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HOMECELEBRITY NEWSROYALTYFASHIONHOMESFOODWEDDINGSPARENTINGHEALTH AND FITNESSTRAVELBEAUTYTV & FILMVÍDEOHello ›Beauty› Health & fitness31 productive things you can do at homeMake the most of your free timeLAST MODIFIED ON JULY 06, 2020 - 15:55 BSTBY MEGAN BULLCOMMENTIf you've pretty much completed all of Netflix and the idea of spending another day on the sofa looking at memes is too much to bear, it's time to change up your routine and get those creative juices flowing. Being on lockdown doesn't have to be boring, not if you keep yourself occupied. From learning a language to organising your wardrobe, updating your CV to writing a novel, there are plenty of productive things you can take up to pass the time - why not start right now?RELATED: Fun things you can do to keep yourself busy at home while in isolation mode1. Set goalsProductivity is about progress - it's about breaking our long-term goals down into daily action so that we can grow and develop. Yes, we have an abundance of free time on our hands at the moment but that doesn’t mean having to spend every second of the day rushing about in a bid to get everything done. Instead, by setting regular daily or weekly goals we can prioritise what's really important without feeling overwhelmed or overstretched. Depending on what you're looking to accomplish, there's a range of goal-planning journals and notebooks covering everything from cleaning, exercise and diet to business and life goals. We're particularly obsessed with Mrs Hinch's The Little Book of Lists.Mrs Hinch: The Little Book of Lists, £6.49, AmazonBUY NOW2. Learn a languageRemember all those times you said you'd learn Italian, Spanish or French but just couldn't find a spare minute? Here's your chance. With a wide selection of YouTube videos and online tutorials at your disposal, why not use this time to learn a completely new language.Language learning app Memrise has recently launched its new Immerse feature, which includes thousands of bite-sized video clips shot by native speakers from their locked-down homes across the world. Offering authentic conversation and phrases that you'd need during your first post-lockdown trip, keep busy by immersing yourself in other cultures.START LEARNING3. Practice nail artWith the coronavirus pandemic closing beauty salons across the UK, it's time to get creative and learn how to give yourself an at-home manicure. From glitter to stickers and gems, choose from plenty of glam accessories and designs. In need of inspiration, head to the Essie website for tips and tricks.Nail Art Kit, £9.99, AmazonBUY NOW4. Learn to cookDavid Beckham, Geri Horner and Henry Cavill are among those using their time in lockdown to improve upon their cooking skills. With an array of recipe books at your disposal, you can start with the basics and work your way up to Michelin star dishes.Gino's Italian Express, £14.28, AmazonBUY NOW5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver, £13, AmazonBUY NOW5. Take up photographyAlways wanted to learn but never found the time? View life through a different lens as you capture all the important moments - big or small - on camera.CANON PowerShot SX540 HS Bridge Camera, £349, CurrysBUY NOW6. Organise your wardrobeMost of us have at least one dress that we know we'll never wear again or a pair of jeans that just don't fit the way they used to. It's time to declutter your wardrobe and get rid of those sad pieces that no longer see the light of day. Either pass them onto friends and family, donate them to charity or at the very least, find your nearest clothing bank and recycle.Vacuum Storage Bags, £11.99, AmazonBUY NOW7. Learn to arrange flowersSummer is well and truly here, bringing with it a rainbow of beautiful blooms. Perfect for anyone with an affinity for flowers, learn how to create an array of floral displays with this how-to guide for beginners. Gift your loved ones with a hand-crafted bouquet or bring a pop of colour to your home by curating vases with simple arrangements or the latest cutting edge contemporary designs.Flower Arranging: A complete guide for beginners, £19.75, AmazonBUY NOWPLAY: The best puzzles for adults to keep you occupied during isolation8. Organise your photosGuilty of printing out your holiday photos and leaving them in a drawer? Get nostalgic and organise your snaps into either a scrapbook or frames. Taking a trip down memory lane might just put a smile on your face.White 16 4x4 photo frame, £32, Oliver BonasBUY NOWCanon Zoemini Mobile Photo Printer, £109.99, John LewisBUY NOWGET INSPIRED: 14 wall art ideas that will transform your bare walls into a work of art9. Learn to make cocktailsTry your hand at mixology, courtesy of Taste Cocktails. Offering a three-month subscription, each month a new DIY kit full of premium ingredients and recipes will be sent your way. Find out how to make the following drinks: Espresso Martini, Margarita, Old Fashioned, Manhattans, Bramble, Long Island Iced Tea, Gin Martini, & Mojitos. Once lockdown is over, you can impress your friends with your new bartending talents.Three Month Cocktail Kit Subscription, £89, Not On The High StreetBUY NOW10. Create a mood boardFeeling inspired? Create a mood board filled with new ideas, aspirations, and inspirational images. Visualising what you want from life might just give you the motivation and clarity to achieve it.IZSUZEE Cork Notice Board Set of Seven, £14.99, AmazonBUY NOW11. Take a courseWhether you're looking to improve upon your professional portfolio or to pursue a new hobby, FutureLearn has a whole host of online courses provided by world-class universities and industry experts. Earn professional or educational accreditation, learn new skills, or simply keep boredom at bay.START LEARNING12. Make a bucket listThink positive and look ahead to sunnier days by making a bucket list. Rather than wallowing in your pyjamas for the fifth day in a row (we've all been there) change your outlook and reflect on all of the things you'll be able to do once lockdown restrictions are lifted. Looking to travel more? These scratch-off maps are perfect for planning your next adventure post COVID-19.Scratch Map, £13.99, WaterstonesBUY NOW13. Plant a herb gardenPut those green fingers to good use and plant a herb garden - there's nothing better than cooking with fresh herbs.Herb Garden Seed Kit Gift Box, £14.99, AmazonBUY NOW14. Learn sign languageA unique language in its own right, sign language may seem like an intimidating skill to learn, but with a number of easy step-by-step guides at your disposal, you'll be signing like a pro in no time.British Sign Language: Teach Yourself, £20.98, AmazonBUY NOW15. Repair your clothesBeen meaning to sew up that hole in your favourite coat? Need to fix that zip on the back of your dress? It's time to pick up a needle and thread and get to work. Just a few minutes of hard work and concentration could breathe new life into your wardrobe. Stop 'finding' the time to work on the smaller things - start now.TUXWANG Premium Sewing Kit, £9.17, AmazonBUY NOW16. Learn to play an instrumentDust off that keyboard you got for Christmas last year, re-tune that guitar you've had for god knows how long and