You're Wasting Money If You Buy This Accessory At The Dollar Store

The dollar store is generally a good option if you're buying items like school supplies, seasonal décor, party supplies, and certain types of groceries. Outside of these categories and single-use or disposable items, though, there's a decent chance you could be making the wrong decision — unless you absolutely know what you're doing. Since dollar stores are dedicated to keeping prices below a certain benchmark, items that are traditionally expensive (if they're made from expensive high-quality materials, for example) would be fundamentally compromised when sold at a dollar store.

Therefore, things that need quality metals, like most tools, don't make for wise purchases at dollar stores. This sentiment also applies to jewelry. Unless you plan to use the jewelry only once or twice, don't expect these dollar store versions to last very long in your accessory drawer. There are even safety concerns about such cheap accessories: In the past, both Family Dollar and Dollar Store have had to recall jewelry for high levels of lead. This means that you might have to worry about your skin making contact with toxic metals in cheap jewelry, which could lead to bouts of contact dermatitis.

Say you buy a watch for $5 from the dollar store. It might be a decent dress watch you could wear for an event, but it will likely not come in a durable, water-tight case. You can probably expect to use something like that for a few months if you take good care of it, and with heavy use, even less time. However, a more expensive watch — like Casio's alternative to the Rolex Submariner diving watch, which typically goes for under $70 – will be good quality and water resistant, and it could last through decades of constant wear. If the choice is between a $5 watch every 6 to 12 months or a one-time $50 purchase, there's only one answer for the truly frugal shopper.

This isn't investment advice, but there's another factor to take into account as well: Good jewelry might actually appreciate in value, and you could end up selling it for much more than what you bought it for. There are many Rolex watches you can buy pre-owned — some for as low as $1,500 or less — and these can keep or raise their value across the span of decades. So, apart from better craftsmanship, lower chances of health complications, and long-term savings, proper jewelry could actually make you more money in the long run.