Top Food Items You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

If you’re not buying food at the Dollar Tree you are missing out. Yes, some items come in such small portions that the $1 price tag isn’t saving you any money. On the other hand, some of these items are flat-out bargains. Know how to get your money’s worth with these top food items you should buy at Dollar Tree.

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Collage of Cooking ingredients with text overlay: Top Food Items You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

 

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This store is seriously one of my absolute favorites. In addition to the staples we consistently buy, the rotation of new and seasonal items is also fantastic.

It’s no secret that a lot of my crafts and office supplies come from Dollar Tree. However, there are also foods that we regularly buy for our home. When you are trying to feed a growing family of 5 on $200 a month, every penny counts.

 

Bag of Fruit and Nut Trail Mix  Bag of Imperial Nuts Sunshine Blend Trail Mix

Trail Mix

First up is their trail mix. It is delicious and always available. Don’t limit your beliefs that this can only be a snack. Instead, we use this as the add-in for our homemade instant oatmeal packets.

 

Large container of Garlic Pepper

Spices

This is the perfect budget-conscious way to keep your favorite spices stocked. I regularly buy garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning from Dollar Tree.

Bag of Yellow Rice

Bagged Yellow Rice

The bagged yellow rice at Dollar Tree is absolutely delicious. My family loves it so much that I tend to grab a bag every time we’re there. This way we’ll never run out.

 

Bag of Roasted Almonds

Nuts

Nuts are crazy expensive. I love to snack on almonds but balk at the price in most stores. The snack packs at Dollar Tree are the perfect size to keep in my purse for a quick energy boost throughout the week.

 

Container of rainbow sprinkles

Baking Supplies

Baking soda, rainbow sprinkles, and food coloring are all much cheaper at Dollar Tree. I use there food coloring in tons of desserts and crafts. The quality is never disappointing.

 

Package of ultra thin pizza crust

Pizza Crusts

The large thin crusts are our family’s favorite because we can load them up with veggies and proteins while keeping it low-carb. However, the small 7 inch 2-pack crusts are great if you like more dough.

 

Bottle of Pancake Syrup

Syrup

Pancakes are one of our favorite frugal breakfasts. You can easily cook a large batch and freeze the excess for later. This means we go through a lot of syrup, though. The kids like the Dollar Tree brand and I like the price tag.

 

Pouch of Velveeta Cheese Sauce

Velveeta Cheese Sauce

Shells and cheese are delicious. Unfortunately, they are crazy expensive. Buying the cheese sauce packets at Dollar Tree lets me indulge from time to time without blowing out budget.

 

Box of pepperoni

Pepperoni

Snag delicious pizza toppings while you’re there too. Pepperoni pizza is my baby girl’s favorite. These inexpensive packs let me make multiple pizzas for her easily.

 

Jar of Minced Garlic

Minced Garlic

I use minced garlic in a ridiculous amount of my dishes. The only way I’ve found this cheaper is when there is a sale on it at Sam’s Club. In the interim, this is the store to stock up at.

 

Container of Panko Bread Crumbs

Bread Crumbs

Bread crumbs are used for making chicken nuggets, meatloaf, and more. Panko bread crumbs are my favorite and I can grab a container of them for a buck at Dollar Tree.

 

Jar of coconut oil

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another pricey staple but you can save on it at the Dollar Tree. You can’t even get prices this good at Aldi.

 

Can of Hunt's Pasta Sauce

Canned Pasta Sauce

Lastly, Hunt’s pasta sauce is another food staple to buy at Dollar Tree. We use this on our pizzas and it’s perfect. You can get it for $1 when it’s on sale at Kroger but at the Dollar Tree you don’t have to wait for a sale.

 

Cooking ingredients with text overlay: Top Food Items You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

Buying a few staples at the Dollar Tree can save you hundreds on your grocery bill. We manage to feed a family of 5 on only $200 a month and you can too. I am here to help you do the same.

Now that you know the top food items to buy at the Dollar Tree, it is only fair that you learn some awesome recipes to make with them. Starting next week I’m sharing easy, budget recipes using some of the items listed above.

