I've never been a bougie person. While my family was lucky enough to have food on the table every night, we weren't exactly rich. I grew up knowing how to make things stretch and how to be satisfied with off-brand items. Our philosophy was if it works and you feel good, who cares where it came from and how much it cost?
The financial situation me and my immediate family are currently in doesn't have me shopping at Chanel, but I am in a position to buy that cute mug from Target for no reason (and boy, do I indulge in that). But the truth is, no matter how financially stable I am, there are some things I will never not buy at the dollar store.
I'm not saying you can get anything you could ever want there, but there are some basic things you shouldn't waste even extra cents on, especially if you aren't specifically invested in a certain product. So here are the things I will never be too good to pick up at the dollar store.
1. Party Supplies
As the mom of a 4 year-old who thinks of his birthday as a national holiday (OK, who really doesn't?) every birthday party we've hosted has been themed. What I was particularly guilty of the first year we were celebrating was springing for all the party-store paper products. Listen to me and listen to me carefully: Your kids do not care about everything being Pinterest-perfect. You can save so much money by buying only a select few themed party items and the rest color matching generic things like plastic ware and tablecloths.
2. Gift Wrap
After spending at least a paycheck on holiday gifts throughout the years, the last thing I am about to do is buy fancy wrapping paper. This is honestly true of any gift I purchase. The dollar store has bags and wrapping paper that work just great for the two seconds it's on the gift. Please do not waste your money on something another person is literally going to rip to shreds.
3. Cleaning Supplies
Now this may raise a few eyebrows and I have to admit I understand that initial reaction. When it comes to cleaning, you want to be sure that you are using brands you feel are safe and up to your standards. But I must say that when it comes to cleaning cloths or brushes, there's no reason to splurge. My dollar store bucket will work just as good as that Bed Bath & Beyond one, and unless you are a professional cleaner I promise you do not need a bucket that costs more than a dollar.
4. Class Prizes
Listen, I am all for making things magical for kids, but I'm not going into debt over it. The dollar store Valentine's Day cards and the Halloween stickers that are just as beloved as the ones from Target. Kids do not need, nor do they care about, high-end erasers or pencils.
5. Bathroom Items
For things that are unavoidably single use, like cotton balls and Q-tips, it just makes sense to use the ones from the dollar store. But going even beyond that, things like toothbrushes, floss, hairbrushes, and tissues are all things you absolutely can get by just fine with a non-name brand thing.
This isn't to say that quality doesn't count.
But rather to point out that sometimes living in a consumer society tricks us into believing we need to be spending a lot if we want anything good out of it. But generally, if I am wiping my mouth with it and tossing it into a basket, I really don't need it to be a luxury experience. I'd rather dedicate a small amount of funds to silly things than a lot of them. It all adds up over time, so these small things might not feel like a huge impact, but overall, they certainly make a difference.
