I used to work at Dollar Tree. There are 9 things I still buy there all of the time.

• Dollar Tree is my go-to place for essentials like cotton balls, bleach, and dog waste bags.
• I exclusively get my greeting cards and gift bags at Dollar Tree — the chain has a great variety.

For me, grabbing a pack of each at Dollar Tree whenever I run out feels like a no-brainer. The quality has impressed me, and the prices are generally lower than those I’ve seen at nearby drugstores.

I always head to Dollar Tree when I need to pack up a present.

To me, it feels wasteful to spend too much on gift bags — they’re usually used once and then tossed.

Fortunately, Dollar Tree stocks $1.25 bags in various sizes and designs for just about every occasion. Some of the smaller bags come in value packs of two or three, making them even more cost-effective.

I find it’s affordable to stock up on bleach at Dollar Tree.

For many households, including my own, bleach is a cleaning essential. It’s just $1.25 a gallon here — a few bucks cheaper than what I’ve seen at other stores.

If you can find it and use it frequently, definitely grab a few bottles. It used to fly off the shelves when I worked at Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author’s personal views.

This story was originally published on June 12, 2025, and most recently updated on July 2, 2026.