9 Summer Essentials Retirees Should Buy From Dollar Tree Before They're Gone
It's time to stock up for summer.
Good news if you like saving money: Dollar Tree still carries plenty of inexpensive summer essentials worth grabbing before seasonal inventory starts disappearing.
Not These: Costco Superfans Say Members Should Stop Buying These 5 Items
Try It: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
Here are some of the best buys retirees may want to pick up before they’re gone.
The Best Dollar Tree Bargains Shoppers are Finding Right Now
Wide-Brimmed Straw Sun Hats
Price: $3
Imagine all the time you’ll spend outside this summer, from gardening and morning walks to farmers' market trips and beach days with the family. Now imagine doing all of it with a lightweight straw hat that helps keep your face shaded from UV rays. For around $3 at Dollar Tree, it’s a pretty easy summer upgrade.
Handheld Mini Fans
Price: $5
Handheld fans are one of those things people assume they’ll never really use until you they actually try one. They’re useful during outdoor concerts, festivals and grandkids’ sports games and they’re easy to pass around once everyone starts complaining about the heat. Dollar Tree’s foldable versions are also small enough to keep in the car or toss into a tote bag before heading out.
Reusable Water Bottles
Price: $1.25
People get attached to expensive water bottles now. Meanwhile, sometimes you just need cold water nearby when it’s 90 degrees outside. These flip-top bottles are cheap enough to keep in the car, toss into a beach bag or leave in the fridge ready to grab before heading out for the day. And if one gets lost somewhere over the summer, it’s only $1.25.
Citronella Incense Sticks
Price: $1.50
Imagine enjoying a quiet summer sunset with the family, when all of a sudden the mosquitoes begin to bite. These citronella incense sticks can make patios, decks and backyard cookouts a lot more enjoyable without spending a fortune on oversized bug candles or sprays. At $1.50 for a six-pack, they’re also cheap enough to keep a few around all summer long.
Gardening Gloves and Foam Knee Pads
Price: $1.25 or $1.50
Gardening sounds relaxing until your hands are covered in dirt and your knees hurt. These grip gloves make it easier to handle tools, pull weeds and repot plants. Reviewers also say they’re surprisingly stretchy and comfortable for the price. Pair them with a Dollar Tree gardening kneeling pad and summer yard work feels a lot easier on the body.
Sun Readers
Price: $1.25
If you’ve ever tried reading a menu or text message outside in bright summer sun, you already understand why these exist. Sunreaders let you read comfortably without constantly switching between sunglasses and reading glasses. At $1.50, they’re also a lot less stressful to lose than an expensive pair of shades.
Check Out: Enter for a Chance To Win $500 in MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See Official Rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
Sunscreen
Price: $1.25 or $5.50
Nobody plans on getting too much sun. Then suddenly you’ve been outside for four hours and your shoulders are bright red by dinner. A good SPF 50 sunscreen is one of those summer basics that’s worth keeping at the ready for beach days, gardening sessions and afternoons spent outside.
Reusable Totes
Price: $1.50
You ever notice the people who seem the least stressed always have a giant tote bag with everything they need already inside? These XXL reusable totes are big enough for groceries, beach towels, farmers market trips and all the random things that happen during summer. Reviewers also say they’re surprisingly sturdy for the price, even for heavier groceries.
First Aid Basics
Price: $1.25
There’s something thoughtful about being the guy or gal who remembered to pack a first-aid kit for everybody before a summer outing. These compact kits are easy to keep in the car, beach bag or backpack for road trips, walks and afternoons outside when small cuts, scrapes and blisters happen. Reviewers also say they feel surprisingly comparable to some pricier first-aid kits sold at drugstores.
Summer spending adds up fast. Enter MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway for a chance to win $500 — and give your budget a break. (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See Official Rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are subject to change.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: