Dollar Tree Toys Might Be Toxic

Dollar Tree is a great place to find bargains on kids’ toys.  There are stocking stuffers for Christmas; party favors for birthday parties; fillers for Easter Baskets.  

 Thing is: some of those toys may be dangerous and even toxic for children.  

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Dangerous Toys on Store Shelves

Of course, this is a much bigger problem than bargains at the dollar store.  The sad truth is that there are a shocking amount of toys marketed to kids of all ages that are dangerous and can hurt or even kill them.  They are sold all over the country, at all price points, at trusted stores like Target and Walmart and made by trusted companies like Hallmark and Mattel. 

In fact, each year since 1973, the safety group World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) publishes its annual Top 10 Most Dangerous Toys List.   

Read the list of the Most Dangerous Toys of 2017 here.  

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Dangers and Toy Recalls

Dangers can come from flaws in the design of the product, or in the failure of a particular product to function properly.  Toys can also be dangerous because of what is used to make them.  Kids – even older kids – may ingest or inhale materials or chemicals from the toy that can hurt them.  They can be cut or burned or caused to fall.  

It's usually after kids get hurt and the injuries get reported that there may be recalls. 

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Report Testing Dollar Store Products for Toxins Finds 81% Positive for Hazardous Chemical

Dollar Tree is not an exception.  Two years ago, the Campaign for Healthier Solutions tested 164 products from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, 99 Cents Only, and Dollar General.  

Read the Report here.

They tested for a variety of toxins (arsenic, lead, mercury, tin, antimony, bromine, and chlorine) as well as phthalate and no-phthalate plasticizers.  Result?  

• 81% of Dollar Tree products  had at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern;
• 49% of Dollar Tree products contained two or more toxic chemicals above safety levels;
• 38% of Dollar Tree products contained dangerous vinyl plastic; and of these vinyl products, a high percentage contained toxic phthalates above the CPSC limits for children’s products.

For more details, see the summary in an article entitled “Dollar Store Report, 2015,”published by the non-profit Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  

From the report on Dollar Tree findings, there were things like beaded necklaces and artificial nails, and toys that include:

·         Bath toys

·         Favor surprises

·         Inflatable dinosaurs

·         Jumpin’ frogs

·         Mermaid Sirene (Doll, Hairbrush, Tail, Torso)

·         Paddleball

·         Princess Rings

·         Princess Wand

·         Table Tennis

·         The Amazing Spiderman 2 Coin Bank

·         Tiaras

·         Ultimate Spiderman Dog Tags

·         Zyrofoam.

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What about Dollar Tree Toys Today?  We Don’t Know

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Of course, this report was published in 2015, so no worries now right?  Wrong.  

In June 2017, Kimberly Pierceall’s article in The Virginian-Pilot was published, entitled “Dollar Tree says it’s protecting consumers from toxic chemicals.  Group wants proof.”   

Read the story and you’ll learn the details about how the company had no proof to offer shareholders at the 2017 shareholder’s meeting. 

Seems that Dollar Tree wrote some letters….  No feedback on any changes being made in the actual products being sold in the stores. 

And, at the Dollar Tree site, there are only three recalls listed: one in 2014 and two in 2015.  None are toys.  

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Of Particular Concern: Lead Levels in Toys

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn there are children in the United States today that have scary levels of lead coursing through their blood.  Children may not exhibit any health symptoms even if they have been exposed to lead and had in it their systems.   

The CDC warns that “no safe blood level in children has been identified.” 

Things like fidget spinners can have toxic lead levels.  You can’t just look at a toy and know that it’s safe from lead exposure.  And lead poisoning is scary (see the CDC Infographic here).

Sure, toddlers may try and stuff a toy or a part of a toy into their mouths.  But think about it:  imagine a tween girl who has her plastic necklace looped in her mouth while watching TV, or a teenager who holds a plastic dog tag in their mouth while they’re tying their shoes?   

