You get what you pay for is a saying we all know, and for the most part have experienced its truth. Sometimes we don’t care knowing full well we bought whatever we bought for a limited use.

However, even the budget-friendly, money-saving excitement at dollar stores filled with goodies and deals is not always worth it. According to numerous sources like Reader’s Digest, The Thrifty Apartment website, USA Today, and even home specialist Bob Vila, here are 10 items you should pay the extra few dollars for.

Hair and Beauty Products

Cosmetics and hair care product claims aren’t regulated, they do expire, and use harsh chemicals and alcohol that make them cheaper to make. Is your skin and hair worth it? This includes sunscreen that can include those harmful “forever” chemicals and toxins.

Pet Food

The unhealthy or missing ingredients are why it’s cheap. Or the name brand may be expired or close to it. Is your pet’s health worth the risk?  Storage is another potential problem at dollar stores because turnover isn’t there and rodent contamination has been an issue.

Medicine and Vitamins

If something is too good to be true, then it probably is. The FDA has been known to send warning letters to dollar store companies for selling over-the-counter drugs from foreign manufacturers. Also, over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and generic vitamins haven’t necessarily been subjected to the same testing and regulations and may even be missing active ingredients or even expired.

Feminine Products

Tampons, pads, panty liners, and other feminine hygiene products possibly filled with toxins in your body? No thanks.

Plastic Cookware, Utensils, Plates

From plastic cooking utensils to those plastic forks and spoons that grace our bar-b-ques, these are questionable at best from dollar stores. Because they’re so cheap they could easily contain those “forever” chemicals that aren’t flame retardant or release toxins when you add heat.

Oven Mitts 

They have one job: to protect you from getting burned however dollar store mitts are often thin, cheaply made, and may not be flame retardant.

Toys, Baby Products, and School Supplies

Cheap toys are made with cheap materials that may not be toxin-free, and that includes plastic school supplies, too.  From health and safety issues to chemicals and toxins, it’s best to stay away. Obviously, this goes for baby products like bottles.

Batteries

Dollar store batteries are more than likely old or generic, made from carbon zinc and not lithium. They’re also more likely to leak and damage your electronics and gadgets.

Powerstrips 

With thinner wires that can’t handle power loads to just poorly made there’s a very real safety issue with fire.

Phone Chargers and Accessories

It’s simple, they’re junk, cheaply made, and can damage your phone or computer plus they break easily and don’t last long at all. I mean why even go there?

Knives

Do you really want to use cheaply made, dull knives when the entire point of quality is safety? Quality matters here and often they’re forever dull which is incredibly dangerous.

Also, always check expiration dates, especially with laundry detergent and fresh food like milk.