50 Things You Should Always Buy at the Dollar Store

If you've ever had to pop in a drugstore when a headache strikes, you know those portable packs of ibuprofen are super expensive. At the Dollar Tree, you can get three 2-count packs for just $1. Stock up on them ahead of time, then store them in your purse for when emergencies hit. 

You get rid of the party favors after a day or two anyway, so they're not worth spending more than a dollar on. Plus, at some dollar stores you can get twice as many balloons for half the price of other popular retailers.

If you're willing to sacrifice the name brands, you can save up to 50% on these first-aid essentials.

For just a buck each, you can stock up on pint glasses like they have in pubs — and at a price like that, you won't have to worry if one gets broken during rowdier nights.

Blogger Bargain Babe swears by getting puzzles and board games for her kids at the dollar store. They're cheap and she can often times find licensed products like Disney. 

If you find yourself always losing these tiny hair accessories, stock up so you'll never run out. Dollar Tree has a 72-pack for you guessed it: $1.

One of bargain website Hip2Save's insiders says she's found books from popular authors like Nicholas Sparks and Janet Evanovich at her local Dollar Tree.

The masterminds behind the popular blog Krazy Coupon Lady say they've found Oroweat brand bread at Dollar Tree for more than a third of what it costs at the grocery store.

Another find from Krazy Coupon Lady: popular cleaning product brands like Tide and Clorox for just $1.

Frequent coffee drinkers, you're going to like this one: Dollar Tree offers nearly twice as many coffee filters for the same price you'd pay at other popular retailers. 

The Crazy Craft Lady says she gets her cookie sheets for her favorite DIY projects from her local dollar store so she can transform them into other useful kitchen items — like this magnetic board.

Bargain Babe swears by buying the off-brand cotton swabs from her local dollar store. She claims a 170-count box is over half the price and she barely notices a difference in quality. 

Beads, feathers, stickers, foam shapes and more are just $1 at dollar stores across the country. Just be sure to keep an eye out for small items if you have little ones — they could be a choking hazard. 

These kitchen staples get dirty fast, so stock up on a few back ups you can use for drying when the nicer towels are in the washer.

Dollar Tree has a selection of solid color mugs in every color under the sun — perfect for these adorable DIYs that might take a few tries to get right. 

According to Bargain Babe, you can get 130 inches of this tape for a fifth of the cost at popular supply stores. Hey, every penny counts! 

If you have kids in school, you know how easy it is for them to blow through a pack when prepping for a big test. One hundred cards are just 50 cents at Dollar General. You can also stock up on 12 packs for just $6. 

These aren't the best quality, but will offer a glow if the power goes out. Dollar Tree offers this mini variety that comes with a keychain hook for a buck.

The Simple Dollar swears by these super-cheap shoes. They can be used for college dorm showers, beach dwelling and more. Plus, she says her pair from Dollar Tree have lasted for years. 

File under things that are surprisingly expensive: Similar cotta pots that go for $10 or more at home improvement stores can be found at dollar stores across the country.