Weekly Tip #19 – Stretching Your Christmas Buck at Dollar Tree

I don’t know about you, but even though I still have my job, this Christmas feels extra tight.

I stopped in to the Dollar Store yesterday on my annual holiday shopping trip.  Gasp.  No, I don’t do my actual shopping there, but check out how I save money on a few annual necessities.

Gift Bags

Dollar Tree has an awesome selection of gift bags.  They have big ones, small ones, really small ones.  The really small ones are usually 2/$1.00.   The ones shown here are from Dollar Tree, but they have very nice, high quality design gift bags.   Gift bags are generally kind of costly for what they are, even at a store like Wal*Mart or Target.  Certainly more than $1.00.

Holiday Tins

If you bake cookies, make fudge, peanut brittle, gingerbread cookies or any kind of baked goods these tins are PERFECT for gift giving.  I got the idea from a friend of mine who makes cookies every year and gives them in these tins.  LOVE THESE TINS.  $1.00.

Gift Wrap

I saw A LOT of people with wrapping paper in their baskets and I might have considered it if I was not a wrapping paper freak and I already have enough to last me the next 10 years.  No, really, it’s true.

Gift Tags

They have a 100 ct package of gift tags for $1.00.  They aren’t the fanciest thing in the world, but they definitely are not cheesy either.  The kids don’t see anything beyond the “TO” name anyway, right?

Tissue Paper and Bows

Tissue paper, also another thing that is taken for granted during the holidays is available for $1.00.  If you’re buying those $1.00 gift bags don’t forget the tissue paper.  They also have packages of bows.  I didn’t catch how many bows were in the package though.

Candle Holders

The Hurricane style candle holders can be used for a nice CHEAP decoration if you put a few Christmas color ornament bulbs in the.  Or a string of lights.  How do I know?  I have a *few*.

Stocking Stuffers

They have some great things for stuffing the stocking.  Be choosy though, some things can seem like a great deal but can be had for less elsewhere.  I always pick up a few packages of candy, a bouncy ball or two or three and so on.

Tablecloths

I love to bake, but I’m not a glamorous baker like Rachel Ray, or Martha Stewart.  When I bake I am covered in flour, sugar, especially powdered sugar… and so is the rest of my kitchen.  If you know me at all, you know I don’t like messes.  Sooo… I pick up a few tablecloths to spread out to lessen the stress of creating a mess.  When I’m able to fold up the mess and toss it out, it is much less stressful.

A few other observations I had were that they have ice scrapers.  It’s always nice to have an extra ice scraper on hand in the car.   I don’t know where the scrapers go, but have you ever had to scrape your windshield with your hand?  You won’t do it twice.

And what about greeting cards?  They have greeting cards.

They have floral trimmings too.  If you’re crafty you can be very creative for cheap!

And last but not least, they have A TON of Christmas ornaments and decor.  They had Christmas place mats (as seen here in my Chex mix recipe post) for $1.00.  Even if you don’t use place mats they are a good for decorating.

You won’t just save a buck you will stretch a lot bucks.  Think of it this way, if you were to purchase 5 gift bags at $1.00 each rather than $2.50 there is $7.50 right off the bat!  And then you need tissue paper for the bags, figure a savings of $5.00 there and you’re already upwards of $10.00.  $10 that could surely be used better on a gift, right?

Happy Dollar Tree shopping.  Did you see last week’s tip on avoiding the tempting 5% cash back credit card offers?

Jill