As a budget-conscious retiree, you likely prioritize stores that help you save more on everyday essentials. Comparing prices yourself to find the best deal on individual items can be time-consuming, so we've done some of the hard work for you by finding products that tend to be cheaper at Dollar General than anywhere else.
Add one or more of these products to your shopping list the next time you're swinging by your local store.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
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True Living Outdoors All-Purpose Potting Soil
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Price: $3.50
Whether you grow your own produce or keep potted plants around the house, you don't need to spend a fortune convincing your plants to grow.
If you're a year-round gardener, consider stocking up on Dollar General's 14-quart soil. Home improvement stores like Lowe's charge $8 to $10 for a 25-quart bag of potting soil.
True Living Scented Candle
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Price: $3.35
Products like Febreze freshen up your house — for a price. Scented candles can be reused over and over again, sometimes for a year or more.
Dollar General sells a range of scents, including florals like fresh-cut rose and lavender, all at under $3.50 per seven-ounce candle.
Glad Cling 'N Seal
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Price: $3.95
Even if you eat out more often than you cook at home, plastic wrap is a kitchen essential to keep your leftovers fresh. Dollar General makes this necessary purchase easier on your wallet by selling 200 square feet for under $4.
Meanwhile, competitors like Walgreens charge $4.29 for the same product.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Foster Grant E-Z Reader Reading Glasses
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Price: $7
Maybe you're prone to breaking glasses, or you like the convenience of keeping a set of reading glasses in every room of your house so you don't have to remember to carry a pair with you.
Either way, Dollar General's $7 pair of glasses is fashionable, durable, and, most importantly, affordable.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
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July is in full swing, bringing the height of summer. That also means peak season for hot deals and unbeatable savings. Now’s the time to save big on:
- Grills, coolers, and outdoor living upgrades
- Travel must-haves for road trips and beach days
- Swimwear and summer fashion
- For grocery savings, grab seasonal produce like watermelon, peaches, and tomatoes
While you're enjoying the sunshine, retailers are quietly making room for back-to-school inventory. That makes July a prime opportunity to scoop up summer favorites while the deals are still blazing.
Rexall Weekly Pill Organizer with Removable Trays
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Price: $1
Thanks to inflation, not many products still cost $1 or less at your favorite local dollar store. This weekly pill organizer is a nice exception. With seven removable trays, each segmented into four daily doses, it's easy to identify crucial medications and keep track of doses.
Even notoriously budget-friendly stores can't beat that price: an AM/PM pill organizer costs $4.12 on Walmart's online store.
ELLE LED Portable Vanity Mirror
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Price: $4
A light-up makeup mirror ensures you get every last detail right when you're getting ready in the morning. This portable mirror is perfect for use in your own home, but it's also easy to carry with you if you're enjoying vacation time during your well-deserved retirement.
Clover Valley Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn
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Price: $1.25
Watching a movie at home instead of going out to the theater is a great way to save money, but what fun is a movie without popcorn?
Most other retailers still sell at-home popcorn at high prices — a six-count box of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn costs more than $6 at your local Safeway. At Dollar General, you can get that same amount for less than $3.
Sharpie S-Gel Pens
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Price: $3
It's hard to beat Sharpies for precision, durability, and ease of use. For less than a dollar per pen, it's hard to beat their price, too — but only if you buy them at your local Dollar General. At Walmart, you'll pay $4.87 at a minimum.
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Clover Valley Baking Soda
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Price: $1
Baking soda comes in handy in just about every room in your house, whether you're using it to brush your teeth, bake bread, or deodorize the kitchen.
At Walmart, an eight-ounce package of baking soda costs 87 cents. At Dollar General, you get twice that amount for just 13 cents more.
Quick tips: How to cut costs on your utility bills
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Many people overlook their monthly utility expenses as fixed costs. But with small changes, you can see immediate drop in your bills. Here are some tips:
- Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures
- Switch to LED bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy than incandescent
- Wash clothes in cold water and hang items to dry
- Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degree Fahrenheit
Don't waste money. Remember that every dollar saved on a monthly bill turns into $12 annually.
True Living Box Fan
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Price: $15
As the summer days heat up, it becomes more important to stay cool without blowing up your energy bills.
A quiet, nine-inch box fan from Dollar General takes care of both tasks at a cheaper price than most big-box retailers. For instance, at Target, a box fan costs closer to $25.
Rexall Mint Flossers
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Price: $2.75
Flossers have the convenience of toothpicks with the superior tooth-cleaning capabilities of dental floss, but it's hard to justify spending money on products with a one-time use unless the price is right — and at $2.75 for a 150-pack of flossers, Dollar General fits the bill.
Or, if you use flossers infrequently and simply want a few on hand, Dollar General sells packs of 50 for just $1.
Embossed Pattern Soap Dispenser
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Price: $2.50 (on sale from $5)
Looking to redo your guest bathrooms? Small touches like embossed soap dispensers can go a long way toward creating an elegant, homey feeling.
With these soap dispensers currently 50% off, now's the perfect time to get a few matching sets.
Bottom line
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When you're trying to tackle high grocery costs, every penny saved helps. Stocking up on bargains when they come your way is a great way to stretch your retirement dollars further.
With the right items on your grocery list, you can free up room in your budget to do the things you really want to spend your retirement doing.
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