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Cooking ingredients with text overlay: Top Food Items You Should Buy at Dollar Tree

 

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How to Plan a Frugal Gatlinburg Family Vacation

When you’re paying off debt, vacations are typically a luxury you can’t afford. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the discipline needed to forego vacation. Luckily, I have tips for how to plan a frugal Gatlinburg family vacation without completely derailing your financial goals.

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Growing up, we didn’t take family vacations. When you don’t have the money for groceries, trips out of town aren’t even on the radar. That is why family vacations are so important to me. That is also why it is the area of our budget I splurge on from time to time, despite paying off debt.

If you follow me on Instagram then you know I recently kidnapped my family for an impromptu road trip to Gatlinburg. It is one of our favorite vacation spots and we hadn’t been in years.

Unfortunately, the condos we normally stay in were destroyed in the fires. They are rebuilding but until that happens, we have to find alternatives. Guess what. You can still plan a budget-friendly trip for a family of 5 easily!

 

City in the valley of the mountains

Choose Your Lodging Strategically

While the Highlands Condos will always be my favorite, until they are rebuilt we have to find alternatives.

Cabin or Condo

These are a great budget options because you can cook your own meals and give your family a place to hang without being on top of each other. Cabins work best for longer stays. If you are only taking a weekend trip, they probably aren’t worth the cost.

Hotels

When picking a hotel, there are a few things to consider for ultimate savings. Food and amenities should make the list in addition to location.

 

Boxes of food on a kitchen counter

Cardboard box full of food

Cardboard box full of food

Food

If you can go the cabin or condo route, do it. This is one of the most economical ways to eat while you’re on vacation. Cook all of your own meals with food that you bring down.

Try to choose hotels that have a hot breakfast included. This keeps you from bingeing on Pop-Tarts all weekend or worse, spending money on breakfast out.

Speaking of food, make sure your room has a mini-fridge and a microwave. Packing your own food saves you a ton of money. The microwave ensures your can have some hot meals instead of cold cuts or PB&J constantly.

Amenities

Try to choose a hotel with an indoor pool. Then you will have a free indoor activity if you get rained out one day. Kids love spending time in the pool and won’t feel like they’re losing out, trust me.

Location

Try to get something within walking distance of activities. You will still need to drive to some of the trails but you can also stroll the strip when you’re within walking distance.

 

Moss covered boulders in a stream

Vacation Activities

Hiking

This is our favorite way to save money in Gatlinburg. You can spend days hiking different trails and still not see them all. Make sure you are prepared for the day with sandwiches, snacks, and lots of water.

I also recommend having baby wipes on hand and some basic first aid supplies. Check out Camping Items You Didn’t Know You Needed for more ideas.

 

Road winding through trees

Man and Woman posing together with mountains in the background

2 children climbing on jungle gym

Kids posing together in front of wooden cabin

Plant specimen in a museum case

Free Attractions

Did you know that a lot of the visitor’s centers have free museums you can go through. You can learn a ton about the area and kids will love getting up close and personal with the nature and wildlife.

Parks are another great way to enjoy free entertainment. There is a little playground right as you come into Gatlinburg from Pigeon Forge. Our kids love stopping there every visit.

Don’t forget to check out the driving trail for more free nature-filled fun. There are plenty of spots to pull off and explore trails together. It is worth every minute.

 

Front of Wonderworks

Child standing next to Optimus Prime Sculpture

Family sitting in Flinstones Car

Bundle Activities

If you are going to spend money on activities, bundle them. This will save you money and allow for multiple attractions.

Ordering online can also save you some money. Many of the attractions will scan the PDF of tickets on your phone if you don’t have printer access.

Bring Games

This is a big one for saving money. Instead of visiting attractions after the sun set, go back to your lodging and play some games. Card games are great for traveling. Here are a few of our favorites if you need some ideas:

 

Two Women sitting in front of a sign for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Man and Woman Sitting Together on a Rock

Bring Friends

The last tip for how to plan a frugal Gatlinburg family vacation is don’t do it alone. Consider vacationing with friends and family to split the cost of lodging and food. It also makes game nights a lot more fun!

