Look, I love the dollar store.
I am a frugal girl, always trying to find some sort of a cheap deal.
I not only find tons of useful things at the dollar store, I also find and make uses for the things that I find!
Is It Possible to Start Homesteading on a Dollar Store Budget?
I know a lot of you who are visiting my homestead’s blog are likely either frugal (like myself), just starting out, or are broke (…..I have a chicken, er, crafting, er planting problem… clearly!) Therefore, what kind of terrible person would I be for failing to share my tips and tricks for homesteading on a dollar store budget?
The dollar store is a magical world full of trinkets and gadgets galore, and I love to help other homesteaders save their hard-earned money.
Are you sure you’re ready for this?
…. Because the dollar store is about to become your new favorite hangout.
(Hey, it’s cheaper than TSC, the local Co-op, or a shoe store so… Win-win!)
Homestead Gardening: Useful Items
The dollar store has a million and one items for gardening! Trust me here, I can’t get enough of what they have for my plants. If you were a fan of my post “How to Garden WITHOUT Spending Money!”, this store is going to blow your mind. Here are some awesome examples:
Seeds: These are the cheapest seeds you will find, aside from these seeds being on clearance or those you gain through trading. For $0.25, you can buy all of the bell pepper (or tomato) seeds you need for the year. You’ll find squash, carrots, corn, spinach, lettuce, flowers, almost everything that you’ll need. I will also say they have excellent germination rates; don’t fear dollar store seeds, because they will not let you down. The downfall is that they’re run of the mill, common varieties, with a limited selection. It’s a great way to bypass my favorite seed company in favor of even cheaper seeds; again, they only carry the most common items!
Pots and Planters: The dollar store sells planters and pots, as well.You could start seedlings in the small ones (they have a 4 pack of small pots that you can use for this purpose.) I have found huge 10” plastic pots there, too! Those are great for potting small hot pepper plants, strawberry plants, or starting mini aloe stands (I call them stands because once you make your aloe plant happy, she’ll create an entire village of plants with pups!)
Drop Cloths: These are excellent for making DIY temporary greenhouses and high tunnels! Be sure to replace these or break them down after you’ve used them, as they are not meant to hold up to UV light. However, they are a teeny, tiny fraction of the cost of greenhouse plastic, making them perfect for the frugal ‘steader.
Creative Pots & Fodder Pans: Here’s where things get fun! You can find a wide variety of plastic containers at the dollar store, all of which could be used for planting, seed starting, and fodder production (make sure that the plastic number on the bottom is one of the food safe ones.) Of course, most of these will not withstand the test of time in the elements (sunlight, temperature fluctuations, etc). However, you can use them for whatever purpose they may serve indoors or as a temporary outdoor item (seedling trays). If left outside, most of the plastic items will become brittle and fracture into lots of tiny pieces; not something you want to happen, trust me!
As a side note, I would like to add that they should last a little while longer for livestock usage if they are kept out of the sunlight; not just in the shade, but in a protected area (such as a coop or barn.)
You could use dish pans or oil pans for starting fodder for your animals, and you could use covered cake or cupcake trays for germinating hard-to-start seeds (strawberries, lavender, or blueberries for example.) The large bowls, storage cubes, or cereal storage containers could be used as protective mini green houses, allowing you to transplant tender plants outside a few weeks before your estimated last frost date.
Thank You Cards: Sounds odd, huh? However, if you plan to swap seeds with other homesteaders (ya know, if you develop a seed trading and hoarding addiction like me!), it’s a good idea to have some thank you cards on hand. Yes, it’s possible to make your own. However, when I can buy the cutest “thank you” cards in a multipack, 6 for $1, I find it hard to compete with as far as time, materials, and cuteness go. I’ll have to share an image of my favorite cards….
Self-Sufficient Laundry Items
Buckets: You can find tons of buckets in all sizes at the dollar store; large enough to wash clothes in, too! I have an infinite amount of buckets, and this store could be the culprit….
Yarn, Needles, and Thread: Being self sufficient means learning to repair your own clothing. For $2, (or even $1, if you find a complete kit!) you can have the needles you need to repair your own clothing, along with a neutral colored thread that you could use. This is also important for other self sufficient projects, such as making pillows, hats, blankets, and even toys. You can also find yarn in many stores, which can be used for knitting or crocheting!
