Thread: Shopping at the Dollar Store

On Wed 09 Apr 2008 05:11:20a, jmcquown told us...

> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned
> beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent in W. TN
> also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar
> why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked sausage, etc. Ice
> cream & frozen treats, of course, and other frozen items like corn dogs
> <G> And as the article mentions, sometimes I run across some surprising
> items.
>
> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be
> caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what
> they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Jill
>
>

It is surprising what you find there. I have bought salsas, canned
chilies, and some "unknown" brand of bread and butter pickles that were the
best I've ever had. Oh, and pickled okra for 79¢ a jar. Occasionally,
they will have fresh produce like onions, garlic, various kinds of peppers.
The red, yellow, orange, and purple peppers were going for 50¢ each.

I have absolutely no qualms about venturing into the dollar stores. The
best chain around the Phoenix are is called the 99¢ Store.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 04(IV)/09(IX)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Countdown till Memorial Day
6wks 4dys 18hrs 25mins
-------------------------------------------
Hold on to freedom as long as you can,
'cause the girl in your cell might
think she's a man.
-------------------------------------------

On Apr 9, 7:41*am, Wayne Boatwright <wayneboatwri...@arizona.usa.com>
wrote:
> *
> The red, yellow, orange, and purple peppers were going for 50¢ each.
>
Peter Piper would have a field day there. I wonder how many peppers
in a peck?
>
> --
> * * * * * * *Wayne Boatwright

--Bryan

Wayne Boatwright <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected] 3.184:

> On Wed 09 Apr 2008 05:11:20a, jmcquown told us...
>
>> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
>> or
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>>
>> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
>> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
>> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
>> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
>> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?),
>> smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and other
>> frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions,
>> sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>>
>> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
>> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't
>> be caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying
>> what they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>>
>> Jill
>>
>>
>
> It is surprising what you find there. I have bought salsas, canned
> chilies, and some "unknown" brand of bread and butter pickles that
> were the best I've ever had. Oh, and pickled okra for 79¢ a jar.
> Occasionally, they will have fresh produce like onions, garlic,
> various kinds of peppers. The red, yellow, orange, and purple peppers
> were going for 50¢ each.
>
> I have absolutely no qualms about venturing into the dollar stores.
> The best chain around the Phoenix are is called the 99¢ Store.
>

We have a chain called Big Lots/Odd Lots that basically buy overstock
items or from other retailer going out of business. Very inexpensive
stuff. I go there more for the adventure than I do the savings. Some of
the hispanic food items I've bought there I've not seen in other stores.
I too found the pickled Okra which is something like $3.99 at teh regular
store for only 99cents.

Given who they get their items you only need to be mindful of the labels
and expiration dates. Aside from that it's a fun lottery to see what
brands/items you'll find there.

In article <[email protected]>,
"jmcquown" <[email protected]> wrote:

> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8

> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up. And
> yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be caught
> dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what they do for
> the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Jill

Buck stores are great places to pick up coloring books and trinkets for
visiting small children, too. And greeting cards and very large size
gift bags.

I changed my attitude about buying unrecognized brands when a Gedney
product wound up in a buck store in this area. It's a *very* well
known local brand and the chain that picked up the excess product was
not supposed to stock it in this market and they did. That experience
made me realize that there are many regional-distribution companies and
just because I'm not familiar with the name doesn't mean the product is
not a good one. Yeah, that was an eye-opener for me.

Which reminds me -- I saw some wire hanging baskets and coco fiber
liners at one * I might pick up a couple for planting in a month or so.

--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor
She's had some good news! Yeay!

"jmcquown" <[email protected]> dropped this
news:[email protected]: in rec.food.cooking

> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked
> sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and other frozen
> items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions, sometimes I run
> across some surprising items.
>
> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't
> be caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying
> what they do for the same stuff at the grocery store

I don't shop at the dollar stores for food but I have fun in the 2 I go
to. There are all kinds of things at them. My last purchase from Dollar
Tree here was a bunch of silicone basting brushes. They have a lot of
toys there too and wrapping paper, bags etc. Usually when I'm there I'll
pick up a toy or 2 for the little girls across the street. One is into
costume jewels and those little high heels for little girls. The other
is a Tom-Boy and I'll pick up cowboy stuff for her. I also pick up
plastic serving platters etc. to take food to block parties etc. I use
those and I don't have to worry about getting them back. I've never
checked the food items. Do they have a dozen eggs for a dollar?