This is especially great for cabins since you will have rooms that you can retreat to if you need space. It can also cut the cost of the cabin rental significantly.

 

Man and Woman posing together with mountains in the background

Now, you can splurge on vacation without totally derailing your debt payoff goals. These tips for how to plan a frugal Gatlinburg family vacation will let your family create memories together and protect your bank account.

Don’t forget to pay cash for all of your vacation. No credit cards or loans. If you don’t have the cash upfront, wait until you do before going anywhere. Putting your family in more debt for a vacation is not an option.

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Easy Ways to Save Money on Summer Clothes

Are your kiddos getting too big, too fast? Not only does it make you long for when they were babes in your arms, it also puts a cramp in your budget. Luckily, I can help you take the pressure off with these easy ways to save money on summer clothes.

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Collage of photos of Woman in yellow dress in a field with text overlay: Easy Ways to Save Money on Summer Clothes

Seriously, these kids are 3, 5, and 9 and they are huge! They have insatiable appetites and, despite my best efforts to keep them little forever, they continue to grow.

That means that twice a year, every year, I am mounted with the humongous task of clothing them. This is no easy feat but I’ve developed some tricks over the years to keep costs low.

 

Scarves displayed at a yard sale

Yard Sales

You can score some amazing deals at yard sales. It’s not all junk, either. With the pace at which kids grow, some of this stuff doesn’t even get worn. I’ve gotten brand new packs of socks for pennies or barely worn jeans for a buck. You simply can’t beat that.

Plus, chances are that your kids brand tastes are the same as all of the other kids. That means you’re finding the same awesome items at a fraction of the cost.

Cons:

Unfortunately, yard sales are a lot more legwork for you. It can take multiple sales to find everything you need which means an entire day spent hunting. If you have little ones in tow, it can be even longer (and more difficult).

 

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Thrift Stores

Yep, I’m not above getting our clothes from thrift stores and you shouldn’t be either. One of my all-time favorite clothing brands is Banana Republic. Their stuff is always well-made, comfortable, and holds up through the years.

Guess what: I’ve scored multiple articles of Banana Republic clothing at Goodwill for less than what you’d pay for Target clothes! Plus, thrift stores regularly run sales on seasonal items meaning you can get summer clothes at even deeper discounts.

Cons:

You need to know your brands. Some brands hold up much better than others, especially when it comes to rough and tough kids. Buying a shirt for a dollar doesn’t save much when it falls apart after the first wear.

 

Target cart with yellow wall in background

Target

Speaking of Target, their clearance racks are an awesome way to score brand new clothing at rock bottom prices. Their in-house brands are fantastic and you can easily get your kids everything they need. If buying used freaks you out (even though it totally shouldn’t), this is a nice budget-friendly option.

Cons:

If your child wears a popular size, it might be more difficult to find on clearance. While paying full price is still cheaper than department stores, it isn’t going to help you with that bottom budget line.

Swap

This is my new best friend when it comes to clothing shopping. Trust me, once you try them, you will be in love too.
Swap is an online consignment shop that has thousands of options. You can sort items by size, price, condition, and more making it easy to find what you need.

The prices are incredible and you can get everything on your list without even leaving home. Plus, if you spend $60 or more, you get free shipping.

Cons:

You can’t try on the clothes before you buy. Luckily, they have an awesome return policy but it can still be frustrating to have an item that doesn’t fit especially if you loved it.

 

Woman in yellow dress in a field with text overlay: Easy Ways to Save Money on Summer Clothes

Now you can keep your kids clothed and stick to your budget with these easy ways to save money on summer clothes. Last winter, I got everything the kids needed for the season for around $75.00 and that’s for 3 kids!

I didn’t have to load everyone up, get in the car, and go shopping. I sat on my couch and ordered everything from Swap. It came straight to my door. Score!

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Woman in yellow dress in a field with text overlay: Easy Ways to Save Money on Summer Clothes

 

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