11 Dreadful Mistakes Shoppers Make at Five Below

Five Below can help you save money on essentials and extras like home decor and seasonal favorites.

But you could make plenty of mistakes at Five Below that might cost you money instead of saving you cash.

Review these mistakes before shopping at Five Below so you don’t waste extra cash.

It can be easy to walk into a Five Below with a set shopping list and walk out with more because you saw something unique or wanted more than what was on your list.

Impulse purchases can add up even if you are shopping at a discount store like Five Below, so try to limit your impulse buying or stick with a specific list.

Five Below is a popular store for people who want to save money, but some times are better than others when it comes to saving money.

Try to maximize your time at Five Below by shopping at non-busy times, such as during the week instead of weekends, or going off-peak times so you don’t have to stand in long lines and have better access to inventory.

It can be easy to fill a cart or basket with different items as you wander the aisles of Five Below because the items are so cheap.

But those costs can add up, so it’s important to keep track of what you’re adding to your cart rather than being shocked at the final total when you check out.

You might think you don’t need to compare prices when shopping at a discount store like Five Below.

However, you might be surprised to find that similar products are available at other discount stores, such as Dollar Tree or Dollar General, for even less money.

You might be used to stores that allow you to make returns without a receipt or give you a generous return policy window.

Five Below will allow you to return items for up to 90 days, but you will need a receipt. If you trash your receipt or lose it, you could end up stuck with an item and not able to return it.

Another strict part of Five Below’s return policy is that it will not take back any item that has been opened.

So, if you bought something but are unsure if you’ll want to return it at some point, you should make sure you don't open boxes or packages.

One reason Five Below is able to pass along discounts to its customers is that it may be sacrificing quality for low cost.

But that could mean you’re getting a low-quality product that could break easily, especially for electronics like earbuds or Bluetooth speakers.

Five Below charges a flat shipping fee of $7.95 per order, which is fine if you’re buying several products at once.

But if you're only buying one item, that shipping fee can be more expensive than the item itself. Instead, consider a website like Amazon, which offers free shipping for smaller orders.

Amazon is also a great place to buy items if you need them delivered soon, with some products showing up the next day on your front porch.

However, Five Below’s shipping options aren’t as quick, and you could end up waiting five to seven days for most orders and up to 10 days for some items.

You might be excited about Halloween or Christmas and are ready to buy all the decorations at Five Below right below the holiday.

If you don't need the items immediately, it may be a better idea to hold off until after the holiday. You could get a bigger discount on seasonal items that Five Below needs to move after the season.

The cost of buying something repeatedly at Five Below to replace the subpar quality of the previous item can add up and waste your money.

You may be better off buying items like backpacks for school or clothes that could get a lot of wear at a different store. It may cost more initially, but you could save money in the long run.

Five Below can be a great place to shop, but you should check your shopping plans before you go so you don’t make mistakes that could cost you money.

If you’re on a budget, you should also consider using the best cashback credit cards that can earn you extra perks or points on your next trip.