Melissa King, a Savings.com DealPro, lives in Savannah, GA. She enjoys "Paying It Forward"  in her community. Check her out on her blog at ThisMommySavesMoney.com.

Been to the dollar store lately? You would be amazed at what you can buy for only $1. Considering the level of inflation over the last couple of decades, the dollar store provides price consistency that other popular chain stores cannot.

Here are 3 great deals I like at the dollar store:

Greeting cards

If you’ve shopped for a greeting card at a local pharmacy or grocery store, you might be surprised that some of the fancier designs can cost upwards of $6 or $8! That, my friends, is equal to a very substantial meal at a fast food restaurant! Luckily, the dollar store has a fabulous selection of greeting cards that are cute and don’t break the bank. These cards are usually priced 2 for $1.

Office/school supplies

Another popular section in the dollar store that provides a significant discount compared to popular chain retailers is the office/school supply section. You'll save up to an estimated 50% on markers, crayons, pens, and pencils. The discounts will sometimes be more, and only very rarely less—though it will always be a savings.

Kitchen gadgets and party supplies

The dollar store is also an excellent place to stock up on affordable glassware, economic kitchen accessories, and zipper storage bags. I’m also a huge fan of their color coordinating party supplies. I can whip up the most fantastic themed birthday party by choosing solid colored paper products and table linens from the dollar store, and supplementing a few authentic character themed additions from the party store for a fraction of what it would have cost had I purchased everything at the overpriced retailer.

And don't forget about the coupons!

Here's another nice thing: Dollar Tree—one of the most popular dollar store chains—accepts manufacturer coupons. I have used coupons at the Dollar Tree to get items such as got2b hair products, Tazo Tea, Progresso, Soymilk, and more for free!

Dollar Tree will accept up to 4 like coupons per household per day, and even up to 2 Internet coupons per customer per day. The biggest thing to watch for when using coupons at Dollar Tree is the size requirements on the coupon, as some of the items they sell are smaller than what is allowed on the coupon.

So, if it's been a while since you ventured into the dollar store for some serious shopping, I strongly urge you to consider it. As the cost of living is constantly on the rise, dollar stores consistently offer deals on common household products.

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