Bathroom Items You Should Be Buying At Dollar Stores To Save Money

Everyone likes to save money, and everyone uses the bathroom, so when it comes to items we stock our necessary room with, finding good deals is a real score. While there are certain hygiene products you don't want to skimp on (like a good quality moisturizer — don't skimp on your skin!), but there are some things we all have in our bathrooms that are actually just fine buying store brands of, or more specifically dollar store brands, in order to keep your household budget from getting out of hand.

If you are trying to save money, then like many, shopping may be one of your biggest demons. And while there are plenty of things you can cut back on (do you really need the latest phone model every year?), there are some things you simply can't do without if you want life to run smoothly and many of those items are household goods that we use on a regular basis. We're talking cotton swabs and washcloths, to be more specific, and they are two items that no well-stocked bathroom should be without.

They serve a multitude of purposes, and every well-stocked bathroom should include a supply of these little cotton swabs and washcloths, but spending more money at a big brand store won't really make much of a difference. You can buy a 375-count name brand pack of cotton swabs at a big-name retailer for roughly $3.40, while you can score a 300-count discount brand at a dollar store for approximately $1.25. You'll find equally great deals on washcloths, with Target charging $5 for an 8-pack set of kids' washcloths, while Dollar Tree charges $1.25 for a similar pack containing 5 towels. These savings really add up and can make a big difference in the household budget.

Target, the popular big-box retailer that has made quite a name for itself, ranks as the 8^th largest retailer in the country. With nearly 2,000 locations covering more than 1300 cities nationwide, it's no surprise that the retail giant's annual revenue in 2022 was $106 billion, but while Target stores see an average of 2 million shoppers a day with 64% of Americans reporting they shop there regularly, dollar stores are certainly holding their own and giving big name retailers a run for their money.

According to Statista, an online data collection site, 35% of Americans reported shopping at dollar stores at least a few times a year in 2021, with nearly 20% reporting they shop there once a month and 10% making it a weekly habit. The most common items shopped for at these discount-style stores were household goods and beauty items.

Other studies ranked these numbers even higher, with a Consumer Reports survey finding that 88% of Americans shop at dollar stores at least sometimes, which indicates that the popularity of dollar stores is undeniable. According to this eye-opening survey, about 75% of the population lives within five miles of a dollar store while only 60% live that close to a hospital. With such an overwhelming presence across the country thanks to the top three discount store retailers, Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Dollar Tree, (Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are both owned by the same corporation, Dollar Tree, Inc.), it is no wonder they have such a strong following.

The convenience of having dollar stores so close to home is a large factor behind the preferences of today's shoppers, but consumers report other reasons as a driving force. Only 53% of shoppers report convenience as a main draw, while 72% head to dollar stores for the great prices with 64% of them reporting that their top purchases are household goods and beauty products.

Dollar stores may be small but they pack a big punch, tapping into a saturated retail market that is leaving a huge carbon footprint and draining pockets. And with big name stores pulling out all the stops to get you to spend money, finding great discounts on everyday items is one of the smartest moves you can make as a shopper. There are, without a doubt, some things that you may want to avoid at discount retailers like dollar stores, namely things like fresh produce (head to the grocery store for first-rate fruits and vegetables that haven't passed their prime) or electronic goods that are unlikely to stand the test of time. But single-use items like cotton swabs and items like washcloths that take a beating and are used to clean up our dirtiest messes, spending a small fortune on them isn't an economically sound option.