Shopping: dollar store update

Self-tutoring about shopping: the tutor mentions a recent trip to a dollar store.

Every year, starting perhaps October or November, my wife mentions that we need a new daily planner. She’s right, of course; I just never think of it before she does. In 2023, the same happened, but not perhaps until late November, since our household was busy.

We did a post-Christmas shop between Christmas and New Year’s which included a visit to a warehouse store. The warehouse store is where we normally pick up next year’s planner; it being a warehouse store, the planners have come in groups of two. My wife typically gives the other one away.

Anyhow, this year, the warehouse store didn’t seem to have any planners available; perhaps we missed out on them. “We’ll go to the dollar store,” my wife commented. A couple of days later, we did.

A visit to a dollar store is always interesting; I don’t imagine the most expensive boutique in the world could compete. Moreover, I’m welcome at the dollar store, but never will be, I expect, at the other.

My wife and I entered the dollar store and, like normal, we were immediately distracted with impulse buys. It took us about 15 minutes to even reach the section where we found the 2024 daily planner. One can count on the dollar store.

I love the “seasonal” aisles at the dollar store. The one that had been Christmas was well-nigh empty, all fifty feet or so, except for a few feet on the far end that already contained Valentine’s goods. One wonders how full that aisle is by now.

I recall, a couple of years back, asking at a dollar store if they had an Automotive section. Then, the clerk politely laughed at me (I thought it was a funny question too) and referred me to the Hardware section.

Things have changed, however: the recent visit to the dollar store revealed an Automotive section, perhaps only a few feet wide.

The Christmas chocolate wasn’t steeply discounted; I guess it all eats the same, before or after the Holidays.

All in all, the visit was entertaining. I think we bought $30 worth of stuff.