Michael


--
"I'd like to be in Hell in time for dinner"
-Edward H. Ruloff

To email - michael at lonergan dot us dot com

Wayne Boatwright <[email protected]> dropped this
news:[email protected] 3.184: in
rec.food.cooking

> It is surprising what you find there. I have bought salsas, canned
> chilies, and some "unknown" brand of bread and butter pickles that
> were the best I've ever had. Oh, and pickled okra for 79¢ a jar.
> Occasionally, they will have fresh produce like onions, garlic,
> various kinds of peppers. The red, yellow, orange, and purple peppers
> were going for 50¢ each.
>
> I have absolutely no qualms about venturing into the dollar stores.
> The best chain around the Phoenix are is called the 99¢ Store.

Whoops! I forgot about the olives. I buy olives there once in awhile.

Michael



--
"I'd like to be in Hell in time for dinner"
-Edward H. Ruloff

To email - michael at lonergan dot us dot com

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> "jmcquown" <[email protected]> dropped this
> news:[email protected]: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
>> or
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>>
>> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
>> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
>> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
>> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
>> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?),
>> smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and
>> other frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions,
>> sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>>
> I also pick up plastic serving platters etc. to take food to block
> parties etc. I use those and I don't have to worry about getting
> them back. I've never checked the food items. Do they have a dozen
> eggs for a dollar?
>
> Michael
>
I forgot about eggs! Not a dollar, but they were consistently about 30
cents/dozen less than the grocery store. That was in January before I came
back to SC.

Jill

On Wed 09 Apr 2008 06:20:28a, Chile Fiend told us...

> Wayne Boatwright <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected] 3.184:
>
>> On Wed 09 Apr 2008 05:11:20a, jmcquown told us...
>>
>>> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet or
>>>
>>> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>>>
>>> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
>>> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
>>> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
>>> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
>>> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?),
>>> smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and other
>>> frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions,
>>> sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>>>
>>> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
>>> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't
>>> be caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying
>>> what they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>>>
>>> Jill
>>>
>>>
>>
>> It is surprising what you find there. I have bought salsas, canned
>> chilies, and some "unknown" brand of bread and butter pickles that
>> were the best I've ever had. Oh, and pickled okra for 79¢ a jar.
>> Occasionally, they will have fresh produce like onions, garlic,
>> various kinds of peppers. The red, yellow, orange, and purple peppers
>> were going for 50¢ each.
>>
>> I have absolutely no qualms about venturing into the dollar stores.
>> The best chain around the Phoenix are is called the 99¢ Store.
>>
>
> We have a chain called Big Lots/Odd Lots that basically buy overstock
> items or from other retailer going out of business. Very inexpensive
> stuff. I go there more for the adventure than I do the savings. Some of
> the hispanic food items I've bought there I've not seen in other stores.
> I too found the pickled Okra which is something like $3.99 at teh regular
> store for only 99cents.
>
> Given who they get their items you only need to be mindful of the labels
> and expiration dates. Aside from that it's a fun lottery to see what
> brands/items you'll find there.
>

We also have the chain Bil Lots in the Phoenix area. Here they are very
large stores carrying everything imaginable. Among other things, I buy
brand name cereal for 1/4 or less the cost of the supermarket.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 04(IV)/09(IX)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
Countdown till Memorial Day
6wks 4dys 14hrs 50mins
-------------------------------------------
Murphy's law needs to be repealed.
-------------------------------------------

jmcquown wrote:

> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time.

I don't normally go to any, in fact I usually don't go anywhere but one
of the major supermarkets for food. I just don't find it worth the time
spent for the money saved. Not that there's anything wrong with people
making the opposite decision.

That being said, I did go to Dollar Tree recently. They had TaxCut
Basic software there, and that's what I've been using for years. I
poked around and picked up a few things while I was there. I got some
of those pepper grinders loaded with peppercorns. I figure I can put
those on the table for guests, somewhat better than just pepper shakers.




Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

"jmcquown" wrote

> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just about
> canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned beans
> there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent in W. TN also
> sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar why
> pay $3.99

Our nearest one doesnt have any fresh foods but some of the local regional
canned things there are fantastically good. They have a canned stewed
tomato that beats the heck out of Hunts and Contadina by a wide margin on
both sodium (Don has sodium restricted diet needs) and flavor!

> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up. And
> yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be
> caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what they
> do for the same stuff at the grocery store

Grin, BJ's beats most of those but yes, the local Dollar Store (thats the
name here) is quite good for many simple things like shampoo (name brand,
less price markup) or other general cleaning products.

Since it's right on the route home, I stop there and can get just a few
items they have that I like, and not pay extra gas money to get there. Lots
of cheap but fun toys too. Oh, and last run, they had orgami paper for
Charlotte at only 1.50$ for a 24 pack. Double sided pastel shades.

In article <[email protected]>,
"jmcquown" <[email protected]> wrote:

> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just about
> canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned beans
> there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent in W. TN also sells
> milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar why pay $3.99
> when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen
> treats, of course, and other frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the
> article mentions, sometimes I run across some surprising items.


My brother, who is pretty picky about his produce, buys quite a bit of
it at a dollar store. And *everything* in the store really sells for a
dollar.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA
[email protected]

jmcquown wrote:
> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned
> beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent in W. TN
> also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar
> why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked sausage, etc. Ice
> cream & frozen treats, of course, and other frozen items like corn dogs
> <G> And as the article mentions, sometimes I run across some surprising
> items.
>
> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be
> caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what
> they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Jill

Let me guess - they are employed.

-dk

On Apr 9, 11:59*am, "Default User" <defaultuse...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> That being said, I did go to Dollar Tree recently. They had TaxCut
> Basic software there, and that's what I've been using for years. I
> poked around and picked up a few things while I was there. I got some
> of those pepper grinders loaded with peppercorns. I figure I can put
> those on the table for guests, somewhat better than just pepper shakers.
> Brian
===============================================
I shop the Dollar Tree for funky serving bowls and plates. Got 4
really classic plain white 3 cup bowls. Great for ramen or rice or
whatever. I don't buy food there as they do not accept EBT (the modern
equivalent of "food stamps"). Also good for socks, reading glasses and
seasonal stuff. At least two of our other dollar stores have closed in
the last month - can't afford shipping.

We have one store called Cheep Foods - "Where dents make cents" Not
everything is a dollar. Some stuff lower, some higher. They accept EBT
and have close out stuff and odd ball things. I bought my first bottle
of balsamic vinegar there over 5 years ago . . . for less than a buck!
They don't have produce or dairy or bakery - and I stick to cans, jars
& boxes that are just a little dented. Good brands like Near East and
Muir Organic.
Lynn in Fargo

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just about
> canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned beans
> there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent in W. TN also sells
> milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar why pay $3.99
> when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen
> treats, of course, and other frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the
> article mentions, sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>
> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up. And
> yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be caught
> dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what they do for
> the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Jill
>
>

Just had a Price Rite relocated nearby. It's almost as though I've died
and gone to heaven. They've got a fairly decent selection but the real
star is the produce department. They've got everything and at decent
prices.

Apples at 99 cents a pound, oranges 3 for $1.29 which adds up to about
1.7 lbs which makes the per pound price 75 cents a pound. Then of course
there's the white aspargus for $1.99 a bunch, iceberg lettuce is 99
cents, etc.

I can literally buy two days worth of food for under $30. If I did that
at the Stop & Shop that's about five miles down the road I'd be paying
double or more.

> jmcquown wrote:
>
>> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time.
>

You all must have very different Dollar Stores from the
ones in our area.

Most places that have "dollar" in their names here are
pretty much filled with plastic stuff made in China.

They also have one or two short aisles filled with
canned or boxed foods, but I've never seen one
with refrigerated food (milk, eggs) or fresh foods
that would spoil (vegetables, fruit, bread.)

