13 Back-to-School Things I Got For Literally $1 or Less at Dollar General
Listen, we all know that items at Dollar General aren’t actually a *dollar*, right? WRONG. What if I told you not only are there over 2,000 items at $1 or less every day at Dollar General, but also that I knocked out a huuuuge chunk of my back-to-school shopping list for less than what I spent on last year’s backpack?
Yep, at Dollar General prices, you can tackle your back-to-school shopping list for way, way less than at other places — they have over 100 BTS items for $1 or less. (Isn’t it nice to get a break from these unprecedented times?!)
Check out some of the amazing DG finds you can score for a buck or less during back-to-school.
1. Crayola Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are one of those things kids never think they need…until they totally do. There will be that one project that has to be done with them. Grab a couple boxes and avoid the frantic “WHY DON’T WE HAVE COLORED PENCILS?!” That way you’ll have an extra box in reserves for the next next time.
2. Scotch Tape
Pro tip: get more rolls of tape than you think you’ll need. Nope, even more than that. At one U.S. dollar, why not stock up? The holidays will be here before you know it. (Don’t think about that one too much.)
3. Pink Erasers
Erasers are essential for various art projects and even math homework. But the “off label” use of pink erasers? They’re great for fidgeters. Yep, if you have a kid who likes to fidget while they work, these are cheaper than any stress ball you can find.
4. Pocket Calculator
A calculator is one of those things that you absolutely do not need to spend any real money on. Until your little math whizzes need that multifunction supercomputer, this little pocket calculator does the job for less than a large fry.
5. Crayola Color Glue
Yes, they really will need more glue than you think they do. It’s not just for art projects and homework. It’s also a key ingredient in slime recipes and you never know when they’re gonna need to mix up a batch.
6. Sterilite Pencil Box
With kids moving from home to bus to school (or room-to-room-to-room) and back, they need a way to carry the various pencils, erasers, scissors, etc. from place-to-place. These Sterilite boxes are the right size and sturdy enough to hold up under, you know, kids. In fun colors, you may want to grab a few extras for hair ties, earbuds, etc.
7. Elmer’s School Glue
There’s a reason generations of school kids have used Elmer’s Glue. It’s nontoxic, dries clear and – most importantly – it’s washable, so accidental spills are NBD. And again: ONE dollar.
8. Westcott Kids’ Scissors
One year, the only thing on my Christmas list was “nice pair of scissors that no one else can ruin use.” I’m still waiting. In the meantime, I just grabbed a couple extra pairs of these.
9. #2 Pencils
I once read a customer review of #2 pencils that said “Pencils are pencils.” I mean…yeah. Might as well get the cheapest ones you can find and Dollar General’s got ‘em!
10. Filler Paper
Like my fellow shopper who wrote that pencils are pencils, I’ll add that paper is paper. As much as kids are doing online now, don’t be fooled: they still use paper and plenty of it. Grab a few extra packs to donate to your kids’ teachers.
11. Marble Composition Books
These classic wide-ruled 100 sheet notebooks are handy to have around the house for a bunch of different things. And they come in a range of colors – helpful when you’re keeping track of supplies for more than one subject and more than one kid.
12. 10-pack of Bic Pens
Can you ever have too many pens? The answer is no. Dollar General has the classic Bic ball points you can stash in your car, your purse, kids’ backpacks, kitchen drawer – wherever you might need them! (Which is everywhere, we know.)
13. Crayola Crayons
24 crayons. For ONE dollar? Yep. These really are the best and brightest crayons and getting 2 dozen for a buck is a pretty incredible value.
Back-to-school shopping is one of those things you’ve gotta do. Do yourself a favor and shop at a store that just gets it. At your neighborhood Dollar General store, it’s really true: you’ll find a ton of items that cost just a buck each.
Ace school shopping and check off your whole list for less at Dollar General!
This article was originally published on