begin to fill your days with the sound of music. With so much free time, it's never been easier to pick up a new skill.17. Become a wine connoisseurDiscover which wines you like and why, read about the journey from grape to glass, and build on your understanding of wine tasting.Essential Winetasting, £16.99, AmazonBUY NOW18. Update your CV and professional accountsBefore lockdown, the idea of updating your CV, cover letter or LinkedIn profile might not have been very high up on your priority list. Rather than putting it off any longer, why not give all of your professional documents and accounts a total makeover? Use this present period to work towards an even brighter future.READ: 9 family-friendly board games to play during lockdown: Cluedo, trivia and more19. Write a novelThe idea of writing a novel is one which can often seem daunting. How many of us have opened Word, stared at a blank page for a while and then admitted defeat? Enough is enough. Writing can be an incredibly therapeutic practice and one which can help to pass the time. Who knows, you might even be the next J.K. Rowling?Get Writing! How ANYONE can write a novel, £5.99, AmazonBUY NOWGET DOWNLOADING: 7 of the best free apps for your fitness and mental health during self-isolation20. Start a blogYou can never go wrong with writing a blog. Whether you're using it as an online writing portfolio, a space to share your passions or as an opportunity to try something new, it's time to get those creative juices flowing.WordPressCREATE A BLOG21. Get fitMissing the gym? Working out at home can be just as beneficial for both your mind and body. Why not try out different types of workouts over the course of the next few weeks and find that workout that really works for you.Gym Equipment, AmazonBUY NOW22. Do some gardeningSick of spending all your time indoors? Transform your garden into a tranquil space so that you can venture outside for some much-needed R&R. In need of inspiration? Take a look at our round up of the best gardening buys for spring.Jardineer Gardening Set, £59.99, AmazonBUY NOWREAD: 10 creative things to do in lockdown from the comfort of your own home23. Upcycle your furnitureCan't stop staring at that annoying chip in your side board? Desperate to give those bookshelves a new lick of paint? Why not try your hand at a spot of DIY and transform those tired piece of furniture into something your friends will be jealous of.DIY, AmazonBUY NOW24. Learn to codeIn an increasingly digital age, the ability to code can put you at a major advantage. Ditch those technophobic tendencies and teach yourself how to master this highly sought after skill.25. Learn CalligraphyBored of biro and pencil? Go one step further and transform your writing into a work of art by practicing calligraphy and lettering. With an array of tutorials and expert guides available online, you’ll learn the tricks of the trade in no time - all you’ll really need is a calligraphy set and the willingness to turn off Tiger King.MONT MARTE Calligraphy Pen Set, £28.95, AmazonBUY NOW26. Write a journalThe great thing about journaling is that you can write whatever you want, whenever you want. Jot down your best ideas, doodle, write about your day or even create a list of goals, the choice is yours. Who knows, you might even find yourself inspired.Beautiful Journals, AmazonBUY NOW27. Clear out your kitchen cupboardsDo a Stacey Solomon and organise the entire contents of your kitchen cupboards. Check the expiration dates on those canned goods at the back, clear out that junk drawer you've been avoiding or go the whole hog and colour coordinate your spice rack! Stacey loves labelling her kitchen drawers - get your hands on some personalised labels or make them yourself using a label maker. You know what they say - tidy kitchen, tidy mind.Personalised Labels, £7, EtsyBUY NOWBrother PT-P700 Label Maker, from £72.64, AmazonBUY NOW28. Wash your makeup brushesBeen meaning to wash your makeup brushes for a while now? Besides bacteria, your favourite beauty brushes can also accumulate dead skin cells and oils over time, so it's pretty important that you keep them fresh and clean. Avoid makeup streaks and patches by painting your face with a smoother, more streamlined brush.Makeup Brush Cleaner, £17.99, AmazonBUY NOW29. Buy a loved one a giftStaying connected with the ones you love during this tough time doesn't have to involve social media. Make someone's day by sending them a heartfelt gift through the post. In need of ideas? Check out our roundup of the best gifts to shop during isolation.30. Paint a pictureChannel your inner Bob Ross and try your hand at painting a picture. A great way to keep busy, develop your artistic skills and create something that you can be proud of. New to painting? Amazon has plenty of paint by numbers kits to kickstart your progress.WATAKA DIY Painting by Numbers, £13.88, AmazonBUY NOW31. Organise your deskStruggling to concentrate with all that clutter on your desk? Get your workspace back in order and comb through all of that loose paperwork and scattered stationary. Not only will it look more inviting on all of those Zoom meetings but it will help you to feel more motivated and inspired.Desk Organiser, £19.99, AmazonBUY NOWLiLan Desk Tidy Organiser, £12.87, AmazonBUY NOWMORE: The best ladies bikes to buy for lockdown: Get inspired by the cycle-loving starsHELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. 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Here's How Much Dollar Tree Workers Are PaidJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesBY HANNA CLAESON/AUG. 13, 2020 9:30 AM EDTDollar Tree (the place we all flock for $1 frozen steaks) is a bargain hunter's paradise. But for the roughly 56,900 full-time and 136,200 part-time associates working for the company as of February 2020 (via Dollar Tree), their place of employment stops far short of celestial.Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesBY JENNIFER LEONARD/JUNE 5, 2020 1:47 PM EDTIf you're looking for low-cost paper goodsRead More: Dollar Tree Is Secretly Getting You To Spend More Money. Here's HowIndeed indicates that a meager 38 percent of Dollar Tree employees feel they are fairly paid. This might be the reason behind for their abysmal D grade for compensation, ranking them in the bottom 10 percent of roughly 1,220 similarly-sized companies in the United States (via Comparably). Just how much does the company pay to reach such lows? Per Payscale, stockers, cashiers, and sales associates average between $8.32 and $8.65 an hour, while assistant managers average between $10.99 and $11.16 an hour. A store manager, on the other hand, can make up to $17.23 an hour, if Indeed's data is on the mark.Astonishingly, Dollar Tree has trouble respecting even minimum salaries to the letter. Since 2000, the company has racked up 13 wage and labor violations, costing them more than 65 million dollars (Top Class Actions). In 2019, for example, Dollar Tree reached a preliminary $2.5 million settlement in a California class-action in which plaintiffs alleged that Dollar Tree distribution centers committed wage violations, including failing to give employees breaks while on the job. The same year, a Colorado judge granted class-action status to Dollar Tree assistant store managers claiming to have been denied overtime pay (via The Balance Small Business).Does Dollar Tree pay workers a living wage?Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesAt between 8.32 and $8.65 an hour, entry-level Dollar Tree workers are making, on average, a dollar or so above the federal minimum wage. At these rates, 40 hours per week at 50 weeks per year, one worker would be making between $16,640 and $17,300 annually. That, in turn, is a range hovering right around the $16,910 dollar-mark that the federal government considers as the poverty line (via The New York Times).And not even $17,300 is near the amount of money that a family needs to reach a "modest yet adequate" standard of living in most parts of the United States, estimates the Economic Policy Institute. According to the institute's Family Budget Calculator, which takes into account the costs of housing, food, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities, it would cost a single person $51,323 dollars a year to live in the New York Metro area. That same person would have to dish out $42,825 a year to live in Los Angeles County, and it would take them 38,605 dollars a year to live in the Chicago Metro area.It doesn't get much better if you go elsewhere. In fact, the National Employment Law Project predicts that by 2024 a single adult will need at least $15.00 an hour to live "to achieve an adequate standard of living," in any state nationwide (via CNBC). Not even Dollar Tree's assistant managers make that much.What benefits do Dollar Tree workers receive?Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesIf you're one of Dollar Tree's 56,900 full-time workers, the company offers an array of benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans, travel assist programs, weight loss, tobacco cessation programs, and a 401k (via Dollar Tree). Both Indeed and Comparably reviewers have applauded the medical plans and sick pay available to them as Dollar Tree workers. Such benefits may sound great, but some of them only apply to full-time employees, a fact which leaves its 136,200 employees who work under 30-hour work weeks (roughly 70 percent of Dollar Tree's workforce) in the lurch (via Investigative Reporting Workshop).Not only are part-time employees not eligible for the benefits designed to keep them healthy on the job, but Dollar Tree has failed to guarantee a safe working space for their employees. In 2015, Dollar Tree paid OSHA $825,000 worth of penalties for maintaining stores filled with hazardous conditions, including "blocked emergency exits, obstructed access to exit routes and electrical equipment and improper material storage" (via OSHA). Between the time of that settlement in 2015 and 2019, FairWarning uncovered further and similar health and safety violations in 150 of the company's stores (via Investigative Reporting Workshop).RecommendedKind-Hearted Celebs Who Sadly Married Deplorable Human BeingsWhat This My 600-Lb Life Star Looks Like Left Fans SpeechlessLip Readers Decipher What William Said To Harry At The FuneralThe Meghan Markle Outfit That Absolutely Scandalized the RoyalsNext UpDollar Tree Is Secretly Getting You To Spend More Money. Here's HowBruce Bennett/Getty ImagesBY JENNIFER LEONARD/JUNE 5, 2020 1:47 PM EDTIf you're looking for low-cost paper goods, cleaning products, or movie snacks (sorry, but $6 for a box of Jujyfruits is kind of ridiculous), dollar stores are the place to go. Sure, there are a few things to avoid, but for the most part, it's a good feeling to walk out with bags of items for less than $20. But a note of caution: Dollar stores have loads of sneaky, little tricks to encourage you to part with more of your hard-earned cash than you may have intended.When you first step inside a Dollar Tree, all of the seasonal items are front and center. That's because they want you to be "tempted by the newest products right away, most of which are single-use items like holiday-related party supplies," according to Business Insider. They put the most popular items in the back, so you wind up perusing all the aisles before you find what you came to buy. The strategy even has a fancy name in marketing. It's called "the shopping momentum effect," according to the Journal of Marketing Research. Basically, you keep finding great stuff as you go, and the low price convinces you to keep grabbing more.More Dollar Tree tricksShutterstockAnother way Dollar Tree tricks you into spending more money is with product size. Sure, a buck for an item like a tube of toothpaste sounds like a smart choice, but often the size is smaller than what you'd find in another retail store. "The easiest way to compare prices is to look beyond the sticker price at what you're paying per unit," says finance expert Rebecca Lake at SmartAsset.One more thing to watch out for: The retailer has started adding products that cost more than $1. The reason? Greater profits, of course. They've been testing items with $1.25 average price point, and that is expected to balloon to $2.25 over time, explains financial analyst Christopher Mandeville to Yahoo! Finance. So, even though you're in a dollar store, don't assume every product costs $1. Be sure to double check the price tag.Now that you're privy to the retailer's little tricks, you can shop with confidence and keep your wallet in check during your next Dollar Tree trip.RecommendedThe Real Reason Sarah Ferguson Was Missing From Philip's FuneralBrad Pitt's Hairstyle Causes A Stir At Oscars 2021Trump's Bizarre Comment About Son Barron Is Turning HeadsThe Transformation Of The Obama Sisters Has Everyone StunnedNext UpRead This Before You Set Foot In Dollar Tree AgainJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesBY MARIA SCINTO/MAY 20, 2020 3:38 PM EDTDollar Tree is one of the few companies that would seem to be truly recession-proof — after all, it's about the only place where you can get a full bag of stuff and still get change back from a $10 bill. Whether nouveau pauvre or born with a plastic spoon in their mouth, what 99 percenter doesn't love a good bargain? And one thing you can say about Dollar Tree is that bargains do abound – and, in most cases, it's also pretty easy to see just how much you're going to be spending, since with most Dollar Trees, what you see is what you get in exchange for one green paper portrait of the Father of Our Country.The trick with Dollar Tree, as with any budget shopper's paradise, is knowing what items are actually worth that hard-earned dollar, and which ones are going to be disappointing at best and downright dangerous at worst.There's some stuff at Dollar Tree that isn't even worth a buckFacebookWhile Dollar Tree is widely known to be a great place to shop for household basics, party goods, and school supplies, there are certain items there that aren't worth a dime, much less a dollar. One example would be its phone chargers, which just simply don't work. You'd get the exact same results from setting your dollar on fire and then gently blowing the smoke in the general direction of your phone's charging port as you would from plugging it into a Dollar Tree USB cable. In fact, just skip the electronics