may or may not be worth it."

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2

Paper Towels

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (2)

Paper towels are a household expense that can add up quickly. Luckily, buying them from Dollar General can potentially save you some money.

"The bargain chain offers a two-pack of Scott Choose-A-Sheet Paper Towels for $3.95," says Samantha Landau, consumer expert at TopCashback.com. "This product claims to be the equivalent of four regular-sized paper towel rolls based on total area per sheet. If you purchased this same product at Rite Aid, it would cost you $4.49."

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3

Food Storage Containers

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (3)

Sticking to your grocery budget isn't just limited to finding great deals on your favorite food items: It's also about making sure it stays fresh for as long as possible. Whether you want to get more of your leftovers in the fridge or organize your pantry, picking the proper containers can help.

"Dollar General has a decent selection of Rubbermaid food storage containers in various sizes and smaller multipacks," Ramhold tells Best Life. "Things like four-count packs of Rubbermaid Takealongs are made for meal-prep, and they go for around $6.50, which works out to about $1.63 each."

She points out that while the unit price might not be as good as what you could find at big-box stores, the package counts are also smaller, which may be better for some households. "Plus, if you're closer to a Dollar General store than something like a Walmart, these purchases may be worth paying a bit more per piece just because of the convenience and not having to buy more than you need," she adds.

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4

Air Fresheners

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (4)

It's always great to have your home looking its best. But it's just as important to have it smelling its best, too.

"The Febreze Air Freshener Aerosol two-packs at Dollar General are $5.50 and come in a variety of scents," says Landau. "When looking at other retailers, like Staples, this product is being sold for $6.10. It may not seem like a lot up front, but by shopping at Dollar General, you're saving more money—which can really add up over time."

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5

Liquid Dish Soap

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (5)

Even if you have a dishwasher, dish soap is vital for cleaning items that have to be hand-washed. And just because it seems like bottles go faster than you can keep up with doesn't mean you need to spend a fortune on them.

"Dollar General has quite a few different kinds of dish soap, whether you prefer Dawn, Gain, Palmolive, or even its house brand," says Ramhold.

She says shoppers can find an 18-ounce bottle of their True Living dish soap for just under $2 and bottles of things like Gain Ez-Squeeze soap that cost around $2 for 14.7 ounces. "That's not as good as the store brand, but it's still definitely a good price and ideal for those who are shopping regularly at Dollar General as opposed to other retailers," says Ramhold.

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life (2024)

FAQs

The 5 Best Household Items to Buy at Dollar General, Experts Say — Best Life? ›

Dollar General is the largest dollar store operator both in terms of annual sales (more than $34 billion in 2021) and total store count (some 18,000 locations in 46 states).

What is the most successful dollar store? ›

Dollar General is the largest dollar store operator both in terms of annual sales (more than $34 billion in 2021) and total store count (some 18,000 locations in 46 states).

Are Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar the same company? ›

Dollar Tree, which focuses more on middle-income shoppers in suburbs, bought Family Dollar in 2015 for $8.5 billion. The combined company hoped that by joining forces, it could grow its customer base, reduce costs and fend off bigger retailers like Dollar General, which is mainly in rural areas.

What's better, Dollar Tree or Dollar General? ›

There's no easy answer to this. It ultimately depends on what you're looking for. If you're on a tight budget and want everything to cost just $1.25, then go for Dollar Tree. But if you're looking for a wider selection of quality products and can spend a little more, then choose Dollar General.

What is better, Dollar General or Family Dollar? ›

Dollar General and Family Dollar both offer a wider range of items and may have more sales and promotions, but their prices can vary. It is best to take the time to compare prices and selections at each of these stores to determine which one is truly the best fit for your budget and shopping needs.

What is Dollar General changing their name to? ›

In an effort to cater to customers who want a more upscale shopping experience, Dollar General is opening retail locations that operate under a different brand. These stores are called pOpshelf, and they're meant to appeal to wealthier and more suburban customers.

What is the Dollar General controversy? ›

It has not been a great year for Dollar General. The chain was lambasted in an episode of "Last Week Tonight" where John Oliver highlighted the many problems in its stores which include significant labor issues. The HBO show, cast a harsh light on how poorly staffed the chain's nearly 19,000 stores are.

Why did Dollar Tree fail? ›

Dollar Tree believed acquiring Family Dollar would help it compete against larger rivals. But it misjudged the deal. Since the “botched acquisition,” Family Dollar “has caused Dollar Tree nothing but hassle,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a recent note to clients.

What dollar stores are merging? ›

The merger of the two companies, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, occurred in 2015. As the fiscal year ended on February 3, the company operated over 16,774 units under the two brand names across the U.S. and Canada.

Is Walmart cheaper than Dollar General? ›

In fact, Walmart cost less than Dollar General in our price comparison. We checked prices on a basket of common goods in their online stores. Walmart was cheaper overall, and beat Dollar General in 10 out of 12 of the items in our basket.

Why is Family Dollar struggling? ›

Dollar Tree's CEO has said Family Dollar customers are feeling the effects of expired pandemic-era SNAP benefits. And the brand continues to grapple with competition from Walmart and Temu.

Why are Dollar Tree items so cheap? ›

One key approach is bulk buying from suppliers. By purchasing millions of units to distribute across their numerous locations, they can acquire products at a lower cost, similar to the savings Costco offers its customers through bulk purchases. Another method dollar stores use is sourcing liquidated items.

How to save money shopping at the dollar store? ›

Don't purchase items that need to last

Dollar stores keep prices low by selling items that aren't built to last or for multiple uses. So, it's a great place to stock up on items like seasonal decor, paper goods or office products. But you may want to avoid picking up tech items or fragile goods with multiple parts.

What company owns Dollar General? ›

Dollar General has a diverse ownership structure, with several major institutional investors holding significant stakes in the company. The top shareholders as of September 2023 are Vanguard Group, Inc., BlackRock, Inc., Capital International Investors, Capital World Investors, State Street Corporation, Price (T.

Is Dollar General bigger than Walmart? ›

Dollar General stores are typically smaller than Walmart stores, and they have a more limited selection of products. However, the company can keep its costs low by negotiating favorable prices with its suppliers and by operating with a small staff. Dollar General stores are also convenient for customers in rural areas.

What is the most popular dollar store in the US? ›

Although Family Dollar has already begun closing stores, the chain is succeeding in maintaining its 2023 visit levels. Of the three banners analyzed, Dollar General receives the most visits nationwide – but Dollar Tree comes out ahead in the western United States.

Is owning a dollar store profitable? ›

While it may seem counterintuitive, dollar stores tend to be among the most profitable segments of retailing. Dollar General, the largest dollar-store chain in the US, regularly posts operating margins of about 15%.

What store makes the most money? ›

By revenue
RankNameDominant operational format
1WalmartHypermarket/Supercenter/Superstore
2AmazonNon-store (E-commerce)
3CostcoCash & Carry/Warehouse Club
4Schwarz GruppeDiscount store
66 more rows

What is the oldest dollar store? ›

The first Dollar General store opened in Springfield, Ky. on June 1, 1955, and the concept was simple – no item in the store would cost more than one dollar. The idea became a huge success and other stores owned by J.L. Turner and his son Cal Turner Sr.

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