Are Dollar Stores Always Cheapest? The Answer Might Surprise You

The first time I set foot in a dollar store, it was at the urging of a friend who was eager to help me load up on party bag supplies for my son's birthday on the cheap. As I walked around scooping up small party favors, I couldn't help but utter, "Oh my goodness, everything in here really is a dollar" throughout that shopping trip. Fast forward a number of years later, and many of the items at my local dollar store now retail for $1.25 (I guess it still counts as a dollar store if it starts with a "1").