When I was growing up, one of my favorite places to shop with my allowance was the 99-cent store. They had signs emblazoned with “All items 99-Cents All the Time!” Of course they did have other items on the tippy-top shelves that were more than 99-cents, which made us kids question (and get no answers) about the giant sign specifying “everything”. At least we gave it a good effort trying to convince them to sell us the ‘top shelf’ items for 99-cents, even if it didn’t work.
Over the years, many other stores similar to the 99-cent store started popping up: Dollar Store, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, to name a few. My favorite is Family Dollar. Sure, it’s not a “All items 99-cents” store, but it sure has a great variety of items at very reasonable prices when you’re on a budget.
A Family Dollar opened up near us recently, Princess Nagger loves tagging along whenever I do go there, because she always finds cool stuff she’d like me to get for her. I like it because it’s conveniently close, and much better for the ‘quick and easy’ shopping trips when I can thankfully avoid the alternate (read: Wal*Mart).
We got an early Christmas present in the form of a $50 Gift Card for Family Dollar from Mom Central. Since Princess Nagger was such a trooper getting two of her baby teeth pulled (since her persnickety adult teeth decided to grow in behind her baby teeth), I promised she could ‘help’ me spend the Gift Card.
She put up with the ‘boring’ part of our little shopping spree, like the necessities we had run out of – garbage bags and ziploc bags, and then it was time to check out the Christmas aisles and see what we might ‘need’. But her favorite was the toy section where she studiously examined everything and picked out a few things to get for herself. Her favorite of all her affordable loot was the toy hamster:
We picked up a few things (Cars 2) for Little Dude, and she couldn’t wait to start playing with her new pet. She has Zhu Zhu pets, and this one gave them a run for the money. Right now Family Dollar has hundreds of toys for $5 and $10:
The selection varies from store to store, but all of them have the $5 toys that kids will love – they’re Princess Nagger approved. If you’re on a tight budget, you can find everything you need for reasonable prices at Family Dollar – everything from cleaning supplies to toiletries to clothing to household items to food and more.
Which brings me to this weeks question(s):
Do you have a Family Dollar where you live? Where do you shop to save money?
Have a great weekend!
.
Link up if you like – that way I can visit you easily, especially if you’re a new follower (just please oh please leave a comment when you do!). You can be participating in any (or none) of the hops listed below – it’s a Free-For-All!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.
.
Happy Aloha Friday!
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question…nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!
Follow Friday 40 and Over
.
There are a lot of fabulous bloggers who are 40, so I’m participating in Follow Friday 40 and Over – please be sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come check out your site and follow you, too!
More Friday Follow Fun
.
.
.
Note: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Family Dollar and received a gift card to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. See my Disclosure Policy here.
We have Big Lots and The Dollar Tree…so cool! I love shopping there!
Hugs
SueAnn
There are a few dollar stores where I live, and I love going in them. My best find was like a million hair bands for $2!
Hilary would like you to read ..Follow Friday Four Fill In Fun Blog Hop – week 41
We have 2 Family Dollars near us. The first one wasn’t too impressive, however, the new one does look good. I went in early fall to pick up some birthday party decorations. It’s in the same shopping center as Goodwill so I really have no excuse not to go. 🙂
I love the toy pet hamster! I should get that for my kids as a gag gift.
2 of my kids have had adult teeth come in behind the baby teeth. I was surprised because I had never seen that before.
Barb would like you to read ..christmas dessert: yule log
Hello, I am your newest follower from the Stalk Hop. I am looking forward to stalking you! 🙂 I would love the stalk back.
Katie – Saving and Sharing It
http://www.savingandsharingit.blogspot.com
We do have a family dollar close to me and I go there whenever they have great sales on food items that I can combine with a coupon. I’ve also buy some household cleaning supplies. I also love the dollar tree for cleaning supplies.
Jennifer Lachman would like you to read ..What They Want vs. What They Get
I am so lucky at my new home (small city) because I have a Family Dollar, A Dollar General And a Dollar Tree all really close by! Love, love, love them All. And yes, it helps be to avoid the local Wal-mart at least 75% of the time. 🙂
Coreen Trost would like you to read ..Half Full & Aloha Friday Question!
We have a few different dollar stores. I will always look for bargains.