Bleach: Yes, this is a harsh chemical, but sometimes you’re going to have to have bleach. For most, it’s a laundry item; for us, it’s a hardcore disinfectant that we only employ when necessary. This would apply to any pots or planters that had a diseased plant, or items that were in use with Parvo (such as the pupper’s kennel, because she had parvo when she was 9 months old… She’s perfectly fine, though!)
Clothes Line & Clothes Pins: What better way to dry your laundry than by hanging it up outside? Of course, you’ll a line and pins to do this! Even if they don’t have an item specifically labeled as “clothes line”, they definitely have lengths of thick, strong, sturdy rope that will work for that purpose.
Preparedness Items/Emergency Items
Batteries: Sure, the cheap batteries might not be all that and a bag of chips. However, you’ll still find Panasonic batteries at your local dollar store. These batteries are excellent for adding to your stowaway annually; batteries can last for 10+ years, but their lifespan is going to decrease. For $5 a year, you can add another package of A’s, AA’s, AAA’s. D’s, and C’s, giving you a little extra juice if you need it.
Tools: Screwdrivers. Hammers. Box cutters. Pliers, Levels. You name it, you’ll likely find it! Sure, they might be very basic tools, perhaps not the highest of quality, but they’re excellent items to have just in case. I keep several duplicates of frequently used tools, as you never know where you might forget one!
Flashlights and Closet Lights: You’ll find a wide variety of both flashlights and those push lights there, too. You know those mountable round lights that you turn on and off by depressing the dome? I just call them closet lights- and they always have them in stock. They’re not very bright, but they’ll keep your bathroom, coop, closet, car, or any other small space lit just enough to be able to see. The flashlights might not be blindingly bright, but they sure beat wandering aimlessly in the dark.
Candles: Candles can be expensive in any other store, but you can still score cheap ones there. Of course, they’re not the most health-conscious choice, but if you’re homesteading on a budget and need an emergency kit, you’re going to need these. If you don’t have bees, it can be quite expensive to make beeswax candles, too. I cannot justify paying $5/each for a handful of emergency candles that may never get used; I’d rather take my chances on the cheap ones, buy more of them, and place the difference into other prepping items.
Duct Tape: I don’t even need to explain this one. But, have you been in an ACTUAL emergency if you haven’t required duct tape yet? Just kidding! Seriously though, duct tape can and will fix everything… If it can’t fix it, zip ties can.
Zip Ties: Like I just said. This needs to be right beside your duct tape, right beside the “Goats Escaped Again” box. I’m going to be honest: you have no idea how many times zip ties have saved my rear end. Just grab 5 bags of them, and know they’ll rescue you one day.
Budget-Friendly Shelf Stable Food: Here’s another great aisle: the “mini” shelf stable food! Since everything is a dollar there, some things have been miniaturized in order to sell them for $1. This is a perfect choice for the beginner who doesn’t have much stored away or much to spend. You’ll find all sorts of stuff including: powdered milk, coffee, creamer, tea, bottled water, canned vegetables, canned meat, canned fish, peanut butter, jelly, and many other things. You could create a few days worth of emergency food on even the smallest budget there. It’s a great spot to begin my frugal “How to Stock a Pantry For a Year!” challenge.
I recommend that you buy canned vegetables for less than $0.50 if possible, and to stock up on vegetables the most. Thanksgiving season is the BEST time to stock up on this stuff!
Livestock and Pet Items
Leashes: If you have goats, dogs, cats, or bottle babies, you’re going to need some leashes. You’ll need them for vet visits, containing the animals, and leading them around; in addition, I think most animals should be leash trained in case of an emergency. If something goes wrong, leash trained animals move more quickly and confidently with their leader, and all animals are accounted for.
Collars: Again, I like to ensure everything has a collar or a halter. Catching a goat who is evading treatment is much easier with a collar; dogs and cats are more easily identified as lost pets, with collars. Reflective collars can save lives at night time, if someone breaks out and makes their way to a road. Accidents happen, fences break, storms cause damage, animals get out.