Big Lots does have an interesting variety of
packaged foods, some that you can't find anywhere
else. My favorite is small boxes of Anna's Orange
Gingersnaps. Although the packaging is made to
look as though they are from Sweden, a closer look
says "Made in Canada." They are delicious and
$1 a box.

gloria p

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "jmcquown" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
>> or
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
>> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up. And
>> yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't be caught
>> dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying what they do for
>> the same stuff at the grocery store
>>
>> Jill
>
> Buck stores are great places to pick up coloring books and trinkets for
> visiting small children, too. And greeting cards and very large size
> gift bags.
>
> I changed my attitude about buying unrecognized brands when a Gedney
> product wound up in a buck store in this area. It's a *very* well
> known local brand and the chain that picked up the excess product was
> not supposed to stock it in this market and they did. That experience
> made me realize that there are many regional-distribution companies and
> just because I'm not familiar with the name doesn't mean the product is
> not a good one. Yeah, that was an eye-opener for me.
>
> Which reminds me -- I saw some wire hanging baskets and coco fiber
> liners at one * I might pick up a couple for planting in a month or so.
>
I also found some Gedney State Fair pickles at Big Lots. They are Olga's
B&B Mini Spears. After we ate the first jar, I went back and bought most
of what they had left! They were great. Gedney is not a brand that we
normally see here in lower AL, but I knew the name because of r.f.c.
Oh, they were $1.00 and worth every penny.

T <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
>> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
>> or
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>>
>> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
>> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
>> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
>> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
>> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?),
>> smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and other
>> frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions,
>> sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>>
>> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up.
>> And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably wouldn't
>> be caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught dead paying
>> what they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>>
>> Jill
>>
>>
>
> Just had a Price Rite relocated nearby. It's almost as though I've
> died and gone to heaven. They've got a fairly decent selection but the
> real star is the produce department. They've got everything and at
> decent prices.
>
> Apples at 99 cents a pound, oranges 3 for $1.29 which adds up to about
> 1.7 lbs which makes the per pound price 75 cents a pound. Then of
> course there's the white aspargus for $1.99 a bunch, iceberg lettuce
> is 99 cents, etc.
>
> I can literally buy two days worth of food for under $30. If I did
> that at the Stop & Shop that's about five miles down the road I'd be
> paying double or more.
>

two days worth of food for $30? wow, what a bargain....

Saerah

On Apr 9, 5:11*am, "jmcquown" <j_mcqu...@comcast.net> wrote:
> http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> or
>
> http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
>
> I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. *It's not just about
> canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of canned beans
> there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. *The one I frequent in W. TN also sells
> milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need shredded cheddar why pay $3.99
> when you can get it for $1.50?), smoked sausage, etc. *Ice cream & frozen
> treats, of course, and other frozen items like corn dogs <G> *And as the
> article mentions, sometimes I run across some surprising items.
>
> The savings for other household & personal care items really add up. *And
> yes, they sell name brands. *I know someone who probably wouldn't be caught
> dead in a dollar store. *I wouldn't be caught dead paying what they do for
> the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Jill


I love the Dollar Stores. And we actually have a 99 Cent Store. I
save quite a bit on gift wrapping supplies. And yes, I find pretty
good bargains on food items too. During the Winter, I found jars of
wonderful roasted peppers. I used these in Ratatouille, and they were
great.

I have a herd of grandkids, And the Dollar Stores help at Easter to
load those Easter baskets, or Christmas stockings, during holidays.

DK wrote:

> jmcquown wrote:
> > http://www.topix.com/content/kri/200...-store-gourmet
> > or
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/6k76h8
> >
> >I shop at a dollar store for food items all the time. It's not just
> about canned stuff (although I buy canned salmon and all sorts of
> canned beans there) or boxed pre-fab foodstuffs. The one I frequent
> in W. TN also sells milk, butter, some cheeses (hey, if you need
> shredded cheddar why pay $3.99 when you can get it for $1.50?),
> smoked sausage, etc. Ice cream & frozen treats, of course, and
> other frozen items like corn dogs <G> And as the article mentions,
> sometimes I run across some surprising items.
> >
> > The savings for other household & personal care items really add
> > up. And yes, they sell name brands. I know someone who probably
> > wouldn't be caught dead in a dollar store. I wouldn't be caught
> > dead paying what they do for the same stuff at the grocery store
>
> Let me guess - they are employed.

That doesn't follow.

There are people who confuse where they shop and what they pay with how
well they live.


--
Dan Goodman
"I have always depended on the kindness of stranglers."
Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Expire
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