Cheryl “Mash” would like you to read ..Guest Author and Review A Whisper To A Scream by Karen Wojcik Berner
my mom just bought that hampster for my daughter but she ordered it off lakeside.
i do have one where i live and visit it almost every week
chantal would like you to read ..blog hop friday
Dollar stores can be fun. I’m following you from Friday Follow over 40 at Java’s. Please visit my blog and I hope you will follow me back. Have a Merry Christmas!
Patrice
http://www.everydayruralty.com
Yes we do have those stores. I tend to buy on line. I just can not stand the stores lately. they seem to make it to hard to find things. I guess I have had enough of small spaces and unhappy folks at the Malls and stores. I do enjoy the strip town like stores, even though they tend to be crowds also.
Auntie E would like you to read ..Getting House Ready
I don’t know if I have a Family Dollar or not, but I am looking for a dollar store right now. I need a miniature top hat and a friend suggested the dollar store.
Anne would like you to read ..Allergies in a Small Town
How fun! Can’t beat shopping when it’s affordable.
Your memories from growing up made me chuckle, as my brother worked at the Everything’s A Dollar store when it first opened not far from us (he was about 16)… and he used to come home shaking his head at the number of people who asked how much things cost. Everything’s A Dollar!! 🙂
Xenia would like you to read ..Roylco Straws and Connectors {Review, Giveaway & Coupon Code}
Hi, thanks for the linky. We love the dollar stores, although we have not been to Family Dollar lately. My little ones love the dollar stores and always want to come with me when I go to one. Cute hamster wheel, my daughters would love it. I am a new follower on GFC and added you to my circles!
Jessica
http://arebutterfliesticklish.blogspot.com/
We do have something similar, but I only get to town once a month. That’s probably a good thing or I would be spending a lot there.
We have both Family Dollar and Dollar General. I think I save the most money shopping at Walmart (for groceries, cleaning supplies, and general merchandise).
Kari would like you to read ..Aloha Friday – Holiday Greetings
One Christmas I did a Dollar Tree gift exchange with several friends. We all bought one dollar gift for each other and had a big party to exchange them. It was a fun time with lots of amusing little toys to go around — and very affordable!
I just found / followed you via Friendly Friday. Here’s my link – if you get a chance pop over and say hello!
Brooke
http://cupcakecucumber.blogspot.com
Brooke would like you to read ..Boredom is a Blessing
Yes we do have one but I rarely visit. I usually visit the dollar tree store because they are so close by.
So glad you got some great deals! And that the Princess approves 🙂
I need to go visit though to get some stockings stuff for the kids.
JamericanSpice would like you to read ..Tell Me Once Again, Who I Am To You
No, we don’t have that here in Canada, at least not in our little town. For me to save money, I buy second-hand off local listings on a regulas basis. I sell there too.
Happy Holidays!
Menopausal New Mom would like you to read ..Aloha Friday – Blog Motivation Needed!
We have one but, it’s not in a great part of town.
Have a great weekend!
Harriet would like you to read ..Buying anything for yourself??
We have some sort of dollar store nearby. I don’t remember which one. I don’t go there because Favorite Young Man pointed it out to me soon after I moved here and said, Do NOT go there. I figured he had a reason because he’s never told me that before or since, so I do NOT go there.
Love,
Lola
Lola would like you to read ..HOW SMOKING POT GOT ME UNINVITED TO THE HOMECOMING DANCE
There are quite a few $2 shops here where we live but I seldom shop there unless there are things which I really need to buy.
Dominique would like you to read ..5QF, Fill in Friday and Saturday Memes
Hey Stacy! Thanks for joining Feed Me Friday! In answer o your question, we actually do have a Family Dollar very near us. In fact, it is the closest store to us. I haven’t been there since we moved, but I’ll have to make a visit.
Amy T. would like you to read ..Low Entry Giveaways Ending Today!
We do have a family dollar… but I rarely go in there. I love Amazon for finding deals. : )
MSRheinlander would like you to read ..#Aloha Friday…Favorite Holiday Tradition??
Unfortunately, no. I wish we did, though! I’ve done a few reviews for them and they have some awesome products!
I love the dollar store! The only thing is I don’t go there with my son – he’d be grabbing everything he saw! I go there to save money, not spend $100 on a 100 things! LOL!
Jennifer would like you to read ..Date Night Without Kids: Play By Play
love the dollar tree and family dollar store both great places to shop I am a follower of yours and would love to invite you over to see me and my aloha friday question http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2011/12/aloha-friday.html