When your living in your van (or just building it out), there are several items you can find on the cheap at your local Dollar Tree. Today, I’m going to run down our Top 10 favorite finds for #vanlife at Dollar Tree. To be clear, while you can find things now at Dollar Tree for $5 or $10, all the items listed below are $1.25. Ready or not, here we go!
1. Soft and Strong Toilet Paper
We actually reviewed this brand of toilet paper, because it’s just so good. Better than the name brands, and a heck of a lot cheaper. They come in a typical pack of 4 rolls. How can you not take advantage of this deal?
2. Custom Size Paper Towels
A lot cheaper than the cheapo stuff you can pick up at Wal-Mart, these paper towels are strong, while having tear lines every half sheet (rather than just a full sheet). This means you can save waste (always a good thing in #vanlife) and a roll will last you twice as long! Perfect!
3. LA’s Totally Awesome Power Oxygen Base Cleaner
Unless you are one of the lucky ones that gets to have a washer in their RV, you are going to be spending your laundry days at public laundromats. To help keep your clothes smelling (and looking) their best, pick up some of this Oxygen Base Cleaner. Comparable to the OxyClean you can find at Wal-Mart, this stuff does the trick for a fraction of the price.
4. White Foam Trays
While most days of #vanlife you will probably be using reusable plastic plates, these foam trays are good for making small meals (sandwiches, etc) without dirtying a plate. Or, sometimes you just don’t feel like doing dishes yet, and these will do in a pinch. They are rectangular, and a lot sturdier than most Styrofoam plates. You get a respectable 30 of these in a pack.
5. Plastic Removable Wall Hooks
Ever heard of Command brand hooks? These are similar, but by a different company. You get a pack of three, and they work pretty well to hold things up without you having to drill into your walls. They are sold in a 3-pack, and come in a variety of colors (including transparent).
6. Tool Bench Hardware Carbiner Clips with Key Rings
Ever tried pricing carabiners? Most of them are made for use on long camping trips, and their price reflects their niche market. These come in a two-pack, and while they may not be as strong as the high-priced ones, these have stood up to holding everything from backpacks to camera bags and more in our van. They come in a 2-pack in a variety of colors.
7. Scotties 2-Ply Facial Tissues
Ever get the sniffles? Of course! Everybody does at some point, so having a box or two of facial tissues around is a good idea. These are strong without being too rough on your nose, and comes in boxes of 126.
8. Essentials Storage Box with Lid
These storage boxes are great for storing all sorts of things during #vanlife. Whether it’s medicines, PEZ or extra USB cords (just some of the things we store in ours), these handy storage boxes come with lids to keep everything inside. They come priced per box, but the lid is included.
9. Plastic Flatware Storage Tray
Most every van has a silverware drawer, and while you can get much more expensive ones elsewhere, this storage tray works just fine for keeping silverware organized. For $1.25, you can’t beat it! PS…if you’re just beginning your build, measure this before you build your drawer, to make sure it fits.
10. Plastic Spray Bottle
Spray bottles are great to have in your van. Whether you use them to rinse your dishes, or to hold your DIY Febreeze, they are super handy. Unfortunately, we’ve bought more expensive spray bottles from other places, and they break just as easily as these do – for several times the price. Might as well get the cheap version, if they are going to break at the same rate, right?
So there they are. Our Top 10 #vanlife finds at Dollar Tree. Some you may need to buy only once (like #9), others you will find yourself grabbing whenever you happen by a Dollar Tree. As I mentioned earlier, we use all these products ourselves, and so far haven’t been able to find a better deal (in terms of quality combined with price) anywhere else.
Have you discovered a better product anywhere else, or is there something we didn’t include that you would have? Let us know in the comments below!
