The moment my children get a dollar bill in their Valentine’s Day card from their great grandmother, they start fantasizing about going to the dollar store and “picking out anything they want.” In the eyes of a child having a store where no item is “too expensive” must seem like heaven. I know the reality of it…we’ll go and they will pick out some cheap toy that will either break on the car ride home or by the next day. I have yet to be impressed with a dollar store toy purchase. That being said, there are a number of items that the dollar store sells that ARE great; things that are the same quality of other stores who sell them for double, or even triple, the price. Here is my list of things that are a great deal for $1.00:

• Helium balloons – What child doesn’t love having a helium balloon…and the dollar store has tons of selection
• Novelty Socks – Halloween, Easter, 4th of July…they have new cute socks each month
• Solid-Colored Partyware – Need purple plates, napkins, a tablecloth and cutlery?…it’s all yours for $4.00
• Novelty Candy – This aisle fascinates me…there are few kinds of sweets that you do not see there and tons more you never knew existed. This is my go-to place when I need decorations for a themed cake I am making.
• 2 for $1.00 Deals – Greeting cards…every occasion. Poster board…assorted colors.
• Holiday Pencils – A package of 12 fun pencils with erasers…kids love them.
• Curling Ribbon and wrapping paper – Be ready for the next birthday party.
• Coloring Books – There are few things my children love better to do than coloring. We hit this section often and load up on all of our favorite licensed and generic friends to color.
• Arts & Crafts Supplies – Probably my favorite aisle in the dollar store because they have such a vast selection: pipe cleaners, pom poms, construction paper, foam stickers, googly eyes (often including the rare colored ones with eyelashes!) and lots more.  For Christmas this year, I gave my nieces a “craft box” filled with tons of fun things they could use to be creative with…and most of it came from the dollar store. According to my sister it was their favorite gift and keeps them entertained for hours. It cost me a fraction of the price I would have spent on the same things at another store!What are your favorite treasures from the dollar store?