It’s not just the tiny ones that are at risk here.

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Be Careful Before You Buy Toys at Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is a great place to shop.  I’m not suggesting you stop shopping there!  I’m considering buying some toys there for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program myself this afternoon.   

But remember this:

1   You cannot trust the toys just because they’ve made it to the store shelves.  Dangerous toys are sold every day in this country. 

2.  You cannot trust the toys even if they have a name brand on the label.  The big toy makers are as guilty of putting dangerous stuff out there into the marketplace as any shop in China; recognizing the manufacturer isn’t a guarantee of safety.  

So, I am educating myself on what dangerous toys may look like from sites like WATCH’s ToySafety.org and I’m checking the recall sites, too.   If there is metal, maybe I won’t buy that toy because of the CDC’s lead warnings. 

And I’m suggesting, Dear Reader, that maybe you might want to do this, too. 

Dollar Tree Book of the Week: Alas, Babylon

This is my third Dollar Tree Book of the Week (see my first post for details). I discovered a sci-fi classic that's been around since 1959. 

It's Pat Frank's Alas Babylon in a Harper Perennial Olive Edition that is priced at $9.74 right now on Amazon.com.  There are cheaper alternatives both in paperback and digital, but this is the edition that I found at Dollar Tree this week.

Read about it on Goodreads. 

And yes, I got an American classic, in pristine condition with great quality white pages, for a buck.  Finding great books at Dollar Tree never gets old!

Dollar Tree Book of the Week: The Great Santini

This is my second Dollar Tree Book of the Week (see my earlier post for details).  I'm still reeling that I found something written by Pat Conroy at the DT.  What a find!  Pat Conroy is one of my favorite writers. 

Here's what I brought home -- The Great Santini by Pat Conroy, in paperback:

Maybe you recognize it from the movie version.  This 1976 novel was made into a movie with Robert Duvall in the title role, 1979's "The Great Santini."  It also starred Michael O'Keefe and Blythe Danner -- but Duvall really made that film IMHO. 

It was a good movie.  Critics loved it (94% at Rotten Tomatoes), but for me the book was so much better.  Maybe it was because I knew before I started reading it long ago that it was based on Pat Conroy's difficult childhood and that Santini, in many ways, was his abusive dad. 

And I got this paperback, crisp and clean, for a buck at the Dollar Tree.  What a treasure!!!!!

Dollar Tree Book of the Week: The Man Who Was Thursday

I know there are arguments against buying new books cheap (remainders). The big one:  the author will not be paid anything from the sale. 

So when I see a new book at a low price, it gives me pause.  Still, when I see a treasure at the Dollar Tree, which happens more and more often these days, I grab it up.

It's an amazing thing, to find great books for a buck -- and with the bargain, there's this feeling that I'm saving them somehow.  How can they tossed aside like this?  They need love. 

So I buy them.  And I'm buying more and more. 

In fact, so many wonderful books are showing up at my local Dollar Tree, I thought I'd start sharing them with you.

Maybe you, like me, Dear Reader will feel like you've discovered treasure too ....

My Dollar Tree Book of the Week

This week's Dollar Tree Book of the Week, The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton, published by Penguin Classics:

Look carefully, and you'll see a quote from Kingsley Amis on the cover, "The most thrilling book I have ever read."

For more on the book, check out Wikipedia, Goodreads, or the 2016 movie.

And, yes, I know it's in the public domain over at Gutenberg.  Doesn't take away from the excitement of finding this book on a DT shelf.  

Salvage Stores: When You Want to Buy New Stuff at Thrift Store Prices

Thrift stores offer amazing buys, but there are drawbacks.  For one thing, this stuff is used and lots of people are wary about buying used merchandise.  Repairs may be needed.  Some fixes are obvious, mending a hem or sewing on a button.  Others are not, like faulty wiring.  
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Shopping at a Thrift Store

Then there’s the thrift store experience.  The inventory turns over rapidly, and their stuff isn’t placed prettily on the shelves.  Stuff is stacked, clothes are shoved onto racks.  You have to search through lots of things to find your treasures in a thrift store.  Dig through bins.  Look through the dishware stacks on the lower shelves. 

