I’m not sure who loves to save money more than moms. But who doesn’t love spoiling their kids? Or getting something cute for the house every once in awhile? But can we justify it? Actually, sometimes you can! I learned how to by shopping at the dollar store. I don’t mean to save money on everything-I’m mostly talking toys, home decor, even some essentials for the kiddos!
I personally go to Dollar Tree. When I was little, the dollar store was pretty much a joke. Now, though? I’ve got to say that I’m impressed. Don’t get me wrong-yes, this is still the dollar store, so the quality on some items may be lacking compared to a solid Amazon or Target find. However, if you’re like me, and pay attention to pricing differences between stores, then you’ll realize I’m on to something.
Not just strange off brands!
Check out some of my finds from today: Matchbox and Hot Wheels! The plane toy in this photo sells for $6.99-8.99 in other stores. $1.25 vs. $8.99? That’s a huge difference! The yellow paint in the photo? That’s Crayola washable paint. Honestly, I felt really silly that I didn’t discover these steals a long time ago. Tonka-I don’t even have to tell other moms how expensive that brand can be! I included the Doctor Kit because kiddos love pretend play (other options will cost you between $12-25). Simple toy sets like this get the job done and save you a lot of money in the end. Remember: although we grownups know the difference between Walmart and Gucci, your two year old could not care less. (P.S. I love Walmart!)
Let’s go back to that first photo from the top of this post…If you’re already a mama, or if you buy for the littles in your family, you know how expensive those necessities are…and that the financial climate we’re living in ain’t cooling down anytime soon.
So let’s talk about some of these necessary items! First off, pacifiers (we call them binkys/binks)! You use a lot of them, lose a lot of them, and feel like they’re your only hope in desperate moments. I’ve found binks comparable to all the top brands. Check out that Paw Patrol pacifier with Chase on the Case of soothing your babe! I haven’t even seen Paw Patrol pacifiers at Target-and they have a ton of Paw Patrol merchandise.
Secondly, those baby toothbrushes! Now, I checked out these packages and even bought them to compare with the ones I’ve bought at other stores and Amazon, and ya know what? No difference! The kids like them just as much, and the handles of these brushes are easy to hold for the parent.
The third product I want to point out in this photo: bottle brush! They offer different styles and at a fraction of the cost at other stores.
Lastly, pacifier clips! These are a staple for me. It’s a handy item that I throw in with any baby shower/new mom gift. I compared these to the $15-20 packs I’ve bought online and in stores, and here’s the skinny: same thing, different price tag! To think of all the money I could’ve been saving all along kind of blows my mind!
Child locks! Ok, so are these as good of quality as the ones I got on Amazon? No. But they are just as easy to open. The plastic is more flexible, so I would infer that they would be easier to break. However, I don’t think my toddlers could manage to break them at their ages. I can say that they have been effective, as I put them on today, and the “school snack cabinet” has not been ransacked (not for a lack of trying).
Home decor!
I’m a big fan of seasonal signs. They’re an easy way to add some flair to your home and help you get into a ‘seasonal spirit.’ I enjoy shopping at Hobby Lobby and Michaels for these sort of things, but I don’t want to pay $20-75 for something I’m only going to use for just a few months. As much as I hate wasting money, I also hate wasting space. At only $1.25, I’ve got something that I can enjoy. Then, once it’s time to put it away, I can either choose to find the space to save it, or donate it (or chuck it, your choice). If you buy a new door sign every season of the year, you’re only looking at around $5/year (depending on your state’s taxes). I can justify that, especially when a single can of baby formula takes $40 from your pocket.
More crafting supplies!
They have a ton of stuff! My kids love to paint, so I was super excited when I saw the Crayola brand in the craft isle. I was even more excited when I found canvases of multiple sizes-and, yes, still only costing me $1.25. Aside from typical craft supplies, they have these adorable little felt kits, which are good for older kids and adults. I love crafting, so I could go on forever telling you all I have discovered, but I’ll leave you with just one more item I was surprised to find at the dollar store: vinyl! Yes, like for a Cricut (but obviously not brand name)! They have the normal, larger size vinyl rolls, as well as smaller ones that I’m hoping to try out on my Cricut Joy in the near future.
Children’s Books!
As parents, we love to enrich the lives of children with books. Reading played a huge role in my childhood, so I am always on the lookout for cost-friendly books. If you are interested in Christian books for children, you’ll be pleased to find many available at the Dollar Tree. The books pictured above are my favorites so far (not Christian-based). These are toddler through early elementary age appropriate. They introduce your little ones to some really great words and concepts, teaching them what it means to be confident, caring and respectful. My 3 year old was very interested in these books. He enjoyed the illustrations and was very interested in learning some new words, and the life-a-flap feature on each page makes reading it extra fun!
Moral of the story: stop overspending and check out the dollar stores near you for some great finds at low cost. I’m excited to see what I find on my next trip!
Mama With Moxie 