Four tips on how to shop at the dollar store

There's no trick to shopping for greeting cards and gift bags at the dollar store, but if you're after some items to spruce up your home decor, here are a few tips on how to find the good stuff.

1. For convenience, I prefer a dollar store chain that is large, neat and well-stocked like a mini department store. I save time by always knowing which aisle to look in for a vase or a picture hanging kit.

My favorite store here in Canada is Dollarama. Dollar Tree is one of the U.S. stores that are popular. Don't discount the smaller, less organized stores entirely. If you have the time to sift through some clutter, treasures can be found anywhere. I once found a clear glass embossed cup and saucer set at one of these independent stores.