What's Typical at the 99 Cent Store?

Since I have been gathering my thoughts to write my magnum opus on stylish pennypinching, I was talking to a friend about it and my interview - She said that it was too much trouble to go to the 99 Cent Store, because things weren't always there!

I thought about it and replied that certain things were most always there.  I had seen a list on, I think the Hillybilly Housewife, about which foods were always inexpensive (beans, eggs, cheese, collard greens, etc.) and I thought about what I typically get at the 99 Cent Store.

There is usually: shampoo, soap of all kinds, mousse and hair products, bubble bath and body scrub, asperin and vitamins (they vary).  Cotton balls and tooth brushes - hair brushes - sox (now they have men's dress sox) - barrettes and hair goods.  Lip glosses - Basic sewing supplies - Creams and lotions. 

Plastic goods - little figurines - cleaning supplies (great deals there) - party and season holiday supplies, gift bags. Bottled water and soda. 

Reading glasses (recently), sunglasses - all sorts of staionery supplies.  Canned goods and sauces of all kinds - Bit and pieces of hardware - Little potten houseplants.  Paper products - napkins and paper towels and toilet paper and facial tissues.

This is only skimming the surface.  What did I get today for my $27?

• 4 pairs of reading glasses (with prices of $18/19 dollars on them!
• 2 tubes of Musicle/Joint Gel ($3/4 a piece)
• Barrette (@ $3/4)
• 2 small spray bottles of Dana cologne ($4/5 each)
• 2 jars of cocoa butter cream ($3/4 each)
• 2 jars of eye cream ($7 each)
• 6 packages of prunes ($2/3 each)
• 2 spices ($4 each)
• a figurine (@ $3)
• 4 little ceramic gift tages (@$3 each)
• 2 LED clip lights (@$4 each)
• a hands-free ear hook for my new mobile phone (have to have them or get ticketed using the mobile in the car soon)@$5

If my arithmetic serves me well - considering that the reading glasses were a major value - That's almost $200 worth of stuff for less than $30! 

Now, there is the problem of being an impulse buyer - I knew a lady who used to say it wasn't the 99 Cent Store - it was the $40 store - because she spent $40 everytime she went in there!  But, if you wait to buy as much as you can at a store like the 99 Cent store - you will be saving a LOT of $ from your trips to the drug store, etc. 

OK, the values vary.  And sometimes merchandise comes in waves, and you had better take advantage of it NOW. (For example, they had a whole shipment of Hanes bras, just the kind I like without underwires, a $6/7 value, all for 99 Cents each! So I bought a dozen....and never run out of bras now.) Ditto some colored shampoo and conditioner (I am still working on a stash from 2 years ago...) So you have to be a careful shopper - I got duped once by some Chinese knockoff deodorant for a national brand, that just was lousy - but I don't make mistakes like that often.... 

And considering I CAN spend $29 but not almost $200 - makes it all worthwhile - no?

4 Comments | Post Feedback

Talking Over Frugality

We Girls Comparing Notes c.doverpublishing.com

i can totally relate i go in there well we dont have a 99 cents store we have dollar tree which is worse because we have a nice one that is huge with like freezer foods too and i have a ritual i do how i go up what aisle first etc but i find anything to garden stuff i buy almost all cleaners in ther anything la awesome is best!!! even the laundry stuff all my works cleaners etc i buy crafts tuff my preschool teacher stuff sometimes i used to take just 5o so i knew i couldnt go over but now mine accepts my debit card yiiiikes!!! we just got a bunch of flip flops we decorated in there with flowers all paty stuff comes from there as well so i know what ya mean i could do alot with the decor stuff as well!!!! lol

I have been to those, too - when I was back in NJ, I think - and yup, they had great deals - Great party stuff! Still kick myself that I didn't buy a rose-decorated umbrella I saw then - There is a lot of similar merchandise in those stores - always good for gift bags, wrapping, and so on!

i am addicted to dollar stores heck dollar and thrifts are the place i most shop after that its walmart i have become so cheap knowing i can get good things for a lot less!! i wish i had the 99 cent store though we went to one in fla and i got alot of stuff!!!!

been there done than :) I love these stores

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