aisle altogether — as consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Most [dollar store] electronics that plug in are junk and don't last long." Woroch also advises avoiding Dollar Tree's batteries as these may leak and cause damage.Dollar Tree's toys are also a no-go — not only are they incredibly flimsy and poorly made, but many of them are also full of potentially harmful chemicals. A 2015 report by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions (via Environmental Justice for All) revealed that over 30 percent of vinyl plastic (PVC) products tested were found to exceed the CPSC safety limit for phthalates found in children's products. This potential danger, in addition to other potential hazards like posing a choking threat or being flammable, make Dollar Tree toys one item you should definitely avoid buying.Dollar Tree's foods are hit and missFacebookDollar Tree has actually got some surprisingly decent foods — not just packaged snack foods, but even frozen items like its famous $1 ribeyes and cheeseburgers are really not bad for the price. The My short writings blog raves over Dollar Tree tilapia, saying it "taste[s] awesome [with a] snow flaky texture [and] smooth rich savory taste."Other foods, however, are not so great – the instant coffee is even bad by instant coffee standards, the snack cakes are dry and disgusting, and there's a canned beef stew that you'll only enjoy if you're a grizzled old military vet nostalgic over chow hall food circa the Spanish-American War. And don't even bring up Dollar Tree "cheese", since that subject is just too terrifying. This mystery substance is practically indestructible, and will probably be keeping post-apocalyptic cockroaches alive as the only foodstuff to survive a total nuclear holocaust (and even then, it probably still won't melt).Dollar Tree sells booze? Not exactlyFacebookIn early 2019, media sources including Food Business News ran headlines seemingly trumpeting the exciting news that Dollar Tree would begin carrying booze! That may have lead some to wonder, just what kind of booze would it be? Would they somehow manage to come up with a One-Buck Chuck? Most likely they'd resort to selling single-serve sizes, since a single beer for a buck wouldn't exactly bankrupt them.Sadly, the fine print told a different story. It seems that the booze sales would be at Family Dollar stores which are owned by Dollar Tree but, as anyone who's ever shopped there knows, are more like "dollars stores" (emphasis on the plural) since most items are priced well over $1. A look at Family Dollar's website reveals that both beer and wine are sold in multi-serving sizes. Needless to say, their offerings tend toward domestic macrobrews and the most basic of budget-priced wines. But then again, if you wanted boutique labels, you probably wouldn't be giving any consideration to dollar store booze in the first place.The "Plus" in Dollar Tree Plus is more like a minusFacebookA 2019 press release published in Business Wire announced that Dollar Tree was "excited to kick off the initial introduction of Dollar Tree Plus!" Well, the excitement was all theirs and that of their shareholders, since all of those "Plus" items were to be "multi-price point products" — in other words, stuff that costs more than $1. Which pretty much negates the whole purpose of going to Dollar Tree. Same old stuff, new higher prices? Umm, no thanks, might as well just be shopping at Walmart, in that case.The Dollar Tree Plus! Products are still only in "select test stores", but Dollar Tree customers are hoping this new model doesn't take over. After all, you'd think that Dollar Tree would have learned its lesson from the acquisition of Family Dollar, a brand so under-performing that they've had to entice customers in with the lure of cheap booze.RecommendedGeraldo Rivera Reveals Why Melania Wouldn't Hold Donald's HandThe Real Reason Kate Middleton's Bra Straps Never ShowPregnant Meghan Seen For First Time Since Harry's US ReturnThe Stunning Truth Behind Green Eyes That You Never KnewNext Up7 Things You Should And 7 Things You Shouldn't Buy At Dollar StoresPaul J. Richards/Getty ImagesBY ASHLEY COLLINS/MAY 5, 2020 9:38 AM EDT/UPDATED: JAN. 19, 2021 4:41 PM EDTDollar stores are, for the most part, thriving whereas thousands and thousands of big-name retail stores are losing business or closing. Discount chains like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are not only cheaper than most other retailers, but they're sometimes more convenient considering two of the major chains have some 30,000 stores across America's rural, suburban, and urban communities, CNN Business reported. Though dollar stores were once seen as "dumping grounds for liquidated and off-brand merchandise," according to The Washington Post, nowadays these dollar store chains stock major brands, like Coca-Cola and General Mills, at discounted prices.But are these prices too good to be true? Should you really be buying meat for $1.50 a dollar store? Or what about over-the-counter drugs and pregnancy tests? Well, The List did some digging and discovered things you should and things you absolutely shouldn't buy on your next trip to the dollar store.You should buy paper goods and party supplies at dollar storesSpencer Platt/Getty ImagesIf you're an avid discount shopper, you know dollar stores sell just about anything from food to household cleaning products. That said, if you go to the dollar store for anything, you should put paper products and party essentials at the top of your shopping list — even employees say so. "The items that my employees and I purchase at Dollar Tree for value would definitely be toilet paper, paper towels, birthday cards, candy, balloons, plastic ware, paper plates, envelopes, stationary products, and the daily newspaper," Dollar Tree manager Brenda told Mental Floss.However, you should still be mindful of what paper products you're putting in your shopping cart, according to The Washington Post. Considering "many items are custom-made in smaller sizes by manufacturers for dollar stores, shoppers need to compare the price against weight, length and size," senior retail analyst Meaghan Brophy told the publication. And, as far as party essentials go, you should definitely go for the gift bags and Hallmark greeting cards, which are typically two for $1, on your next dollar store trip, WaPo reported.You shouldn't buy steak from dollar storesShutterstockRegardless of how much money you may save, buying meat from your go-to dollar store chain is not the best idea. You might not think about Dollar General when it comes to buying your meat, anyway, but with a visit to one of its stores, you may be surprised to find a 3.5-ounce Great American ribeye steak costs less than $2. Yes, it seems like a great deal, but is it too cheap? Especially when, as of this writing, Walmart is selling a ribeye steak for $8.97 per pound?It is important to note that Dollar General's ribeyes are inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the packaging label, so it can't be that bad, but one Dollar General online reviewer did say the meat was gray and ended up tossing it in the trash. Eek. Another reviewer, however, actually praised the