My Ode to the $Dollar Tree$

                                                   http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp

When your on a budget, but still need to maintain a household and run a business, you have GOT to find the best bang for you buck.  I do this at the Dollar Tree (or whatever dollar store is in your area)!  My dollar store recently started taking manufactures coupons too! Yay!  I just got a bottle of Palmolive dish soap for .50 cents with a coupon (still coming off that coupon high).  There are so many ways to clean, organize, run the house, and still have a little fun on a budget at the Dollar Tree!  Here are a few ideas I have come up with on my MANY trips to the dollar store:

General Cleaning
If you know me, you know how much I love my magic erasers!  I'm a walking advertisement for those things.  I always buy my magic erasers at the dollar store.  $1 for a 2pk.  You can't bet the price, and they work just as well as the name brand.  When cleaning, I save a ton of money by mixing my own cleaning supplies.  The Dollar Tree has empty spray bottles and bleach or vinegar (whatever you prefer).  I mix 1/8 bleach with water and I have my own multi-purpose cleaner (be careful if you are wearing dark clothes, the solution will leave bleach stains. Trust me!).  Amazing, I know! Don't forget to keep an eye out for a great deal.  My Dollar Tree occasionally has Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.  $1 for Lysol toilet cleaner is a great deal itself, but when they started taking coupons ($1 off two Lysol products) it got even better.  Two bottle for $1.00.  Holy DEAL, Batman!

                                                                                            Organization

"Shoe Box" Storage

I love the Dollar Tree's plastic carry-all totes with handles.  I have one for work and one for home to organize my cleaning supplies.  It makes it so easy to take everything from room to room. It also saves time not having to back track because you for got something.  I have also stocked up on plastic storage "shoe" boxes (see pic).  They stack nicely on my shelf.  Plus, I label them all so I won't  need to dig for what I'm looking for.  The Dollar Tree has all kinds of hanging wire racks, over the door hooks, draw organizers, and plastic food storage options and SO much more. I also found some L-shaped brackets for hanging shelves once.  My favorite new find are these off-brand vacuum storage bags.  Saves to much precious space in my tiny apartment! 



Home & Office
From envelopes to erasers, Dollar Tree has it all! I don't buy office supplies any where else. They have 80 ct legal envolpes for only, you guessed it, $1.00!  I love the shipping envelopes for those packages to Grandpa in Memphis. The envelope size determines how many come in a package. I get my receipts with the carbon copy to track my income. Paper clips, pens, rubber bands, highlighters, poster boards (2/$1), crayons, ect...  Most of it is cheaper than the supermarkets, but watch the ads during back to school time. Many stores have better deals that time of year.

Home Decor, Crafts, Party Supplies, ect...

You never know what you will at the dollar store. I always walk every aisle looking for that "treasure". I am planning a birthday party for my daughter and have purchased almost everything at the Dollar Tree. Plates, decorations, gift bags, serving trays... You name it! The crafting stuff is amazing.  There are different items almost every time I go, and I go to the Dollar Tree a LOT  I can always keep my crafting tackle box full now.  Right now I'm working on a DIY home decor project, but more on that in my next post....

So, grab a $20 and go fill up your cart. You never know what you may find!