I’m not surprised by this at all. Nearly 1 out of every 3 stores opening in the US right now is a Dollar General, Dollar Tree, or Family Dollar store. They were growing steadily before the pandemic, but it looks like it certainly gave them a push.
I’m a penny pincher. I’ve known Dollar Tree stores like the back of my hand for years. True story….. for Christmas one year, my brother Tom decorated the tree with dollar bills and wrapped a couple of gift certificates to the dollar store.
So, after hearing about the 1 out of every 3 stores story, a co-worker was asking me what the best deals there are. For me, it’s tin foil and quart zip lock bags. Being an experimental foodie, I use a lot of tin foil on cookie sheets. Also, Jenny and I buy chicken and hamburger in bulk, then put meal sized portions in the bags to freeze. Also, tooth paste, scotch tape, scouring pads and sponges for washing dishes, and hair brushes. They’re not name brand and sometimes work a little awkwardly, but I don’t care. They get the job done and save me money so I can pay for over- priced trips to Jamaica.