Don’t sleep on the dollar store! With food prices up 10% from last spring, Wisconsin shoppers are getting creative about where they go for groceries.
DID YOU KNOW? More than one in five Americans buys groceries at their local dollar store!
According to this study, dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers, expanding at an unmatched pace, especially in rural areas. To lure shoppers, Dollar General and Dollar Tree (which also owns Family Dollar) have been adding more refrigeration units and expanding their grocery options to include healthier foods and fresh produce.
While it’s important to point out that most products no longer cost just a dollar (yes, even at the “dollar store”), you can still save between $200-$300/month by shopping there if you know what to buy.
The key, according to the personal finance site GoBankingRates, is to compare unit prices. Dollar store products almost always cost less because you’re getting less. Sometimes, it’s a better deal, but sometimes it is not.
15 Foods to Buy at the Dollar Store
- Baking Mixes
- Candy
- Canned Beans
- Chicken Broth
- Coffee
- Condiments
- Frozen Fruits
- Frozen Vegetables
- Quick-Cooking Oats
- Pasta
- Ramen Noodles
- Rice
- Snacks (Chips, Popcorn, Pretzels, etc.)
- Spices
- Tea
But sometimes, $1 is too much to spend, even at the dollar store!
TIP: Name brands or individually-packaged products are usually not a better deal at the dollar store.
For example, while a package of 6 instant oatmeal packets only costs $1.25 at Dollar Tree, you can get 10 for $1.57 at Walmart– paying 10 cents/ounce compared to 20 cents at the dollar store. (It sounds like spare change, but the savings quickly add up!)
10 Things to Never Buy at the Dollar Store
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Vegetables (besides beans)
- Cereal
- Cleaning Products (especially brand-name)
- Laundry Detergent (especially brand-name)
- Pain Relievers (Tylenol/Motrin)
- Salt
- Seasoned or Long-Grain Rice
- Soap (bars and liquid)
- Toothpaste
Find a Dollar Store Near You
Many dollar stores, but Dollar Generals specifically, have focused on opening new stores in “food deserts”– rural areas where grocery stores are not as accessible. This is also true in Wisconsin.
Right now, the Badger State is home to hundreds of Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar locations, at least one in each of the state’s 72 counties.
Dollar General Store Locations in Wisconsin
Dollar Tree Store Locations in Wisconsin
Family Dollar Store Locations in Wisconsin
FUN FACT: Madison is home to the state’s first DGX location [pictured below.] A smaller, urban version of Dollar General, the 5,700-square-foot store sells fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen and refrigerated food, pet supplies, health and beauty products, school supplies, and more. It opened in late 2020 on the UW-Madison campus.
Christina Lorey A former producer, reporter, and anchor for TV stations in Madison and Moline, Illinois, Christina has been a coach and mentor for Girls on the Run and has organized events for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
