Frugal shopping at Dollar General

[Kaleva]

with the easing of COVID19 restrictions, I'm babysitting again and got the money to restock. I had 3 $5 off if I spent at lest $25 Dollar General coupons good for yesterday only. Friday I did an inventory of stock and wrote down what was needed. Early Saturday morning went to the DG website and priced the items. With that info, I made up 3 separate shopping lists where the total was at or just over $25.

I was at the store a little past 8 when it opened. My first trip in the total costs was $26.90 and that included $1.80 for deposit on the Pepsi. With the coupon, net cost was $21.90. After i put that into the car, I went in for the 2nd trip and the total cost was $25.15 and with the coupon, net cost was $20.15. My 3rd trip in the total cost was exactly $25 and so with the coupon, net cost was $20.00.

So, rather then spending $77.05, I ended up spending $62.05 and I got 3 more $5 off for every $25 spent coupons, one attached to each receipt, good for next Saturday the 27th.

To get these coupons, one needs to buy something from the store anytime during the previous week as the coupon is attached to the receipt. If I happen to be in town, I run in and purchase a needed item that costs about a dollar. Stuff like a package of DG shaving razors, soap and stuff like that. Most of the time, I just need one coupon as I don't plan on spending much more then $25 but for those times I need more, I'll go into the store 2-3 or even 4 times to buy cheap but needed items. Or I get them like I did yesterday. Went in 3 times with 3 coupons and ended up with 3 more coupons good for next Saturday.

I've been doing this for awhile now. Using coupons to stretching out the babysitting money and keeping the home pretty well stocked.

[pnwest]

1. I love me some Dollar General. But.....

I’ll finish the “but” in a moment.

A shiny new DG opened near my home, and it saves me a 30 mile, 30 minute drive (and infinite sanity) to go to Walmart. I can get EVERYTHING I need in Health and Beauty, paper goods, pet care and kitchen staples - at prices to rival Wallyworld.

BUT, I’ve begun noticing that their packaging is juuust slightly smaller than elsewhere. For instance, a 14 lb bag of Beneful dog food at Walmart is about $13.50 - the similarly priced bag at DG is only 12.7 lbs. Bought my shampoo and when I brought it home it was the slightest bit smaller than the Walmart one. Didn’t even look at the ounces because I realized at that point it was a trend.

I accept it because a) it is still less expensive than other stores, b) it saves me a 30-min drive, and c) it saves me from having to brave the wilds of Walmart. But be aware that we’re not getting the same amount of product in some cases.

[mobeau69]

4. Yes, a lot of things in identical looking packaging but smaller.

[Shermann]

6. Walmart generally does a great job of driving down cost

...but I feel like they are stealthily reducing quantities sometimes as well. Stiffing the customer is the WRONG way to reduce cost.

I'm not keeping close tabs or anything, but I know a gallon of bleach hasn't been a gallon in a long time. And even less so as of 2021.

[mobeau69]

7. I remember when we bought coffee in 1 lb. cans.

Now it’s all different weights below 16 ozs.

[cannabis_flower]

12. Most 7 oz cans of tuna

are now 5.25 oz

[mobeau69]

14. How skinny can they make cereal boxes? LOL

[Shermann]

15. I checked my pantry, mine are 5.0 oz nt

[panader0]

8. 5 gallon buckets of paint or roof coating are now 4.5 gallons.

[Kaleva]

16. I haven't notices any difference in quantities.

A 15.5 oz can of Clover Valley kidney beans is the same as a 15.5 oz can of Great Value (Walmart) kidney beans and so on. Walmart Great Value tuna comes in 5 oz cans as does Dollar General Clover Valley tuna.

I usually buy Purina dog food in the 20 lb bag. It's actually a dollar cheaper for the same at Walmart but when one factors in the 20% discount when using the $5 off if one spends $25 then the 20 lb bag is a $1.60 cheaper at Dollar General then it is at Walmart.

Also for me, it takes 1 gallon of gas to make a round trip to DG compared to 3 3/4 gallons for a round trip to Walmart.

[TlalocW]

2. Do ya know about the penny-out items?

Things drop down to just a penny. My sister - the Coupon Queen - routinely hits several DGs to get the items for herself, family members, friends, and charities because otherwise the items are just resent back to the warehouse and normally destroyed. She's showed up at my place to show off her latest hauls, and she's literally had dozens of kid pajamas, stuffed toys, etc. that cost her less than $5 that she's donated to Ronald McDonald House and other groups. It's crazy what she finds. My sister-in-law and I currently have several packages of luncheon meat and hot dogs in my freezer that she just found.

TlalocW

[samplegirl]

3. This is actually a good idea

As most people forget about their coupon.
Most of what I buy there is Kleenex and household stuff.

[patricia92243]

5. At Doller Tree everything is always a dollar. Don't know if this would be cheaper or not.

[jimfields33]

9. I love dollar tree

I do a lot of shopping at dollar tree. It’s incredible how much stuff is there now. For example, a box of 6 pieces of Texas toast for a dollar! They’ve seriously improved their inventory.

[cannabis_flower]

13. I buy

Liquid body wash and shampoo at Dollar Tree since my husband uses way more of it than necessary!

[Kaleva]

17. Dollar Tree is good but the nearest one to me is 45 miles away.

[3Hotdogs]

10. Dolar Tree.... I got a bunch of reading glasses or $1 each.

[AwakeAtLast]

18. Me, too!

They are the most comfortable ones I have found!

I bought enough to keep in both of my classrooms, a pair for home and one for my purse. I don't have to search for them!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. Thanks for heads up!!!!