But the prices!  Thrift store finds can be amazing, especially for savvy shoppers with experience in thrifting. 

So, what if you want that thrift store price but you want new stuff?  You want things from nice stores, no previous owner, and still in their packaging – for pennies on the dollar?

Well, then you may want to investigate salvage stores in your area….

New Stuff for Sale at Salvage Stores

There are different kinds of salvage stores.  Here in San Antonio, for instance, we have more than one salvage store that sells “architectural salvage.”  That’s not what you want. 

You’re looking for stores like these, some selling merchandise and some selling food items:
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1. New Merchandise at Thrift Store Prices

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Some salvage stores sell stuff.  New stuff; good stuff.  You’re still going to have to sort through the inventory, but you are looking at new products. 

Example:  Dirt Cheap

The Dirt Cheap chain has stores in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee.  They are closed on Sunday.

How do they explain their store?  From their site:

“With over 90 locations across eight states, Dirt Cheap is a bargain hunter's paradise.  We offer leading private label and name brand merchandise for as much as 30-90% off regular retail prices.  …  We purchase our merchandise from retailers all over the country, so we may carry items that you would not usually find in your region.  Our merchandise changes weekly, and sometimes daily, so it pays to stop in often!"
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2. Food Bargains at Salvage Stores

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There are also salvage stores that sell food.  Groceries at really low prices (like a quarter for a soda).

Example:  AAA Freight Salvage

 This is a local salvage store with all sorts of online five-star ratings.  Surf the web for similar locally-operated salvage stores in your area. 

Here’s the thing: it’s a food salvage store.  One Facebook reviewer describes it as the T.J. Maxx and Marshall's for groceries.  
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Test the Waters with YouTube Hauls

If you want to get the feel for shopping at a salvage store before venturing forth, then check out “Dirt Cheap Store Hauls” on YouTube. 

Shoppers there will take you on tours of their stores, as well as share their bargain finds. Here’s one for you:

Walmart vs H-E-B Price Comparison: Guess Who Wins?

Where does your food budget dollar get the most bang for its buck?  Well, here in San Antonio, you're gonna find better prices at Walmart for most everything.  

I was surprised by this but after surfing around both their sites for my own grocery list as well as some products that just popped into my head (like Nutella; I never buy it), Walmart beat my local H-E-B chain hands down.  Wow.  Here's what I found:

Prices are from the online websites for Walmart Grocery and H-E-B Curbside Pickup as of September 28, 2017.  I started checking Amazon Prime as well, but it got ridiculous.  There’s no comparison (yet) on grocery prices between your local grocery chain and Amazon’s online service.  Amazon is WAY higher.

Fifteen products are listed.  Prices for each product appear from lowest price to highest price.  Only edible items are included here (no aluminum foil or parchment paper or toilet paper comparisons). 

Winner:  Walmart.  No contest.  

1.  Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) 32 oz.