quality, saying, for the price, it makes for a good steak sandwich. The Penny Hoarder contributor Joshua Pramis took one for the team and tried dollar store meat and said this: "I'd sooner hit up the McDonald's dollar menu for a cheap red-meat fix."You should buy electronics at dollar stores if you're in a pinchShutterstockDollar stores may not be the first place tech-savvy consumers think of when it comes to buying electronics, but if you're in a pinch and need earbuds for a plane ride or don't want to spend too much on a tech accessory, dollar stores may be the way to go, according to USA Today – though keep realistic expectations when it comes to "quality and longevity." Some of the marked-down items you could find on a trip to a dollar store includes smartphone car mounts, phone cases, selfie sticks, and small speakers for as low as a buck. Do keep in mind that not all stores have the same products in stock at any given time.USA Today also scouted a super budget-friendly alternative to a Fitbit for you athletic types. Dollar stores sell multicolored pedometers for just $3, and not only does it track your steps, but it also tracks your distance and how many calories you burned. While that's a steal, you may want to avoid other tech products, like power strips. "Dollar store versions of extension cords, power strips and the like can be poorly made and therefore unsafe," money-saving expert Andrea Woroch told Reader's Digest.You shouldn't buy batteries at dollar storesShutterstockJust because a product is cheap doesn't mean it's worth your dollar. That's the case with batteries, according to Kiplinger. Dollar stores tend to sell carbon-zinc batteries, which are more prone to leaking and don't last nearly as long as, say, their alkaline cousins. Though it may seem like a bargain initially, you may end up needing to replace the batteries more often, thus paying more in the long run.While dollars stores, like Dollar General, do sell brandname alkaline batteries like Energizer, the price is about the same as those sold at Walgreens — and they may not be as good. Batteries lose charge over time, so that dollar store pack you think is a good deal may have actually spent years on a Target shelf. "[Dollar stores] are not ordering new batteries and pricing them well — they're taking old stuff off other stores' shelves," online shopping expert Brent Shelton told Reader's Digest.You should buy pregnancy tests at dollar storesShutterstockIt turns out you can rely on dollar store pregnancy tests. According to USA Today, pregnancy tests are regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration prior to hitting store shelves so if a dollar store has them in stock, you'll know their legit. "I would only caution that it needs to be sold legally," FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Caccomo told USA Today. That said, the publication also revealed that brandname options are more sensitive and therefore may produce a quicker response.Choosing where to purchase a test ultimately comes down to how much you're willing to spend. It is cheaper to buy a pregnancy test at places like Dollar General, where it can cost as little as $1 and, at the most, $6.95, as of this writing, with the cheapest being the store's brand. For $6.50, you can pick up a brandname First Response pregnancy test at Dollar General whereas a two-pack of the same tests at CVS costs over $20, averaging out to be about $10.40 per test.You shouldn't buy over-the-counter drugs at dollar storesShutterstockYou probably should avoid buying over-the-counter drugs at any dollar store chain. Why? A months-long undercover investigation by the New York State Office of the Attorney General found that the Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar were all selling expired over-the-counter drugs. As a result, all chains were required to pay $1.2 million in damages in 2019, according to the NY Attorney General's office. "New York consumers have a right to expect that products on store shelves are safe, fresh and suitable for their advertised use," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a press release.That same year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to Dollar Tree for receiving "adulterated drugs from manufacturers that received FDA warning letters in 2018." The previous FDA warnings to Dollar Tree's contract manufacturers included violations such as "not testing raw materials or finished drugs for pathogens and quality," according to the press release from the FDA. The warning letter to Dollar Tree outlined violations found in the production of Dollar Tree's Assured Brand over-the-counter drugs and other drugs sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores.You should buy cosmetics at dollar storesAstrid Stawiarz/Getty ImagesWe all know how expensive makeup can be, but what if we told you it didn't have to be that way? Dollar General, for example, offers cheaper alternatives. In 2019, the chain rolled out its very own makeup line. Named Believe Beauty, the line features $5-and-under eye shadows, lipstick, nail polishes, and foundations. According to CNN Business, YouTube beauty vloggers love the label, including YouTuber Taylor Horn, who told the publication that cosmetic brands like Believe Beauty provide high-quality makeup "that your everyday consumer can afford."Walk down any dollar store beauty aisle and you may also discover products from major makeup brands like E.L.F., Wet n' Wild and Maybelline New York. In fact, Maybelline partnered with Dollar General in 2019 to make its brand accessible to everyone, no matter your zip code, according to Allure. So if Ulta or Target are far from home, you can visit Dollar General and do some serious makeup shopping, including Maybelline's Great Lash mascara ($5) and its Instant Age Rewind concealer ($8).You shouldn't buy food at dollar stores without checking expiration datesShutterstockYou can buy groceries at your nearby dollar store, but should you? Dollar General sells everything from bread to milk to eggs, although most of its grocery options, like that of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, are processed and packaged goods, CNN Business reported.Before you buy any groceries at any dollar store, though, you may want to look at the expiration date first, Cincinnati's WCPO 9 News advised. In the TV report, Shaquanna Hines said that her daughter purchased a bag of trail mix from a dollar store that ended up being nearly six months past its expiration date. "When she opened them, she realized they were stale; they tasted weird," Hines said.