> wrote in message
...
> Food, spices, gadgets, cookware, disposables?
>
> Cheri mentioned the Dollar Tree in the off-topic thread, which made me
> wonder if I could put dollar stores on topic.
>
> There is also a Big Lots store near my house that I have been tempted to
> check out.

I got a few Betty Crocker kitchen gadgets at Dollar Tree but that was a
while back. Not sure if they have them now. They have nice small chunks of
Land O'Lakes cheddar, and also shelf stable milk that is a super bargain!
Their bean with bacon soup is also very good but one can is several
servings. Since I am the only one who eats it, it's just too big for me
unless I want leftovers. They are the only place in this area that sells
sugar free Italian ices.

Big Lots has a weekly ad. Not sure what it has this week. I don't often
check it. I have been buying small cans of sugar free pears but they were
out the last time I was there. I sometimes get paper goods. I will not buy
dish soap there again. Bought some Palmolive there once and it did not want
to rinse off! I rinsed and rinsed and whatever you put on the plate still
tasted of soap. Bought some jarred pork tamales once that Angela liked. I
didn't. Very greasy. Recently got some good whole wheat pasta imported
from Italy although they had that same brand in the regular pasta as well.
At times they carry gluten free past and cereal. Got some 100 calorie packs
of stuff (can't remember what all it was) for much cheaper than the grocery
store. Often find good deals on canned vegetables and they do have good
deals on canned soups but we don't eat a lot of that. Have gotten odd
brands of sugar free sports drinks. Olive oil and olives. Got various
storage containers for the kitchen. Kitchen towels. Cool looking broom
with a leopard print. Decorative items.

If you have a Tuesday Morning, they often have good deals on decorative
items, other kitchen stuff and even foods. They tend to sell gourmet type
foods.

Burlington Coat Factory is another place that has good deals on kitchen
stuff. They do sell some food. Not a lot. I got a spaghetti server for 99
cents a couple of weeks ago.

Have also gotten deals at TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshall's. Nothing recently
for the kitchen but I didn't really look in those areas because I didn't
need anything. They also sell food but not a lot.

Our local dollar store did what many did and tried to change into a party
store. It didn't make it. I quit buying food there when they sold me some
badly expired hominy. They use the old fashioned price tickets and put them
over the expiration dates. I picked the price off to give it to my mother
and wound up not giving it to her. Ick!

If you have a Family Dollar in your area, they are great! Sadly, we don't.
But they had one in NY. One Christmas we bought all sorts of glass items
for gifts. Daughter and I were doing glass etching that year. We did some
to hold dog biscuits, others to hold pasta and dried beans, or even salt and
pepper shakers. I also bought a lot of food there. Canned goods, olives,
stuff that appealed to my daughter when she was younger. Can't remember now
what all I bought there but quite a lot. They're great for all kinds of
storage containers, laundry baskets, even cleaning supplies.

Target, although not a dollar store has good prices on a lot of foods and
kitchen things. If you get (and use) their Red Card (debit card), you will
save 5% on every order and always get free shipping. Plus they just started
the Cartwheel program. This applies to things all over the store including
food and their Cafe. You have to register with it then add whatever items
you want to your cart. If you have a Smart Phone, you can do this as you
shop. I just saved on paper plates but not sure if that one is still going.
Also drinks, popcorn (although the machine was broken so I couldn't partake)
and other things from the Cafe. You merely open the app on your Smart Phone
and have the cashier scan the code that appears when you check out. But you
don't need a Smart Phone. You can do this ahead of time at home and print a
code from your computer.

I also save at World Market. I mainly buy foods there. I particularly like
their spices.