Here in Arizona there is a chain of dollar stores called the $.99 Only Store. There are several very close to my house and they are a great place to shop at – for everything from Fresh Produce to Organic Items.
Between the four of us, we visit there almost every single day.
Have you ever shopped there? If you haven’t, they have FRESH, good quality produce, sometimes even organic produce, for just $.99. In most cases you may not always get the same items two days in a row ~ but if you are open minded, you might just come out with some stellar deals.
The best time to go is around 10 a.m. – it’s still rather early so selection is widely available, and traffic isn’t too heavy so they aren’t too picked over yet.
Here are some tips we have for shopping this chain of stores:
Understand How they Operate
The $.99 store is much similar to the Dollar Tree in that they often receive shipments of brand name items that may have been in a larger supermarket but weren’t easy to sell.
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese often puts out a “holiday” package of Macaroni in the winter months ~ that little snowman on the box isn’t an easy sell in February, when the focus is on Valentine’s & Easter. Thus, the Macaroni will get boxed up and shipped to a distributor, and then filter down to the $.99 store level where it will sit on the shelf 2/$1 until it’s gone. And it’s not expired either – but if you can’t get past a Snowman on the box in April, then that $.50 box won’t be a deal for you.
Buy Brands you Know
Once you understand how the store is structured, try to reach for the brands you know versus those you don’t. Believe it or not, there are a LOT of “Brand” names at the $.99 store.
You can find everything from Oven Ready Lasagna, to Barilla Whole Grain Pasta, Stonyfield Organic, Nature’s Own and even Alexia. Although availability of items from store to store can sometimes vary, in most cases what you will find an abundance of at one, you will likely find at another store – as long as it’s that day or the next.
Nature’s Own Bread is always an item you will find for $.99 – delivered fresh daily – this is in most cases CHEAPER than the regular grocery store even with a coupon. Who needs to clip a coupon when you can just pop in and grab a loaf from the $.99 store?
Get to know your store and when their stock is delivered & you will get first hand pick at stuff as it’s loaded onto shelves.
Check Expiration Dates
In most cases everything is well within the expiration at the $.99 store ~ but always check, just to be sure. You might find some dairy items to be within a week or sooner from their expiration date – so it’s important to consume it quickly.
Check out the Kids Items
Always head to the $.99 store for little things to keep the kids occupied on car trips – they have SO many neat, inexpensive educational workbooks you can pair with colored pencils or crayons.
Use those educational workbooks and books to make fun travel pack for the kids exclusively for car trips and you won’t break the bank.
Be Open Minded
Need Space Bags? The $.99 store has them – Pillow Size in fact, and they are amazing. Need Foam Board for your child’s school project? They have that too.
They also have fresh produce, & organic items, and rugs for your kitchen – ALL for $.99 – if you aren’t brand loyal, it might be a great way to replenish your cabinet without spending a ton of money or clipping lots of coupons.
Use your Shopping Apps
The $.99 store does not accept coupons, but you CAN use some shopping apps there ~ like Checkout51, and MobiSave. In recent trips, we have scored FREE Pasta, FREE Peanuts, FREE Pop Tarts, and much more. The key to using apps is to redeeming those offers immediately after you are done shopping – before you get too busy and forget.
Follow a Savings Blog
Not many blogs shop the $.99 store – because they don’t accept coupons, but remember that you don’t have to shop WITH coupons to save. In fact, you can save JUST as much if not more by using shopping apps and just making better choices.
With that said, follow a blog that highlights the deals they uncover each week – so you have a greater chance of getting those deals too.
A few things we love picking up:
Spices and Herbs. What costs $3 or more at Grocery stores are ONLY $.99 – they have a HUGE selection. If you aren’t selective, you can try for much less.
Wrapping Paper. Why spend a ton when you can go to the $.99 store? It’s going to get ripped up anyways and the recipient will never know you went cheap on paper.
Laundry Items. Bleach, and Vinegar are both $.99 – a great deal compared to name brand Clorox at the regular gorcery store which runs $1.69 or more. The $.99 store always has it for $.99 and it’s a 128 oz. Gallon… not a smaller jug. Find Zote (for making homemade detergent), and cheap Household Cleaners too.
Project Making Supplies. Most of our kids use Foam Board at some point for school projects – head to the $.99 store and find a huge selection for just $.99 – not to mention a wide assortment of other craft/office items as well.
(Do you shop at the $.99 store too? If you do, what do you usually pick up?)
Just an FYI. I went into the store located at Baseline and Power the other day. When I got to the register I had several things ring up at $2.00 a piece. The clerk said over a month ago they changed their pricing and now they have things that are more than a dollar. So if you see a price tag on it, it is no longer just a dollar. It is whatever price the tag says.
Yes, you are right. That’s why they don’t call it the $.99 “only” store now, like they used to.
Every week we post deals on the blog that are $.99 and $1.99. But that’s the store I go to, and yesterday, Farmland Bacon was $1.99, but all my other items were $.99.