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food products are marked with a Sell-By, Use-By, Best if Used By/Before, or Freeze-By date. However, this shouldn't necessarily discourage you from buying food from your local dollar store as long as you look at those dates. College student Amanda Olivero discovered that it's cheaper for her to buy groceries at a dollar store, though not all options are the healthiest. In an essay for Spoon University, Olivero managed to purchase five days worth of groceries for just $35.You should buy travel toiletries at dollar storesShutterstockThe last thing you want to do before any big trip is spend a lot of money on travel toiletries. Let's be honest, you'd rather spend your hard-earned cash on excursions and souvenirs for your family and friends. Which is why TripSavvy says yes when it comes to buying toiletries at the Dollar Tree. The store sells $1 cosmetic jars, travel-sized bottles, refillable water bottles, disposable toothbrushes and baby wipes, among other things.In an article for The Penny Hoarder, freelance travel journalist Benét J. Wilson touted dollar store essentials like hand sanitizer and lotion as absolute must-haves for any trip. "As a germophobe, I won't fly without my 2.8-ounce scented hand sanitizers, which come in a pack of three. I also take Purell wipes, which do double duty as a face refresher and a cloth to wipe down germ-ridden airplane surfaces," Wilson wrote.You shouldn't buy just any toy found at dollar storesShutterstockEvery dollar store has at least one toy aisle. It may be a haven for your kids if they accompany you on your shopping run. However, be careful with what toys you let them pull off the store shelves. In 2019, a doll sold at a Dollar Tree in New York was recalled after it was found to have "246 times the level of a chemical substance than federally allowed," according to the The Virginian-Pilot. The substance? Phthalates, aka "known endocrine disruptors," which are typically used in production of plastic materials and can be especially harmful to infants and toddlers. "This toy poses an unacceptable risk to our kids and should not be on store shelves," New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado said in a statement.If you do purchase toys from the dollar store, the New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection recommends you do the following: Carefully read the labels, throw away or fix broken toys, and make sure fabric toys are labeled as either "flame-resistant" or "flame-retardant."You should buy (certain) household cleaners and personal products from dollar storesShutterstockIn the past, it was best to avoid discount household cleaners and personal products from dollar stores, but according to a 2019 Mind the Store "report card" (via Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families), times have changed — at least slightly. The report concluded that both the Dollar Tree and Dollar General have made strides to eliminate toxic chemicals in their products, although they've still got a decent way to go. Dollar General scored a D, which is far from amazing; in the same report Target scored an A. But as Safer Chemicals noted, the chain has made improvements, especially with its launch of a safer policy "banning eight toxic chemicals in private-label beauty, personal care, and household cleaning products."Meanwhile, Dollar Tree scored a D+ — also not amazing, but an improvement from its previous score, a D, thanks to the chain's implementation of a safer chemicals policy. This means there are definitely products that you can feel safe buying at the dollar store, but you'll want to watch out for anything that contains formaldehyde, bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol S (BPS) and methylene chloride, among others, according to Safer Chemicals.You shouldn't buy just any baby food at dollar storesShutterstockBaby food can be expensive so it's only reasonable to look to save some money. However, you may want to think twice before buying from your local dollar store — or other stores for that matter. The nonprofit organization Healthy Babies Bright Futures purchased and tested baby food from 15 different retailers — including dollar stores Family Dollar and Dollar Tree as well as other retailers like superstores and grocery stores — and found that 95 percent of the baby foods they tested "[contained] toxic chemicals that lower babies' IQ."The study, which looked at a variety of baby food, including apple juice, formula, cereal and rice puffs by some of the major baby food brands (including Gerber, Similac, and Enfamil), found different types of chemicals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. The report stated that these chemicals are generally found in all human food and are typically caused by environmental pollution. However, babies are more "sensitive to the toxic impacts."What should you do? "Parents can protect their babies today by choosing nutritious and affordable alternatives to the most contaminated foods," pediatrician Philip Landrigan told The Arizona Republic.You should buy books at dollar storesJustin Sullivan/Getty ImagesEver get tired of paying an astronomical amount on books at your local bookstore? Try making a habit of visiting Dollar Tree for all your reading needs, according to Book Riot. At a dollar a piece, you can grow your book collection fast and if you don't end up liking a book, you can always pass it along to a fellow book worm. But how does Dollar Tree sell acclaimed novels for dirt cheap?Book Riot discovered that most of the novels found at Dollar Tree were once collecting dust at the publisher's warehouse. Also known as "remainders," these books weren't requested for resale for a number of reasons, including having an overstock. Visit Dollar Tree's website and you'll find dozens of books from the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection and even children's books — all for $1 each. Next time you're in a dollar store, check out the book section, you just might find a treasure.You shouldn't buy canned goods at dollar storesShutterstockIf you're going to a dollar store to score a deal on canned goods, you might want to skip the trip. The Dollar General, for example, sells brandname goods like Green Giant and Bush's Best — but don't be fooled by the price tag. "At Dollar Tree, you might find cans of soup or veggies selling for $1, though you'd find the same items priced lower at the supermarket or on Amazon," Doug Whiteman, Money Wise's personal finance editor, told Reviewed.Not only is it not much of a deal, but it could end up being hazardous to your health. According to a press release from the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, toxins have been found in the canned food sold in dollar stores. Tracy Gregoire with the Learning Disabilities Association of America said in the release that their testing on Dollar General food products revealed "BPA in canned food."According to Healthline, BPA (bisphenol A) is "an industrial chemical" that's utilized to create epoxy resins, which are "spread on the inner lining of canned food containers to keep the metal from corroding and breaking" and has been linked to a number of health problems.RecommendedWomen's Physical Features That Surprisingly Attract Men MostBaby Archie's Birth Certificate Had This Eye-Opening DetailThe Super Bizarre Bedtime Rule The Royal Family Has To FollowMeghan Markle's Had Some Cringe Moments, But This Takes The CakeNext UpThe Dirty Truth About Thrift StoresShutterstockBY BRITTANY BROLLEY/JAN. 8, 2020 2:29 PM EDT/UPDATED: FEB. 24, 2021 9:54 AM EDTIf you've never been, thrift store shopping can seem intimidating. "For a long time, thrift stores felt pretty chaotic to me," Jessica Olsen, a one-time thrift store avoider-turned-thrifter, told Rewire. "They just don't feel super