Dollar Store and Flea market shopping

United States
June 13, 2010 2:34pm CST
Would you go for something cheap, and economic? I am a big fan of big chain stores. Usually, their prices are too high, unless they have %50 discount off before or after the holidays. Otherwise, I rarely pay a visit to those stores. During Sunday, my family would rather go around dollar stores to get some cheap stuff. Maybe we are the cheapskates, and saving money as much as we can. Most stuff you get from there are 99 cents, or up to $2 or $3. A pair of sunglasses maybe around $1.00. I don't need a fancy one with a brand name like $50 to $100. Also, you can get some fun from those flea market during the weekend too. Those open door flea markets offer great value on fresh produce, some used stuffs etc..... You might find some that you really like. Under such economic condition, saving money is the ultimate goal.
3 people like this
16 responses
• United States
7 Oct 10
I usually go for cheap so long as it's economical to do so. You know similar quality to a more expensive item elsewhere. You know like I buy my Soy sauce @ the Dollar Store.... because @ the regular store I'm paying DOUBLE the price.
14 Jun 10
In the place where we live in India dollar store is not available.But earlier my daughter was in America and I used to ask her to get me some relics from the dollar shop.I did not want her to spend too much for such things .It is true that she had to patiently look hunt for things .But she managed to get me so many lovely things.
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
14 Jun 10
I'm a HUGE fan of flea markets and yard sales too...When I was still living in Canada I use to shop at dollar stores all the time for quite a few things but not so much since moving to the U.S.....I think the only things I wont buy at dollar stores or bargian shops would be items like major electronics, jewelry (I cant wear cheap jewelry) and such..
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
14 Jun 10
I think going to these places can add up too. I don't really think that I'm saving money when I go to dollar stores, garage sales or flea markets. I always end up spending just as much but just on cheaper things as I would expensive items. I guess you get what you pay for and I would rather pay for good quality. Take care
• Romania
14 Jun 10
personal, I do not like these big stores, except maybe when they have real big discounts. why is that? because everything they sell have huge prices and is all artificial. I mean, I am from Romania and, especially during summer we still have those eco food products as natural tomatoes, watermelons and many others. if I go in supermarket, I found only those artificial no-tasty tomatoes, or other stuff. we have many eco shops selling natural cheese or pastrami, home-made by peasants, without any chemicals. I always buy from them as their products are of high quality and, in adition, certified. it is true that for discounts on cloths, home appliances and these kind of stuff it is wothy to go for shopping in such chain stores. everything that is direct related to my health deserve more money and attention. you mentioned about sunglasses. take care as many of them provide only some coloured glass and nothing more. there is no eye protection against harmful sunlight(UV filter). you should pay more attention to this kind of stuff, you know, in order to leave a long, healthy life.
@trivera67 (108)
• United States
14 Jun 10
We love going to several flea markets around here and usually go one to twice a month sometimes more and possibly hitting up more then one in a day. We hit the dollar stores and stock up on snacks for the kids and few odds and ends of things that we know we can get cheaper then the higher end retail stores. I do alot of my clothes shopping at outlet stores as you can get some real good prices, high quality clothes at way cheaper prices then the "mall" stores. I am all about bargain shopping and I think most people are these days with the way the economy is.
@ellago (127)
• Philippines
14 Jun 10
I also love Dollar Stores. I somethings go to big stores to buy items that are not available in dollar stores but I most frequent to stores that can offer cheap items. Here in the Philippines, we have 88 Store. Most of the items there are from Japan. I buy their fabric conditioner because they smells good and way way cheaper than those branded ones in the usual supermarket.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
13 Jun 10
i love dollar stores because quite often you can get the same thing (but save money) as you can in bigger stores. i recently bought some pewter embellishments at my local dollar store and saw the exact same thing at a big box craft store for a lot more money (different packaging though.)
• United States
13 Jun 10
I just simply love the dollar store, lol! And I like flea markets and thrift shops. I find all kinds of fun stuff there. I use to do crafts and would go there to purchase my items for making them, or at the thrift stores, I'd buy an item and re-finish it and sell it. I'm not in any situation to go and not care about what I spend at the moment, so thank goodness for these type of stores. As you said, saving money is the ultimate goal and how much better can you get?
• United States
14 Jun 10
I've never been to a flea market before but I really would like to visit one. I kind of feel like it's a big yard sale and I love yard sales I've been to a lot of dollar stores though. I've bought a beautiful silver bracelet from a dollar store and also a lot of office supplies like colored tape and pencils that are really cheap. I hope I can locate a flea market around here sometime soon.
@TheAdvocate (2392)
• Philippines
14 Jun 10
I love flea markets too. Here in the Philippines, we usually have a lot of them especially around Christmas time. I would spend hours looking for treasures here. My problem really is that I come away with stuff that I don't really need. Some I don't like in hindsight. I tried solving this by just bringing money that I know I can afford to spend. Most of the time these flea markets are strategically located near an ATM and so I end up withdrawing... In fairness, I have had some really good finds there.
@portisray (503)
• Philippines
14 Jun 10
I would have wanted to go to big chain stores like SM super malls here but as of now, I couldn't afford even just a P300 T-shirt! We have "Ukay-Ukay" here in the Philippines which is a bargain second hand clothes... That's where I usually go and buy a T-shirt or shorts... If you were really good in choosing clothes, you could buy an almost new clothes, not so obvious that its already used...
@qianyun6 (2067)
• China
14 Jun 10
Me too. My family always try to save as possible as we can. We buy things in the supermarket because they are cheaper there. And we also pay much attention to the discount things. We always buy clothes out of season, what I mean is we buy summer clothes in autumn, buy autumn clothes in winter...always this clothes have a good discount.
• India
14 Jun 10
I am hoping to open a flea market booth myself.
@rosie230 (1696)
13 Jun 10
I do like these stores and markets, the only trouble is I always seem to spend too much, I think thats why we have these places because the owners know that some of us will treat them as bargain places, and see so many bargains that we just have to get them lol.. I don't shop at them because I am cheap, but because sometimes it's nice to have a look around.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
13 Jun 10
I like stores like that, since I love bargains, and they are great places to find them. I don't go that often, but whenever I do, I really like them. I haven't made any really amazing deals though, I mostly buy stuff for the house, such as cleaning detergent and stuff like that, in them.