Saving money at the holidays isn’t always easy. There are gifts to buy for everyone on your list, food for parties and family gatherings, admission costs for entertainment and activities, and more. That’s why I love the dollar store Christmas section.
The dollar store is my go-to for so many Christmas essentials and last-minute necessities. When it comes to stocking stuffers, I like to keep it simple and affordable. I stay away from pricier items and stick to cheap but fun and useful surprises. I can pretty much fill every stocking with goodies from the Dollar Tree.
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to grab what you need, because most dollar store Christmas items go fast!
Grab this list and head to your local store to stock up on these items that offer the best value and bang for your buck.
11 best dollar store Christmas buys you don’t want to miss:
1) Christmas Craft Supplies
Whether you’re a crafter or are just starting to explore your creativity, now is the time to buy Christmas craft supplies. The dollar store has almost everything you need to make adorable Christmas DIYs. From paints to faux florals to ribbons to Mod Podge, they have it all.
The only problem is that the dollar store sells out of so many items quickly, so if you see it on shelves now and think you might need it, grab it!
It’s the perfect time to tap into your creative skills. You can create your own charming holiday decor and great DIY Christmas gifts for everyone on your list. With money being tight for many families this year, a DIY gift is an awesome way to show you care without spending a lot of cash.
The Dollar Tree also sells a lot of cute children’s craft kits. Pick up a few different ones and plan an afternoon of Christmas crafting fun with the kids. It’s a frugal way to get into the holiday spirit.
2) Batteries
There are few things worse than receiving a gift that requires batteries and not having any on hand. This is especially true for toys since so many of them require batteries and typically don’t come with them included. So inconvenient!
Think ahead and grab a few packs of different sizes of batteries so that you’re ready for anything on Christmas morning. If you’re giving a gift that requires batteries, it’s thoughtful and convenient to include a pack so that the recipient can enjoy it right away.
Even if they don’t end up being needed immediately, it never hurts to have extra batteries on hand.
3) Dollar Store Christmas Mugs
Do you set up a hot cocoa bar or dress up your home coffee station during the holidays? The best place to get adorable Christmas mugs for insanely cheap is the dollar store!
In fact, they have just about everything you need for a hot cocoa bar, including marshmallows, hot cocoa packets, candy canes, cute straws, sprinkles, etc.
The dollar store Christmas mugs are such an amazing value because they have tons of designs and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From Santa mugs to simple standard coffee cups to to-go coffee tumblers, you’re sure to find one you love among their options.
Their mugs also make a great last-minute gift for neighbors, teachers, your mailman, etc. You can easily put together a cute mug with hot cocoa, instant coffee, or tea. Just tie it up with a festive ribbon and you’ve got a budget-friendly gift in a hurry.
4) Baking Supplies
Are you hosting the cookie bake session and swap this year or just love to indulge during the holidays?
From Betty Crocker baking mixes to muffin tins to measuring cups, everything you need to bake up sweet holiday treats is at the dollar store. It’s the perfect place to grab ingredients and fun items like cookie cutters, sprinkles, and even cake decorating tips.
One of my favorites is the Betty Crocker cookie mixes. The packages are a little smaller than you find in the supermarket, but they’re just the right serving size for making a quick batch to enjoy on a cold night.
5) Candy
Candy is a Christmas stocking staple!
The dollar store always carries movie-theater style boxes of classics like Reese’s Pieces, Goobers, and Sno-Caps. They also have cute seasonal candy with holiday wrappers, boxes of candy canes, gum, mints, and more.
Candy paired with a gift card makes for a quick and easy gift.
Just try to not eat all of the candy before it makes it into the gift baskets and stockings 😉
6) Christmas Tree Ornaments
Trim your tree with ornaments from the dollar store. Whether you like to do a themed-tree with a different look every year or are just looking for some filler ornaments, you’ll find decent variety. The quality is surprisingly good, too.
Tree ornaments also make a great gift topper. Tieing one on with a ribbon just steps up the presentation of any wrapped gift box or gift bag.
If you see an ornament that you like, grab it soon, because they tend to go fast!
7) Baskets & Items for DIY Gift Baskets
One of the easiest, most versatile, and affordable gift ideas for Christmas is a DIY gift basket. A themed basket is the perfect budget-friendly idea for anyone on your list.
The variety of items available at the dollar store makes it so easy to fill up a basket, gift bag, or another container with thoughtful and useful goodies. You can add candies, toiletries, stationery, toys, fuzzy socks, etc. Simple DIY gift baskets are perfect for coworkers, teachers, bus drivers, neighbors, Secret Santa exchanges, and more.
Add in festive basket filler and you have an easy and cheap present that doesn’t look cheap.
8) Christmas Tins & Containers
When it comes to Christmas containers and cookie tins, I confess, I have trouble not buying them all! There are so many cute designs and such an amazing array of sizes at the dollar store.
They’re simply perfect for storing baked goods at home, gifting them to friends and loved ones, or taking dessert to a holiday get-together. You really cannot beat the value and selection.
Dollar Tree also carries really cute plastic food storage containers for holidays & seasons. If you’re gifting homemade baked goods or even bringing a dish to a get-together, these adorable containers are perfect.
9) Gift Bags & Boxes
Whatever size gift bags or gift boxes you need, the dollar store has got you covered!
From extra-large bags to jewelry boxes to shirt boxes, you can find an incredible array of options for only a buck.
Smaller sized bags and shirt boxes can often be found in multi-packs, making them an excellent value.
Another big bonus is the variety of designs, especially for gift bags. You can find cute ones for kids, classic Christmas images, and more. You can even make easy wall art out of beautiful gift bag images.
10) Wrapping Paper
If you’re a Dollar Tree lover like I am, you may have noticed that the wrapping paper quality and selection have gone up substantially in the last several years. They now carry Hallmark brand prints, including popular kid’s characters like Mickey, Star Wars, and Disney Princesses. They also have licensed images from movies like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
The rolls are smaller than you can find at other stores like Target and Walmart, but they’re more than enough to wrap several gifts.
I love to pick out a roll or two for each of my family members and wrap their gifts in a themed or color-coordinated way. This means I don’t have tons of half-used rolls left sitting around year after year.
Another bonus? Most of the designs come with the handy gridlines on the back to make cutting so much cleaner and easier.
11) Dollar Store Christmas Stocking Stuffers
The Dollar Tree is my go-to store for stocking stuffers. I like to keep it simple with a mix of useful items and fun little surprises.
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids:
- Candy
- Slime and play dough
- Coloring books
- Crayons
- Surprise toys
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Her:
- Fuzzy socks
- Lip gloss
- Nail polish
- Face masks
- Lotion
- Soaps
- Makeup tools
- Stationary
- Candles
- Photo frames
Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Him:
- Fun socks
- Snacks like nuts and beef jerky
- Car air freshener
- Car cleaning accessories
- Stationary
- Photo frames
- Basic tools
Don’t wait to pick up these dollar store Christmas buys. They start to fly off the shelves well before the holiday season is in full swing, so grab what you need now. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and money by picking up these items for just a dollar.
