2 Southwest Florida Christmas Tree Shops Are Pretty Much Giving Everything Away

By now you've probably heard that Florida Christmas Tree Shops will be closing.  In fact, it's not just here in Florida, it's all of the 70 locations nationwide.

So, like any store that has up the big yellow signs announcing they're going out of business, Christmas Tree Shops is offering some pretty insane sales right now.

There are four locations in Florida that are participating in these sales.  These Florida Christmas Tree Shops are located in Altamonte Springs, Estero, Sarasota and Jacksonville.

You're going to find savings on pretty much every item in the store.  Home décor, kitchen and dining, bed and bath, storage, pets, pool and patio, are all listed.

We are right here in Estero, and the website for this location, located in Coconut Point says:

HURRY, FINAL DAYS TO SAVE AT THIS LOCATION Entire store on sale 30-80% off! Shop now for best selection. All sales final, no returns, or adjustments to prior purchases. No special orders. No other discount offers or coupons accepted. Quantities limited to stock on hand.

They are even selling the fixtures on the ceilings and walls.  If you happen to be interested in those, you can ask for the details in the store.

Of course, we don't like to hear about big box stores closing their doors, that's not fun.  But, nevertheless, who doesn't love a good sale?

15 Of The Best Things To Buy At A Dollar Store In Florida

Dollar Stores may have a reputation with many that the products they sell are cheap or of poor quality.  While that may be true for some of the products, it's not always the case.  There are actually some incredible deals to be found.

Personally, my favorite things to grab are party supplies, kitchen tools and some of my toiletries.  The toothpaste is the same I would find anywhere, at a lesser price.  The gift wrapping is a quarter of the price of that of other locations, granted the wrapping paper isn't the best, but the bags work just fine.  You can grab matching tablecloths, plates, napkins and even some decorations for a fraction of the price.  It all gets thrown out anyway.  And the kitchen tools aren't the best quality, but they're a dollar-ish, so, if they need to be replaced once or twice a year, it's still the less expensive option.

In order to determine the best dollar store buys, the folks over at Kiplinger spoke with shopping experts and scoured the aisles of dollar stores.

These are 15 of the best items to buy at a dollar store in Florida

Greeting cards nowadays can be upwards of $5 at other locations.  At The Dollar Store they usually cost $1 for higher-quality ones and 50 cents for two. There isn't always a huge selection, but you'll be able to find one that will work.

Pregnancy test kits from the dollar store? Yes, you can. As stated by Kiplinger, “paying a buck to see if you might be pregnant seems a risky proposition,” says Kyle James, founder of the shopping deals website RatherBeShopping. “But the tests have been done, and they’re just as good as the $10-$15 variety you’ll find at major drugstores.” At Dollar Tree, the Assured pregnancy test kits, promising “over 99% accuracy,” are $1.

If you don't head to The Dollar Store to get candy before the movies, you're paying way too much.  You can find the same boxes of candy for a fraction of the price.

Cotton is cotton.  Why pay more when you don't have to?

You're always losing them or breaking them any way.  It won't hurt as much if they were a couple bucks.

We lose our hair accessories so fast anyway, why are we paying more than we need to?

You can get all sizes for much less than you'll pay at WalMart or Target.

During the planting and gardening season, you might be spending a lot of time at big box stores. But, little do you know the plant supplies at dollar stores are worth it and just as good.

6 rolls of tape, for only $1. Amazing, right?. A two-roll pack of Scotch transparent tape, totaling 500 inches, is $1 at Dollar Tree — or .002 cents per inch. A two-roll pack of Scotch transparent tape, totaling 1,200 inches, was $6.49 at Staples — or .005 cents per inch, more than twice as costly as the dollar store.

Whether you need wrapping paper, boxes, tissue paper, gift bags or any other party essentials, hit up The Dollar Store before spending hard earned money on items that get thrown away pretty quick.

According to Kiplinger, “Whether you need a small number of paper plates and cups or even themed decorations, the dollar store is an ideal place to shop for these items,” says Ramhold. “You typically only need them for one gathering, and those flimsy tablecloths will usually only last one party anyway, depending on how rowdy your guests are. Why pay more for those items when you can get the same quality for a lower cost? And the savings on party supplies can be put toward the things that everyone is really interested in — food and drinks.”

You can pick up an inexpensive floral vase, or get creative and use a mason jar, a glass mug or even a milk bottle.

You may have seen some cleaning videos on TikTok lately, and the one thing most have in common is their Dollar Store hacks.

Picking up name-brand toiletries at the dollar store is a no-brainer, our shopping experts note, especially the smaller versions made for traveling and other purposes.

With remote learning putting even more of an onus on parents in the last year, seeking out and scoring school supplies at bargain prices has become even more of an imperative. Don’t overlook dollar stores when stocking up.