What Experts Say Texans Shouldn’t Buy at Dollar Stores

(East Texas) Inflation is hitting East Texas families pretty hard. Our dollars just don't stretch as far as they used to.

I've noticed that manufacturers are shrinking the size of a lot of their products, and then retailers are raising the prices on those smaller quantity products. Consumers are noticing this trend, which has been happening since COVID, then there are the conspiracy theories about certain products and 'supply chain issues' or a disease that is affecting a category of products that end up raising consumer prices.

How Shrinking Products and Higher Prices Trick You

It's enough to make it hard for families to stay within their monthly budgets.

Another thing affecting inflation is the president's tariffs. He threatens countries with tariffs on imports, which makes companies increase their prices to cover the new tax on imported items. Who's suffering? Every day Americans.

So how do we combat this? We shop at dollar stores looking for less expensive alternatives; however, that's not always the right answer.

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Why Dollar Stores Aren’t Always a Bargain

Drive through any small town outside of Longview, Abilene, Wichita Falls, or Victoria, Texas, and you'll see all kinds of dollar stores.

Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, 99-cent Only Stores, and similar stores sound like they could be saving you money simply from the store's name, but that's not necessarily the case.

While some products may appear less expensive, they may also suffer in quality, and you could end up using more than intended to get your desired results. Purchasing certain items from a dollar store may not be the best decision, especially when it will impact your budget.

What Shopping Experts Warn Against

Shopping experts tell Reader's Digest that consumers should steer clear of buying certain items from dollar stores. Reasons vary across product categories.

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Tips for Smarter Budget Shopping

When shopping, do you research and don't just look at the total price of an item, break it down to serving size or price per unit - like price per ounce or pound. Many times, these stores and your traditional grocery store or big box retailer will sell the same product, but when you break the price down by unit, the grocery store or big box retailer could be your better option.

Just do your due diligence, and you'll be saving money again in a tough economy.