Dollar Tree
The Dollar Tree is a great store to go to if you are trying to save a little money in these hard economic times!! + It has a little bit of everything like pots and pans, groceries, birthday cards, make-up, lotion, toys, and much more! + It is a good place to get wrapping paper and tissue paper for birthdays and Christmas!! + It is also a great place to get cheap candy and snacks to eat during a movie, so you don't have to pay the ridiculous prices at the theater!! + It is usually never crowded or busy (unlike Wal-Mart)! + The lines are not long, so if you are in a hurry you can be in and out in a matter of minutes!! + It has a lot of little things that you could give as gifts or stocking stuffers!! + There are many cool odds and ends that make great gifts for random occasions or no occasion at all!! + If there is something that you want to get for cheap, go to the Dollar Tree, where everything is a dollar!!! + Stretch your dollar further!!!
The best thing about the Dollar Tree is that everything is only ONE DOLLAR, so you can feel good about all the money you save!!!!!
You can also shop online at: http://www.dollartree.com/home.jsp
Store locations in Bloomington-Normal include:
-Lakewood Plaza—-1407 N Veterans Pkwy
-Westgate Plaza—-2243 Westgate Dr.
-Veterans & Main Plaza—-1716 R.T. Dunn Drive
- Constitution Trail Centre—-1710 Bradford Lane
Store Hours include:
- Mon – Sat: 8:00am – 9:00pm, Sun: 8:00am – 8:00pm
Good Will
Good Will is one of the main providers for disadvantage and homeless families. You can bring clothes, appliances, or furniture that you do not use anymore. Keep in mind "one man's trash is another man's treasure." Not a recommended place to go for everyday shopping, but it could be useful for making a costume, and occasionally finding a cute shoulder bag, but otherwise it’s not good for shopping for clothing. http://www.goodwill.org/
401 Greenbriar Dr Store Distance: 3.26mi. / 5.25km Services: Retail,Donations 401 Greenbriar Dr Normal,IL 61761 (309) 451-1010
Plato's Closet
Plato’s closet has used clothes for teens and young adults. They not only sell the latest trends, but buy them too. So if you have, preferably, name brand clothes that you never wear or need to get rid of, and are looking for some extra cash, then just take your clothes to Plato’s Closet. All clothes are up to 70 percent off on prices found in the mall, and are name-brand, recent with current trends, and fresh.
Make sure you take your things in at the beginning of each season though, and if you donate high label jeans make sure you ask how much they are willing to give you for that specific pair because many times they dont give you enough. Also, if you try to take the same stuff back but when different people are wroking you may also get money for items that one person denied.
Plato's Closet is Located on 1407 N Veterans Parkway.
Aldi
Aldi is located next to Wal-Mart off of Veterans Parkway. It’s great for college students because of the low prices for food and other small items. Occasionally you can find coupons in the Pantagraph for Aldi. Paper plates are much cheaper there then they would be at Wal-Mart. Some items at Aldi are actually the same prices as Wal-Mart, so you need to watch that because you may be able to get an on brand item at Wal-Mart for the same price as an off brand item.
TJ Maxx
You can find on brand items for much cheaper than it usually costs. Things like Coach Purses, clothing items and expensive shoes for much cheaper. (Cheap house decorations are also sold there).