Click here for Mobile Site: http://m.cbs4denver.com
  • Font Size    
Advertising
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Deals, Duds To Look For At Dollar Stores

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Jun 27, 2009 7:37 am US/Mountain

Deals, Duds To Look For At Dollar Stores

 CBS News Interactive: Eye On The Economy
NEW YORK (CBS) ― As consumers continue to tighten their belts, sales at dollar stores are soaring. So much so, in fact, that many of the cheap goods chains are rushing to open new stores, and outfit old ones with a fresh look, CBS station WCBS-TV reports.

But even at a $1, are you getting the best bang for your buck on these products?

Parris Oseguera has been struggling to find ways to stretch her paycheck, so she's come to depend on her neighborhood dollar store.

While that's true for a number of items, the opposite is also the case for other products.

"Paper plates were twice as expensive in a regular grocery store," Miriam Arund, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute, says.

Arond says that just because something costs as little as a buck, it doesn't always mean it's the better buy.

One example is a package of sixteen 16-ounce cups, purchased at a dollar store for $1. The cost of each cup is about $0.06. But if you were to buy the package of 280 cups at a bulk store, you'd spend just $0.03 per cup, and you wouldn't have to stock up as often.

Other dollar store duds, say the experts – especially compared to warehouse clubs – include bottled water, sugar substitutes, foam plates, and some soaps and detergents. The reason? Sometimes the smaller amount that you buy for $1 ends up costing you more per unit than would a bulk purchase.

"If you are willing to buy generic paper goods, you can find them at a quarter of the price," Arund says.

There are still a number of dollar store deals, like crackers, cereal, and soda. Arond says name-brand cosmetics can also be a steal, but if the packaging doesn't look familiar, do not buy it – it may be counterfeit.

The Good Housekeeping Institute found savings of up to $4 on name-brand cleaning products, and savings of up to $3 on name-brand foods, like Cheerios and Wheat Thins.

If you buy food at the dollar store, always be sure to check the expiration dates.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Curious & Controversial News

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

About The World

Top News Stories

© MMX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.