•  Walmart  $5.98
•   H-E-B  $6.16

2.  Dannon Oikos Triple Zero Mixed Berry Four Pack

• ·         Walmart $3.47 
• ·         H-E-B $3.57

3.  Nabisco Triscuit Crackers Reduced Fat 8.0 oz.

• ·         Walmart $2.56
• ·         H-E-B $2.64

4.  Seedless Red Grapes, 1 Lb.

• ·         H-E-B  0.87 per pound
• ·         Walmart 1.88 per pound

5.  Dole Salad Spring Mix, 10.0 OZ (Clamshell Container)

• ·         Walmart $4.68
• ·         H-E-B $5.13

6.  Chicken of the Sea Chunk Style Pink Salmon In Water,5 oz

• ·         Walmart $1.22
• ·         H-E-B $1.26

7.  Smartfood Popcorn, Variety Pack, 0.5 Oz, 20 Ct

• ·         H-E-B $6.16
• ·         Walmart $6.98

8. DiGiorno Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza, 27.5 oz

• ·         H-E-B $5.47 and Walmart $5.47

9.  Stevia in the Raw Zero Calorie Sweetener Packets, 50 each

• ·         Walmart $2.77
• ·         H-E-B $2.85

10.  Sara Lee Delightful 45 Calories Healthy Multi-Grain Bread

• ·         Walmart $2.84
• ·         H-E-B $2.93

11.  Lactaid Reduced Fat 2% Milkfat Milk, 96 oz

• ·         H-E-B $5.84 and Walmart $5.84

12. General Mills Multi-Grain Cheerios, 18 oz

• ·         Walmart $3.28
• ·         H-E-B $3.48

13.   Nutella Hazelnut Spread with Skim Milk & Cocoa, 13 oz

• ·         Walmart $3.48
• ·         H-E-B $3.58

14.  Oreo Sandwich Cookies, Chocolate, 14.3 Oz

• ·         Walmart $2.98
• ·         H-E-B $3.07

15.  Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce,24 oz

• ·         Walmart $1.84
• ·         H-E-B $1.90

Thanksgiving Day is 48 Days Away: Planning Ahead

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Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday.  I hate that it seems to get lost between Halloween and Christmas - or at least that's how it seems out in the stores.

I saw Halloween stuff competing with Christmas decorations in the last week of September!  Ye Gads.

Meanwhile, maybe some would say I'm just as bad.  Why?  I'm doing menu planning now.  For Thanksgiving.  Forty-eight days in advance.  Yepper -- crazy, right?

Planning Ahead for Turkey Day

Well, here's the thing.  I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month in November, so I need to get ready for that added work load.  (Which is writing 50,000 words or more in 30 days.  I plan on writing a very bad first draft of a thriller novel.  LOL)

But I might be planning for Thanksgiving this week anyway.

Why Plan for Thanksgiving Now?  

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Why?  It's gonna save me money and time and stress.  And it makes me happy.

That is Simple Living, at least in my view.

How is it saving me money and time?  Well, I'm planning the whole weekend.  Bill will provide his famous hash brown and egg tacos, that's a tradition.  There will be leftovers.  Natch.

No one in this casa cares about Black Friday, so no worries there.  Well, if there's an online special for a TV or laptop for a penny or a dollar, we might be a little interested.  Maybe.

Football may be involved.  To me, this means snacks.  Walks in the park will occur.  Naps.  Soup. Movies.  Fingers crossed, we'll have sweater weather!

Today, I'm going to have all the recipes together, including the snacks and the drinks, right in front of me. I'm buying in bulk at Sam's Club -- and watching the food ads --  for things I can store or freeze and have ready come T-Day.

I'm looking for deals.  (Yesterday, I found a nice price for pecans at HEB.)

I'm keeping the recipes simple, too.  No Bon Appetit here.  Simple stuff.  Good stuff.

Plus not so many choices.  Two desserts.  One kind of coffee.  Chips and queso.  Turkey Chili.  Iced Tea. You get the idea.

I'm excited thinking about Thanksgiving.  Counting blessings; eating queso while watching an Alfred Hitchcock movie; the turkey-induced nap.

I'm plotting things that are fun and free.  Walking in the park, bringing bread to feed the ducks and geese while the dogs sniff the goose poop?  This costs nothing and it's amazing.  Memory-making.

Ditto the movie night with popcorn and classic movies.  At some point, there may be watching sports on TV; I never do this -- but I'll be writing that thriller novel.  As long as no one is hogging the chili con queso, we'll all be fine.

Oh, my, this is fun!!!  I like this planning ahead plan.  It makes me happy.  Maybe it will bring a smile to your face, too, Dear Reader.