11 Summertime Essentials from Dollar Tree

 

Do you look forward to summertime?  I know I do.  Swimming, grilling, eating hot dogs, macaroni salad, and ice cream till I explode.  The patio furniture is clean and the winter debris in the backyard is mostly cleaned up and ready for company.

Time to stock on summertime essentials; that means a trip to Dollar Tree. This store is so much fun to browse around in. AND they take coupons. Stop in, look around and see how budget-friendly this store is.

I just found out, by the way, that you can order online and have your purchases shipped free to your local store for pick-up.  AND, while they sell case lots you don’t have to buy full cases of any single product.  Most things have a minimum purchase requirement of 4, and you can mix and match products.  Not everything qualifies, but there are hundreds of products that do qualify. You will also be alerted to any hot sales that are going on to save even more.

Sign up for Dollar Tree’s loyalty program-Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club-to get ideas, opportunities for first-to-buy offers, contests, and inspiration.  They have some fun product videos on the members’ site.

 

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Summertime Holiday Decorations

We have so many summer parties, including Memorial Day, The 4th of July, and Labor Day, to look forward to. This means Bar-B-Ques, long weekends, company, and streaming war movies for days on end.

You pick your summer party theme. Do you want a beach party? Will it be a pool party? Do you have plans to celebrate patriotic holidays?

There is a huge selection of decorations for your house or yard or just go all out with the Red, White, and Blue.  Balloons, flags, streamers, bunting. Show your patriotic spirit.

Graduation Party Necessities

Oh, and Graduations are coming up.  You have every right to be proud of your kiddo, whether it’s from kindergarten or Med School, you can throw a fun, festive party without totally busting the budget.  Get your graduation party ideas here, grab your decorations and supplies.  You can find what you need to throw the kind of party you want AND you can find all of these supplies in your school colors.

Beach/Pool Toys

Can you imagine growing up without pool noodles?  And boogie boards?  The first time I saw pool noodles I became a kid again.  I haven’t had a summer without them since.  Having enough for everyone is easy, you can color-code all of your guests’ accessories.  How much fun is that?!

Flip Flops

Another must-have for summertime is cheap flip-flops.  Stepping on hot pavement or broken glass or sand spurs or melted chewing gum, Ewww, can quickly spoil your fun.  Easy-peasy flip-flops protect your feet and show off your newly polished tootsies.

Sunscreen

Another must-have, not only for summertime but all year long.  Keep the correct SPF on hand for everyone, and remember to reapply frequently.  Especially if you are in and out of the water.  It’s so easy to forget about it.  And the lobster burn is such a painful reminder.  Hey, another use for the timer app on your phone.

Pest Control

I try to use the least toxic, most pet-friendly pest control products possible to control the critters that can ruin an outdoor party.  Dollar Tree stocks some good options, including fly swatters and pest strips, doesn’t get more low-tech than that.  The mosquito coils are quite effective and less noxious than some of the fogger products I have tried for outdoor pest control

Try using grits on the anthills, except for fire ants.  You have to pull out the big guns on those suckers.  If they would just stay in the back corners of the yard, way, way, way in the back, we wouldn’t have to go to such measures to kill them.

It’s like finding spiders in the house.  If they would just stay in the corners and do their job they would live a long life.  Getting in my bed or my bathtub, well that’s a breach and is an offense punishable by death by “fly swatter”.

Aluminum Pans/Foil

Who doesn’t love using the aluminum pans for cooking and storing foods in the summer?  They are great for packing up the leftovers when the cook-out is over.

Use the lidded pan for meal prep.  The medium pan is perfect for a meal for two.  When I have a cook-a-thon I can prepare and freeze several meals at once.  That’s a subject for another day.

Using foil to either line a baking dish or to prepare your favorite veggie foil packet recipes for the grill means less clean-up.  You can recycle all of the foil products when you are finished with them.

Freezer Bags

During the summer use freezer bags to put up excess fresh fruits and veggies in the freezer.  Whether it’s from your garden or taking advantage of super good sales at the grocery store or Farmer’s Market.  The quart bags hold enough for a meal for 4 and they stack easily in the freezer.  This is one of the best containers for freezing fruits and vegetables. You can then pull them out of the freezer to enjoy all year long.

Plates, Cups, Napkins

Mealtime in the summer is so often something grilled, cold salads, and eating out by the pool.  If you don’t want to use the “good plates” or wash a lot of dishes consider paper plates, napkins, and cups for those outside meals.

Snacks

How about Movies Under the Stars this summer.  Check out the many DIY backyard movie ideas on Pinterest.  Be prepared with these large popcorn tubs.  Make popcorn the way you like it and pass it around.

For more cheap summertime activities check out my post here

If the kids are playing outside in the pool or even just running through the sprinkler, bring out some Italian Ices or Freezer pops for a cool treat.  And to turn their lips blue, and red, and green.

Decorative Tableware

There is always a good selection of festive, colorful, UNBREAKABLE, outdoor serving pieces.  Look for matching/contrasting table linens to set a fun table.  Even a simple meal of burgers or hotdogs can become a special occasion.  Put some Lemon-Pepper thighs on the grill and you have a feast!

You can get all of the supplies you need for a memorable summertime for you and your family.  The selection is great and the prices are even better.  Let me know what your special summertime entertaining traditions are.