Do you buy Dollar store food/meats? Do you consider them safe, if not why?

[bobbiwoz]

Once I saw and bought 18 large eggs for $1 and they were fine. I also enjoy the Pennystick brand pretzels a LOT!

 

[anniemae]

I have. Usually just things like packaged cookies, chips or crackers. I always check expiration dates.

 

[mousefan73]

I have not but I have notice they are carrying brand names now too . Just check the dates you should be fine.

Oops I guess if you count chocolate bars , then yes or those darn marshmallow Santa, pumpkin and now Easter eggs made with real chocolate not chocolate flavour...lol

Our dollar store even has fresh bread . All with good dates.

true many items are not cheaper there. especially if you figure unit prices.. they have name brand cereals but these are smaller boxes.. We have bought non-perishables there as we are intl tourists and why should I buy a 4 dollar size of an item that I will not use up vs. a dollar store 1 dollar item.. I also buy spices there.

I did see 1 dollar steaks,, no way.. where we come from when it comes to meat and dairy. we PREFER to pay more as quality, care of animal, feed (organic) is reflected in price.

Also candy is not always cheaper there. you have to look at unit price

 

[mousefan73]

I buy chicken broth and beef broth for soup, spices, condiments, canned beans (not baked beans, regular beans like kidney beans), sweet-n-low, single-serve macaroni and cheese cups, candy. Can't think of what else, but as long as $1 is cheaper than what I'd pay at the grocery store, I'll buy it. I haven't bought meat, but I have a friend who buys the frozen steaks, hot dogs, cheese, frozen single-serve dinners, etc. He's on an extremely tight budget, lives alone, and this works for him. Why is everyone so negative about buying food at the dollar store? They have freezers, refrigerators, appropriate delivery trucks, and the foods have "sell-by" dates on them. What's the difference between Dollar Tree and the local mom-n-pop market (or actually, the grocery store)?

your friend should check out if there is an aldi by him. great prices AND quality.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I love the Dollar Tree stores. If I buy food there, it's usually snack-type stuff like cookies. I would not buy meat or frozen foods there because the quality (in my opinion only) is lower than that at the grocery store. But I have bought nearly everything else. When my sister and I are preparing for a WDW trip, we get most of our medical/first aid supplies from Dollar Tree and they work just fine.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

I yelled at my husband for getting dog food there, so....No I do not buy meat there.

My wife yelled at me for buying dog food at Family Dollar (it was more than $1.) But the dog ate it and didn't drop dead from it....yet.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I bought apple chips the other day, and they were fine. I'm making progress.

 

[North of Mouse]

We have a very large Dollar Tree in one area here that has loads of groceries - meats, veggies frozen, refrigerated, plus all the canned goods etc. They can't keep it stocked! Have not heard of any adverse issues from those using them. It is extremely neat and clean.

I've only bought spices though, except for some bags of assorted Rice Crackers (Asian type) I recently found. I prefer using our larger groceries for most things, and Aldi's for some fresh fruits and vegetables.

For some reason (not experience based) I will not buy any type otc meds there - just can't make myself trust the purity of them.

 

[meggiebeth]

I don’t often shop at pound stores (the UK equivalent) but when I do, it’s for something specific. I’ve bought food there before but no meat (and I never would) - I’ve only bought branded prepackaged food that I know is safe/ reputable. In a lot of cases the food there is actually more expensive than traditional supermarkets - they’re just marketed in a way that makes them seem cheaper. I personally wouldn’t risk it for something like meat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Cheeseburgers. Well, not from the dollar store. My preferred supermarket chain sells the same $1 frozen microwavable sandwiches as the dollar store, and they sell fast.