Hosting Secret Weapon: The Dollar Tree
I don’t know about you, but I’m ALL about a good deal. I mean if I can save as little as $5 on something, I’m gonna do it. Because when you start hosting gatherings (of any kind), the costs really start adding up.
But like most places, if you take the time to really explore your local Dollar Tree, you might be surprised at what you’ll find! Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you you’ll find plates as cute as Anthropologie or decor as cute as Target. That’s just not going to happen. But there are quite a few things the Dollar Tree has that can really come in clutch for a host!
Below is a list of things I always get at the Dollar Tree, things I have seen occasionally in the store or use occasionally, and things I have seen but ultimately buy elsewhere. Now obviously, this is based on my own experience, so your local Dollar Tree may be different. In your area the Dollar General or 99cent Store (which I love) might be the place to go! I encourage you to explore them all and get familiar with what each store sells. Sometimes the smaller stores even have better stock than the larger ones! Either way, I really think it’s worth your time.
Things I always get at the Dollar Tree:
Plates - Specifically white plates and clear glass plates. If you ever need to grab a few extra plates, mugs, bowls, etc. this is the place to get them. You can always pair them with a cuter/fancier dish to make it look nicer. And bonus, if a guest breaks a plate it won’t be the end of the world!
Glasses - Fun fact, the Dollar Tree actually has decent wine glasses. They’re a little on the heavy side, but they do the job just fine (and again, you don’t have to worry if one breaks). They also have a fairly decent dinner glassware selection and mason jars! Now if I need to buy a bunch of mason jars, I usually break out the coupons and hit a craft store. But if I just need a handful, I always head to the Dollar Tree.
Balloons - This really depends on how many you need, but if I’m doing a balloon banner or want just a few balloons, I stock up here. Now, they are usually limited to the basic colors (more fun colors can be found on Amazon or at craft stores) but just like with the plates, if you mix them in with the other fancier balloons then you’ll never know the difference.
Candles - Whether it’s tea lights, candlesticks, battery operated, scented or just regular ole white candles, the Dollar Tree is always always my first stop. They usually sell multiple to a pack and I personally only use these types of candles for gatherings (I save those yankee candles for my me time) so it doesn’t make sense for me to spend an arm and a leg.
Things I get occasionally at the Dollar Tree:
Chalkboards + Clipboards - Every now and then I see chalkboards and clipboards at the Dollar Tree. They are usually small, which is honestly the perfect size for dinner party decor, and they actually work fairly well. They usually have more variety around the back-to-school season, but you can often find one or two different versions in the supply section!
Tins - I’ve started putting out to-go containers at all my gatherings and sometimes they go unused and other times they are a HIT! But it’s always a thoughtful touch to have something your guests can put leftovers in (especially if it’s potluck). And to be honest with you, I get mine from Amazon (which will be a whooooole other blog post). BUT the Dollar Tree has a bunch of fun tins, especially during the holiday season. Plus tins are also a really easy/quick thing to decorate with and add dimension and height to your decor. You can also use them to hold things at your gathering like silverware or florals!
Party hats + Props - If you’re going to have any kind of photo booth, especially around a holiday, the Dollar Tree should be your first stop. They have a good range of fun hats, masks, headbands, etc. and having a variety of options for your guests is key to having the perfect photo booth. They really knock it out of the park during the holidays though (the amount of Santa hats I’ve bought from them is a little unreal). They also typically have other “props” like giant sunglasses and Hawaiian leis, that can add a lot of fun to any photo booth.
Seasonal decor - If you’re looking for something easy to add to your holiday get-together and don’t want to break the bank, the Dollar Tree is where it’s at. Specifically if you are looking for fun signs or small decor. Sure, some of the decor can feel a little cheesy, but if you sort through it you can usually find something pretty decent for half the price as most stores. Just think of it like the See Spot Save section at Target. You gotta dig deep, but if you want to save a few bucks, it’s usually worth it.
Paper - I have a whole blog post coming about how useful wrapping paper can be when decorating a party, but truly the Dollar Tree is the unsung hero of the wrapping paper world. True, you can find some insanely cute wrapping paper at other stores like Paper Source or Target, but honestly the Dollar Tree has a pretty decent selection. I have also consistently seen large rolls of brown kraft paper in the supplies section! This is so easy to grab to make a fun menu board for the wall or cover the table with! There are so many things you can do with kraft paper to elevate your hosting game (thanks Pinterest!) and to get a roll for $1? Such a steal.
Favors + Takeaways - You can always find fun little trinkets like ornaments or notebooks at the Dollar Store to give out to your guests, but I dare you to dream just a little bigger. If you’re down to get a little crafty, the amount of things you can upgrade with just a little bit of DIY magic is totally worth the $1. You can spray paint almost anything (like mini animal toys for a cute baby shower or picture frames to fill with snapshots from the gathering), and honestly a chalkboard painted gift is always a hit.
Things I get somewhere else:
Food - This is probably obvious, but I would just rather get the food for my gathering from my local grocery store. That being said, if you’re using food to decorate (like beans or peas during the fall) then by all means, go ahead and save a few bucks! I’ve definitely done it.
Flower pots + Vases - This is really depending on the size you want. If you’re looking for larger vases or flower pots, then yes $1 is a good deal. But if you’re looking for small pots or vases you can usually find them for less than $1 at craft stores or even Walmart!
Pens + Markers - It may be just me, but I’ve never had much luck with functioning pens or markers from the Dollar Tree. They typically dry out the second the cap is off or they’ve never worked to begin with. Some pencils and crayons I’ve gotten from there have worked fine, and if you’re just needing them for decor purposes then you should be okay. But if you’re going to have your guests write anything at all, I’d check out Amazon or most any other store first!
The more you host, the more you’ll learn where the deals that matter the most to you are. I have plenty of other stores that I use exclusively in certain areas of hosting (hey Trader Joes!) and don’t worry, I’ll share them all with you. But I wanted to start with the Dollar Tree because I think it gets a bad rap for being cheap. And to that I say, WHO CARES. If you are the one taking the time to host a gathering of any kind, you’re the one who is most likely footing the bill for that gathering. So unless your guests are going to pay for the $10 World Market glasses (which if they are, that’s cool! Go for it!) it’s perfectly fine to not break the bank and use the $1 glasses from the Dollar Tree. I promise you, you’re guests will have just as good a time.