Most people shopping at Dollar General have no idea that some items on the shelves could ring up for just one penny. These penny items are usually products that have gone through the store’s markdown process and should have been pulled from the sales floor, but sometimes a few get overlooked.
That’s part of what makes penny shopping so interesting. There’s no special aisle or sign pointing out the deals, but certain clues can help you figure out which products are worth checking before you head to the register.
Here are eight things experienced Dollar General penny shoppers keep an eye out for.
1. Shop on Tuesdays
Tuesday has become a popular shopping day for Dollar General penny hunters because new markdowns and penny lists have traditionally appeared around the start of the week. Shopping early may give you a better chance of finding items that haven’t yet been removed from the shelves.
2. Look for Merchandise From Past Seasons
Seasonal merchandise is a good place to start because leftover products can sometimes remain on shelves long after a holiday or season has ended. Christmas decorations in January, Halloween items months later, and summer products still sitting around in winter are all worth checking.
3. Pay Attention to Colored Symbols on Tags
Dollar General uses colored dots and other symbols on certain price tags to identify merchandise groups and seasonal collections. These markings don’t automatically mean an item costs a penny, but they can help you spot older products worth scanning.
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4. Check the Clearance Section Carefully
The clearance section is an obvious place to start, but don’t assume the sticker shows the final price. Some products receive further markdowns after reaching clearance, so older items sitting there may be worth scanning again.
5. Look for Products With Older Packaging
Products with older packaging can sometimes be leftovers from a previous version that the store is trying to clear out. If you spot two versions of the same product with different packaging, scan the older one to see whether its price has dropped further.
6. Watch for Items With Multiple Markdown Stickers
Several clearance stickers on one product may mean it has been marked down more than once and has been sitting in the store for a while. That doesn’t guarantee a one-cent price, but it’s a good reason to check the current price before putting it back.
7. Scan Before You Head to the Register
The Dollar General app can help you check prices while you’re shopping, so you don’t have to guess based on clearance stickers or shelf labels. Make sure you’ve selected the correct store because prices and available merchandise can differ from one location to another.
8. Check the Places Other Shoppers Ignore
Don’t spend your entire shopping trip in the clearance aisle because older merchandise can sometimes be mixed in with regular products, seasonal displays, and endcaps. Look behind newer items and keep an eye out for products that seem out of place or belong to collections that disappeared months ago.