organized... I got really overwhelmed really quickly." But once you learn the tricks of the trade — like shopping on the weekdays and keeping an open mind — you can find plenty of secondhand gems for a fraction of their original cost. And doing so can help you learn ways to look classy on a budget.Thrift store shopping, or "thrifting," isn't exactly new, but we are in what Fast Company's Elizabeth Segran calls "the golden age of secondhand shopping." She's not wrong. According to ThredUP's 2019 Resale Report, there are "more secondhand shoppers than ever before," with millennials and Gen Zers leading the movement.It's a fact that buying pre-owned clothing is far and away more sustainable than purchasing trendy fast fashion, and consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of buying in a sustainable and ethical way. That said, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind about thrift stores before you dive in. This is the dirty truth about your favorite secondhand shops.Not all thrift stores are nonprofitsShutterstockSome of the biggest thrift stores (like Goodwill and The Salvation Army) are nonprofit organizations, but it's a common misconception that all thrift stores are nonprofits. As it happens, many thrift stores are for-profit. If you're looking to support your community, it pays to pay attention."Most nonprofits are pretty proud of their mission, and their financial data is generally pretty transparent too," Kristen McCormack, director of Boston University's nonprofit management program and the creator of the nonprofit organization Boston Food Bank, revealed to Mic. "[For-profit companies'] primary responsibilities are to their shareholders."Nevertheless, some for-profit thrift stores donate to charity. "Most of our stores have a different local charity to receive donations every day of the week," Stephanie Lew, marketing director of the for-profit thrift store conglomerate Buffalo Exchange, told Mic. Beacon's Closet, a for-profit New York City thrift store chain, also donates clothing they are unable to sell to various charities. According to the company's site, Beacon's Closet has donated over $100,000 to charity as of August 2019. Your local thrift store may donate to charity more, less, or not at all, so you may find it beneficial to do some digging.The profit side of nonprofit thrift storesShutterstockIn 2015, Value Village thrift stores were sued for "misleading people about how much of their donations actually go to charities and concealing its role as a for-profit company," The Seattle Times reported. In late 2019, a judge ruled that the organization had indeed violated the law and misled its customers into believing the stores were not for profit.These sorts of laws help protect consumers, of course, but it's important to note that even bona fide nonprofit thrift stores don't donate all of their money to charity or use all of it on their programs. The Better Business Bureau stipulates that nonprofits must "spend no less than 65% of total expenses on program services." This means there's a lot of variables in how nonprofits can use the rest of their revenue."About 90 percent [88 percent] of our revenue goes towards job training and sustainability," Ted Chellis, Goodwill Stores district manager, told News 13. Additionally, 11 percent is set aside for administration costs and a small percent is for fundraising. The Salvation Army, on the other hand, spends 75 percent on programs, Charity Navigator's Sandra Miniutti confirmed to NBC News.There can be huge pay disparities when it comes to thrift storesShutterstockGoodwill is very charitable, but wage disparity is an ongoing issue plaguing this particular nonprofit thrift store. Citing federal tax records, The World-Herald reported that Goodwill Omaha paid CEO Frank McGree nearly $1 million ($933,444) in 2014. In addition to his quarter-million base salary, he was given a $95,000 incentive bonus, $52,000 in deferred retirement, and a retention bonus of $519,000. Oh, and a membership to a country club. Additionally, 13 other executives and managers received yearly salaries of over $100,000 that same year.Considering Goodwill is a $6.1 billion industry, you may reason that they simply pay their employees well. Not so fast. Apparently, this does not apply to all employees. While some higher-ups were making bank, many disabled employees were earning as little 22 cents an hour, according to Forbes — well under minimum wage, due to the legal loophole in the Fair Labor Standards Act. "If you can afford to pay six- and seven-figure salaries to your executives," Autistic Self Advocacy Network president Ari Ne'eman reasoned in a statement (via Forbes), "you can afford to pay minimum wage to your employees.""Gross" things often make it into donations at thrift storesShutterstockWhether you shop at Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or any other thrift store — be it nonprofit or for-profit — there are bound to be some less than pleasant finds. Thankfully for customers, most of these are caught before making it out onto the floor. Of course, this still royally sucks for the employees. As such, they recommend you take care not to donate anything of the nasty variety."The challenges for us are probably things that are, for lack of a better term, gross," Tamarind Tidwell, general manager of Boomerangs, a chain of thrift stores in Massachusetts run by AIDS Action, revealed to Today. "So, things that have been sitting out in your yard for too long or are moldy, (mildewed), damp ... if we get one of those, even in a batch of clothes, it can easily ruin other things. It means we can lose out on donations."Chances are your local thrift stores are selling something hazardousShutterstockMany thrift stores list their do's and don'ts about donating. Goodwill, for example, doesn't accept large appliances like stoves, nor do they take CRT (aka old-style) televisions "due to the Digital TV Transition." It may go without saying, but thrift stores also don't want to be burdened with hazardous materials. "Some [Salvation Army] locations have banned entire categories of items, as the hazards associated with accepting them outweigh the benefits," Tim Raines, marketing manager at The Salvation Army, explained to Reader's Digest. However, this isn't exactly foolproof.If you hit up your local thrift stores on a regular basis, you've probably seen some items that caused you to turn your head. Other times, though, you may not even realize when something for sale poses a health hazard.According to a study conducted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 69 percent of thrift shops visited contained at least one hazardous product. This varied from children's clothing with drawstrings that did not meet CPSC guidelines, cribs that did not meet federal safety standards, and old hairdryers that did not have the mandated safety plug. So it may just be best to avoid buying certain things when at thrift stores, especially when it comes to baby items.Recalled items end up on the shelves at thrift storesShutterstock"What many of our donors don't realize is that we have strict rules to follow," Major Jerry O'Neil, who assists in overseeing the The Salvation Army Stores in