Dishes: There are quite a few dishes at the dollar store, including metal dishes, plastic dishes and crocks, and some ceramic ones. These are wonderful for feeding and watering cats, dogs, rabbits, chicks, ducklings, and more; I have more dollar dishes than I know what to do with (Alright, alright. I lied. Spring will be a different story!)
Food and Treat Storage: Don’t even get me started with the number of storage containers you can find there (again); but if you look in the pet section, you’ll find some that are specifically for food and treat storage. The containers might not be big; but they’re great for storing small amounts in a convenient space, rather than having to haul food from pickle barrels or steel trash cans in small amounts every day (such as when feeding an indoor cat when the cat food is stored in the barn.)
Medical Items: Alcohol, peroxide, gauze, tape, ice packs, bandages, you name it! You’ll find all kinds of medical and wound care items for your pets and livestock (and people too!) Not all situations warrant calling a vet, especially when you have dozens or hundreds of animals on the homestead. Proper first aid doesn’t have to be expensive!
Tarps: This is one of the most useful, helpful, wonderful things that you can find for a buck! You might have to double up on these tarps for some uses, but there are so many great ways you can use them. They could be used for animal shelters, hay protection, machinery protection, shade, or other unique purposes that you can come up with.
Kitchen & Food Preservation:
Cheesecloth: Cheese cloth is important for making cheese, preparing jams, and draining mashes (such as riced cauliflower when making Keto pizza). Cheese cloth can actually be quite expensive at other retailers, so stock up on them for a cheaper price. Cheesemaking is an incredibly budget-friendly way to work on your homesteading skills, as is jam making! (if you have fruit in your refrigerator that’s teetering on the edge of going bad, jam is a great way to use it up.)
Mesh Screens: Mesh screens are perfect for draining, dehydrating, or curing food. You could upcycle window screens for this purpose, too; but you can usually find mesh at your dollar store if you don’t have the option already!
Mesh Strainers: I absolutely love mesh strainers! They are so incredibly useful for draining liquid from solids or purees! I use them for seed saving (for washing seeds before and after fermentation, and for separating small seeds from chaff and flower stems, like catnip), for straining and cleaning berries, and for ice bathing blanched food. They’re also excellent for sifting and baking; I have a dedicated flour sifter, so my mesh strainers aren’t used for much baking!
Baking Sheets: I have more baking sheets than most sane people should, but I am not ashamed! Usually, you’ll pay a minimum of $3 to $5 for a baking sheet. However, you can get them at the dollar store. They’re thinner, not quite as strong; but during harvest season, you need all the sheets you can get. You can use them for oven-drying food (for those who can’t afford a dehydrator yet, dehydrating food is a great preservation method), as a platter for flash freezing foods (like pulled pork patties, individual lasagna servings, blanched cut veggies, and more to reduce waste, cook in bulk, and save serious money). Not to mention, you’ll want them when the holidays come for baking cookies and homemade ornaments as inexpensive gifts!
Glass Jars: We can find single mason jars, with or without lids, in our store. Bigger jars may be lidless, but they could be used to preserve food through lacto-fermentation; all you need to add is a cover to keep dust and dirt out of the jars (such as cheese cloth with twine or a rubber band.) This is an affordable, easy, budget-friendly way to preserve food. Try making some sauerkraut and find out how easy it is! In addition, I use glass jars for DIY health products, such as this Non-Toxic DIY Baking Soda Deodorant. If I don’t feel like buying an entire case of jars, I head to the dollar store!
Salt & Other Spices: If you need spices for cooking, salt for preserving food, or spices for crafting DIY pesticides (cayenne pepper and garlic powder, for example), this is a cheap place for them.
Spray Bottles: Spray bottles are necessary for homemade cleaners, crafting, seedlings, cuttings, homemade pesticides or fungicides, and plenty more. Before you know it, you’re going to have over a dozen spray bottles full of various concoctions! Spray bottles are a gateway product; one day, you might even find yourself making a homemade body spray for them!
This post is a work in progress, with more to come as time moves forward!
If you notice that something is missing from this list and would like to see it added for the fledgling homesteaders, be sure to leave a comment down below!
