The Ultimate Shopping Hack From a Mom of Eleven

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:" ​Proverbs 31:26-28

I love the Dollar Tree! Shopping there brings so much joy to this mom of eleven that it has become a weekly stop on my grocery day trips. 

Many people ask how I feed and supply the many needs of my family. I give the Dollar Tree much of the credit. I am also a teacher, and my classroom has greatly benefited because of this store as well. Below is a list compiled to show you all the many ways the Dollar Tree supplies the needs of my family and my classroom.

Medicine

From Ibuprofen to Zyrtec or bandaids to Icy Hot patches, they can all be purchased at the Dollar Tree. You'll also find things like cough drops, antacids, vitamins, and natural sleep aids. Epsom salts have become a regular item I purchase because teaching puts me on my feet most of the day. I also have found it to be a great place to purchase antibiotic creams and other items that I keep in our first aid kit. My son actually went and bought his own Ibuprofen from a national chain and said, “Mom, I should have gone to the Dollar Tree.” That made my heart smile.

Toiletries

My family can go through toothpaste like it's Chick-fil-A sauce! Thankfully, I can get a month's supply for cheap. Alos, many times the brands they carry will have extra ounces included. Shampoo and conditioner is another item that continually disappears in our home. Suave is carried weekly and suits even most of my older girls. We also use their bar soaps. Recently, Caress has been on the shelf, and it is my favorite. Toothbrushes from all the major brands are available. This is another way to save money, especially during flu season. It allows me to switch them monthly to keep us healthy. ​

Lunch

Packing lunches makes for an expensive endeavor with 11 kids. The Dollar Tree will often carry name brand items like Betty Crocker fruit snacks and Goldfish brand crackers. Plastic sandwich bags are a good find too. They also stock items like prepackaged animal crackers, Cheez-Its, and pudding. There are items like juice boxes, individual servings of peanut butter for dipping, and even pickles, which my kiddos love. I recently found a box of pre-made lunch box notes that helped to brightened my kids school day. ​

Cleaning

Sponges, bleach sprays, dish soap, and fabric softener sheets are all good buys. There are some items that are not as economical or as effective in this section, so I don’t purchase things like laundry detergent or toilet paper. A new item I found was a sponge that doubles with a magic eraser side. It works amazingly well, and I use it on everything from walls to my kids shoes. I really love the Spic & Span products for my kitchen. They have a great scent but are mild enough for my children to use when cleaning up after dinner.

School

In my classroom, I run what I call the ‘Cougar Store.” Our school mascot is a cougar so I hand out Cougar Cash for things like good work, obedient behavior, and acts of kindness. I also make students pay for things like irresponsibility and class disruptions. The Dollar Tree has been an awesome place to keep the Cougar Store stocked. Ring pops, Pokemon cards, fun erasers, bath bombs, word search books, and countless other kid-friendly toys are cheap and help me run a classroom full of positive incentives. The Dollar Tree also carries a great supply of bulletin board decor and craft supplies for both my students and my own children. Poster board and markers are a great value. A new “find” that I am using frequently is a roll of mini-adhesive squares. They will hold even thicker items to walls and doors. I love them!!!

Miscellaneous

I also shop for all my gift wrapping, cards, party supplies, and paper plate products at the Dollar Tree. When my children receive an invitation to a birthday party, we go to the Dollar Tree and I give them a certain amount of money to fill a bag with items for the birthday girl or boy. Even my teens will find things for their friends there. The girls and I find name brand makeup like Elf there. Batteries for our WII controllers, cords for our Kindle tablets, and duct tape for repairing everything are great finds too. Little gifts of encouragement like candy bars, mini plaques, or even fall decorations are readily available and an inexpensive way to express love to friends and coworkers. ​

For many, the Dollar Tree may be a hidden treasure that has been overlooked. Through this store, my kids are learning that there is no need to pay more for something just to say you did. Making the most of all the resources God has supplied is a lesson I hope they learn from our home. Not everything is a great buy. Price checking and prayer are also needed in my weekly shopping trips. There is no replacement for being wise and cautious. However, God has supplied much of our daily needs through this place, and I am so thankful for the opportunities it brings to our family.

So, what's your best shopping hack?