Minnesota, revealed in an interview with the nonprofit. "Breaking these rules can result in costly fines or lawsuits." He continued, saying, "Most importantly, these rules protect our shoppers. Safety is our number one priority." The Salvation Army further revealed that federal inspectors often pay visits to their stores to make sure the organization isn't selling anything that's been deemed hazardous or has been recalled.This is true of other thrift stores as well. "Donors should check the Consumer Product Safety Commission to verify if an item has been recalled prior to making a donation as well as check with their local Goodwill," Brian Itzkowitz, head of Goodwill Industries International's retail operations, told Today.Nevertheless, recalled items do have a way of winding up on thrift store shelves from time to time. Of the thrift shops examined by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), many had recalled items for sale, including children's toys.When shopping at thrift stores, remember that "vintage" can also mean "lead"ShutterstockIf you're a collector of vintage items, a secondhand store can be a goldmine. However, there are plenty of risks lurking in many aisles of your favorite thrift shop. "The sale of used items in the United States is not regulated by any federal agency and as a result, it is possible that Americans are bringing the lead poisoning hazards of past generations back into their homes," researcher Laurel Sharmer of the State University of New York shared, as reported by Oregon State University. "It is very important for consumers to understand that you can't tell if a product contains lead by looking at it."As part of a study on secondhand items purchased from thrift, junk, and antique stores in Virginia, New York, and Oregon, Sharmer and her team found that many of the items contained surface lead concentrations some 700 times higher than the federal limit. These items varied from ice cream scoops to necklaces to window shutters.If you plan to buy vintage items from your thrift store, you shouldn't assume they're safe. Consumer advocate and founder of Dime Will Tell, Dustyn Ferguson recommends "always [testing] for lead."Some of your donations to thrift stores end up in the garbageShutterstockEven if every donor takes care to donate responsibly, thrift stores can't sell everything. At times, this is because the condition of the donation isn't deemed fit for resale or it could just be that the store doesn't have the floorspace.Stacie Morrell, manager of Homeward Bound Pets Thrift Store in Oregon, said the store where she works has a system for such donations. She told Mental Floss that the best items are taken to a consignment store whereas items that were displayed but didn't sell are sent to a larger thrift store. Any clothing that doesn't meet the store's guidelines are given to local homeless shelters or a recycling facility.According to Morrell, who also worked at Goodwill, the large nonprofit works a bit differently. The items that don't sell or are deemed unfit for resale are sent to Goodwill Outlets, where customers can then buy items by the pound. Sadly, even if you hoped your items would avoid going into a landfill, that is the last resort for donations. "They have huge garbage bills every month, into the millions," Morrell said of Goodwill.Thrift store donations may get shipped overseasMariama Darame/Getty ImagesThings that don't end up selling at thrift store outlets then hit the Goodwill auctions. Next, items that weren't able to find homes with lucky bidders are sent to a textile recycling organization, according to Kyle Stewart, director of donated goods retail for Goodwill.Kathy Walsh, a spokesperson for Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (S.M.A.R.T.) Association, revealed to HuffPost that 30 percent of what their organization receives gets processed into industrial rags, 20 percent is shredded into soft fiber filling for furniture and other items, and 5 percent is sent to the landfill.However, the majority — 45 percent — of the clothing that ends up at S.M.A.R.T. is either re-sold within the United States' clothing industry or shipped overseas. While this may sound better than getting sent to the landfill, the publication pointed out that "re-selling clothes into the U.S. secondhand market just encourages them to make the cycle all over again" and "sending clothes overseas can majorly hinder the textile industries in developing countries, robbing locals of jobs and income."There's a reason for that thrift store funkShutterstockWhen you venture into a thrift store, you get a whiff of a very distinctive smell. "It's a musty odor, a smell of decay," John Mahdessian, owner of the New York-based dry and specialty cleaning store Madame Paulette, told The New York Times. "It's funky!" Katie McDonnell, owner of Nomad Vintage in New York City, doesn't think it's always a bad odor. "Good vintage smells a wee bit musty, but more like a whiff of wool or your grandmother's attic," she explained. "Maybe just the slightest hint of a cigarette smoke from a party; more like a life well-lived than anything gross."Incidentally, scientists actually analyzed the molecules that make up this quintessential scent and found that the vast majority were from body oils like sweat. Eek. The remaining scents were various compounds of perfume, food, gasoline, and other everyday contaminants.A thrift store smell may be fine for, you know, a thrift store, but you may not desire to wear that scent. However, dry-cleaning isn't always going to solve the problem. "If it smells bad, don't buy it unless it will hold up to a rigorous washing," McDonnell advised.Clothing isn't laundered before hitting the racks at thrift storesShutterstockOkay, so thrift store clothes may have an odd smell, but thrifting connoisseurs still recommend trying on secondhand clothes before buying. "It really helps to see the clothes draped over a body," Amber Bartlett, the owner of online resale shop Western Wicker, told Rewire. "I always try on everything that I'm going to buy, regardless of if it's 10 sizes too big or small," she said. "Sometimes, I even try stuff on over my clothes — I'll just wear a tank top and leggings. Just stick with what makes you comfortable."Trying on clothing at a thrift store may give you the heebie-jeebies — and quite rightfully so. Tamarind Tidwell, general manager of Boomerangs, a chain of thrift stores in Massachusetts run by AIDS Action, admitted to Today that most thrift stores don't wash clothing donations before they're put up for sale. Hmm, it's no wonder they hold on to their scent. But if you want to be what Tidwell dubs a "superdonor," be sure to give your clothes a good laundering before boxing them up.When shopping though, just be sure to wash clothes well before wearing them after you take them home. There's a good reason to wash your thrift store buys and it's not just because of their smell.RecommendedThe Untold Truth Of Meghan Markle's MotherThe Tragedy Of Dog The Bounty Hunter Is Just Gut-WrenchingMeghan Markle's First Marriage Didn't Last Long. This Is WhyMeghan And Harry's Payment For Oprah Talk Turns HeadsRead More: 7 Things You Should And 7 Things You Shouldn't Buy At Dollar Stores