Buying Groceries at Dollar Tree? Don’t Do It Until You Read This!

Okay, confession time—I love Dollar Tree. Like, love it. I’m that person who walks in for one thing and leaves with a cart full of random finds I didn’t even know I needed. But when it comes to groceries? That’s a whole different story.

You’ve probably strolled down those grocery aisles wondering, “Am I really saving money here? Is this stuff even worth it?” Trust me, I’ve been there. Some items are total steals, while others… not so much. Before you shop, I’ve put together an entire list of What Groceries to Buy (and What Groceries Not to Buy) at Dollar Tree so you can shop smarter and get the most bang for your buck!

Groceries You Should Never Buy at Dollar Tree

Let’s start with the groceries you should never buy at Dollar Tree…

Expired Food

Now, I know this may seem silly but it’s totally worth mentioning, never buy anything that is expired. The biggest rule I have when it comes to buying groceries at Dollar Tree is to always check the expiration date. They are pretty good about not selling expired items but it has happened to me before so now, I check to ensure I never buy anything expired.

Canned Goods

I never buy any canned vegetables, canned soups or canned goods in general (unless I really need it and don’t want to make an extra trip to the store). The reason for this is simple: these are too expensive at Dollar Tree.

For example, the SpaghettiOs with meatballs is actually on sale at my local Kroger store (Smith’s) for $1.00 per can right now. Canned vegetables often are less than $1.00 per can there too. So, I can save some money per can by shopping elsewhere.

Nissin Cup Noodles

I love cup noodles but the 3 packs for $1.25 ( making them $0.42 each) at Dollar Tree are a rip off. You can buy these individually for $0.25 each at Walmart meaning you can get almost double the amount for the same amount of money.

Boxed Dinners

Almost the same reasoning here, they are too expensive especially when you compare the box size. Hamburger Helper or these Hungry Jack skillet meals can be a quick and inexpensive meal but the boxes for $1.25 at Dollar Tree are most often smaller than the sizes you can find at your local grocery store for around the same price. They are great on a pinch but otherwise are too little for the price.

Frozen Foods

For the most part, frozen foods are overpriced at Dollar Tree and I can typically find them cheaper at Walmart or Smith’s. The one exception that I have personally found are these bibigo steamed dumplings and crispy dumpling bites. These are $3 at Dollar Tree and are more expensive elsewhere (Costco even carries these).

Soda

In case you didn’t hear, most of Dollar Tree’s Soda’s such as the 1.25 liter bottles have increased in price to $1.75 each. With that being said, these can typically be found for cheaper (even the 2-liters are often cheaper) at other grocery stores.

Groceries You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

Now for the fun part, onto groceries you should always buy at Dollar Tree simply because they are a great deal.

Name Brand Bread

If your store is like mine and carries name brand bread, this is always a fantastic buy! I personally love the Organic Naked Bread and it’s so expensive at other stores (up to $5 a loaf) but I often find it at Dollar Tree. I’ve also found donuts, bagels, English muffins, etc. Now, these are breads that have a soon expiration date. However, I’ve found these freeze so well and we just freeze, allow to thaw and use them as needed.

100% Pure Honey

I was surprised when I first saw 100% honey bottles at Dollar Tree. I’ve seen other honey there before but it’s been made with artificial dyes and high-fructose syrup (yuck!). This brand though contains 1 ingredient – pure honey. Yay! This little bottle is great if you don’t use honey often or want to keep some handy to take on vacation, camping, etc.

Energy Drinks

Unless you are shopping a specific grocery store sale, energy drinks are a great buy at Dollar Tree. Plus, they often have the viral Alani brand drinks that everyone goes crazy for so if you ever see those, grab them!

Spices and Condiments

Honestly, Dollar Tree has a great selection of spices and condiments. Everything from pink Himalayan salt to minced garlic to olives and everything in between. You can’t go wrong with pretty much anything here especially if you’re on a budget or perhaps looking to grab some things to take camping.

Snack Foods

Aside from some chips that have gone up in price to $2.50 at Dollar Tree, the snack foods at Dollar Tree are killer deals. I’ve found full-size boxes of fruit snacks, crackers, etc. for $1.25 which is an awesome deal. They have all sorts of meat sticks, peanuts, etc. that are great prices too. If you’re on a budget and feeling snacky, Dollar Tree is your place to go!

There are honestly more grocery items I WOULD buy at Dollar Tree than ones I would not. So, the bottom line is, if you’re looking for some delicious food on a budget, Dollar Tree can be a great place to go.

Want more Dollar Tree Ideas? Check out:

• Here’s The List of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Stores Closing
• How to Find The Best Dollar Tree Stores In Your Area
• The Best and Worst Days To Shop at Dollar Tree
• 5 New Things at Dollar Tree That Cost Way More at Target
• 5 Things at Dollar Tree That Cost Way More at Walmart
• Here’s 5 Things to Always Buy at Dollar Tree According to Superfans
• Dollar Tree Items You Should Always Buy if You See Them
• Dollar Tree Grocery Items That Can Save You Hundreds of Dollars On Your Grocery Bill