Homeschooling on a limited budget can be a tricky thing. Sure, the library and the internet are both great free resources, but it’s impossible to homeschool without a cache of supplies at your disposal. As a family of 12 living on one income, we usually only do any major school supply shopping twice a year, so the local dollar store has become our go-to place for those times we need to stock up but don’t have hundreds of dollars to do it.
Before I share with you the frugal deals we find there, I’m going to be honest and point out that there are some supplies that you should stay away from there because the quality just isn’t what it should be. There aren’t many, but I’m hoping to save you the trouble of purchasing these items there and regretting it later.
3 Homeschool Supplies not to Get at the Dollar Store
–Crayons- Dollar store crayons tend to be very waxy and break very easily
–Pencil Sharpeners- Don’t waste your time; they don’t work.
–Lead Pencils– The tips break off too easily, and they run out after about one hour.
50 Homeschool Supplies You Should Definitely Get at the Dollar Store
–Pencils- Some people don’t like them, but they’re good enough when you’re in a bind.
–Gel Pens
–Foam Crafts
–Foam stickers
–Foam sheets– Can you tell we love to work with foam?
–Glue
–Glue sticks
–Scotch tape
–Masking tape
–Duct tape
–Magnetic tape
–Whiteboard markers
–Mini whiteboards
–Stickers
–Pencil pouches
–Play dough
–Modeling clay
–Finger paint
–Washable paint
–Paint brushes
–Poster boards
–Markers– We prefer the permanent markers, but we’ve used others with no problems.
–Pens
–Notebook paper
–Journals
–File folders– We use these all the time for lapbooks.
–Subject dividers
–Butcher paper– We use this for murals and other art projects.
–Paper clips
–Thumb tacks
–Cotton balls– These are great for making snow, clouds, and fur.
–Paper lunch bags– Puppets, anyone?
–Googly eyes
–Dice
–Flash cards
–Workbooks
–Coloring books
–Puzzle books
–Puzzles
–Picture books
–Paper plates- These are great for making clocks and all sorts of crafts.
–Drawing paper
–Construction paper
–Decorative printer paper
–3-ring binders
–Colored pencils
–Playing cards
–Balloons
–Storage bins
–Index cards
The supplies that made this list are all things that we have bought from the dollar store, used, and found to be worth the trip. What supplies do you get for $1?
I’ve bought rulers, binder clips, erasers, and rubber bands at the dollar store. I think I’ve bought all the items you listed at one time or another and learned about the crayon quality first hand. I wish American dollar stores were more like the Canadian dollar stores we used to frequent when we lived in Canada. Their stuff is cuter! I still have Canadian dollar store scissors with fun prints on them.
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Really Camie? I was just reading this thinking I wish our Dollar stores were actually $1.00 here in Canada. It is true years ago the stuff was better, cheaper (as in1.00) and lasted forever. Now it is 2-3.00 and breaks super quick 😦 We do get elastics, index cards, cheap markers for ink art and cute stickers there.
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Yeah, it’s the fact that everything is $1 at these stores that keeps me going to them. I’ll go to the others, but only for stuff like laundry detergent, cat food, shampoo, etc.
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Well it has been a few years since I’ve lived in Canada, Lol and I know there were items higher that a dollar, but I was able to buy some quality toys for the church nursery back then, plus CUTE office supplies in fun colors and prints that aren’t available here.
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I wanted to list binder clips but couldn’t remember what they were called! Next time. I’ve never been to a dollar store in Canada. (I haven’t been there since I was 3, and now that a passport is needed, I’ll probably never go because I don’t have one.) Scissors with prints on them sound cute, though!
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You know what I also love – Target. At the front of the store (the bargain area), they usually have some great craft supplies or even books for $3 or less. 🙂
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They do have some cute things, too. 🙂
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I love the Dollar Tree! I buy all that stuff too. But Crayolas are the only brand for me! Believe me, I’ve tried every other brand out there. Complete waste of even a dollar!!
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So true!
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I love our $1 store! We buy a lot of shaving cream, baking soda, corn starch, and food coloring for making goop, sensory doughs, and playing.
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Oh yes. Gotta have the gooey stuff, right?
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I’m shocked at how many things you can still get for a dollar!
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I love it. I’m amazed by the stuff I find at the Dollar Tree. 🙂
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Did you ever think you’d write a must have list that included “Google eyes?” Ha! I love homeschooling!
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That should be on one of those “You know you’re a homeschooler when ____” lists, shouldn’t it?
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Great list! I love the $ store!
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It’s one of my favorite places. 🙂
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Great list! I just love shopping at the dollar store!
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It’s one of my favorite places!
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This is a wonderful list of supplies to pick up at the dollar store. School supplies can be super expensive at the grocery store!
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Oh, you’re telling me!
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I binge dollar stores when I’m in the USA….sooo good so cheap!
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One of my favorite places!
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Great tips for us as we return to the US! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com this week!
Tina
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Hope you settle in smoothly!
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We love the art pads from Dollar Tree. They’re a buck and the paper is actually quite bright and sturdy.
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We like those, too!
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This is an awesome list! We also love foam sheets. 😀 Thanks for sharing!
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