The Dollar General Penny List Helps You Snag Items for Just a Cent: How it Works and the Checkout Secret to Success
Savvy shoppers are snagging household essentials for just one cent with this insider trick
If you love shopping at Dollar General, there’s a way to save even more on your next purchase—no coupons necessary! The secret: the Dollar General penny list. Customers have discovered this unofficial list of the products that can be snatched up for a single cent. It’s a fantastic way to get great deals on food, housewares, accessories and more without breaking the bank. Ready to join the community of savvy shoppers? Keep reading to learn more about the Dollar General penny list and how you can buy the cheap items during your next trip.
What is the Dollar General penny list?
You already know that Dollar General offers low prices on everyday essentials, snacks, decor and more. But with a little insider knowledge, you can score some of those same items for just a penny!
This secretive shopping deal is also known as the Dollar General penny list, and it features the items you can get for that one-cent price each week. This can be anything from camping equipment to school supplies, and it’s often goods that are no longer in season.
In most cases, the penny items are already marked down considerably and the store is trying to get rid of the remaining inventory. According to The Krazy Coupon Lady, the penny price tag is actually a mistake.
The products get those markdowns so Dollar General employees know to pull them from the shelves. But when they miss the items, they’re fair game for customers who want to purchase them for that one-cent price. What a bargain!
How to find those penny treasures
Though Dollar General stores do have clearly marked clearance sections, there are no specific aisles dedicated to the famous penny list. You’ll have to be savvy with your shopping!
Pro shoppers recommend starting with the clearance section, which is a common hotspot for penny items, but the products are usually located throughout the store. You can find them on end caps, bottom shelves and other less-known spots.
Sound overwhelming? Luckily, there are ways to figure out exactly what items fall onto the newest Dollar General penny list. One of the most common is to keep an eye on items that are currently marked 90 percent off. This is a good indication that they’ll soon be marked down to a penny and then pulled from shelves.
One important note: Avoid asking employees for help. Shoppers say that while this pricing loophole is available for customers, you’re responsible for finding the items on your own. (It’s also a good idea to be polite and mess-free in your hunt!)
When to go buy penny items
Ready to snag some items off the Dollar General penny list? Timing is everything—head to the store as early as you can on a Tuesday! “Stores will typically pull that morning so you want to be there at opening,” shares @DGPennyPrincess in a TikTok video. “But that doesn’t mean you won’t have the chance to score later in the day still!”
The inventory differs per store, so you never know what you may be able to get. It depends not only on the employees working there, but also how many customers in your area know this shopping secret. You could walk away with a huge haul or just a single penny item on any given day of the week.
Tips for checking out
To make your hunt successful, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re looking for! To find the most recent list, head to the Krazy Coupon Lady website, which updates weekly with the eligible items.
Also helpful: Follow avid Dollar General shoppers on social media! Many go to their local store to hunt for the penny items and then post the info, which will give you an idea of what may be available for just a penny at your own store.
Once you’re ready to snag your own discounted item, you’ll need to check to confirm they have actually been marked down to a penny. Here’s how to do so, according to a TikTok video posted by @CouponDaddy.
- Find a confirmed item from that week’s list or grab one that’s marked 90 percent off.
- Open the Dollar General app and make sure it’s set to the correct store (i.e., the store you’re shopping at).
- Click the barcode scanner next to the search bar.
- Scan the barcode.
- If it’s a confirmed penny item, it will show up at $0.00 (rather than $0.01).
Grab as many as you’d like, because it’s very possible the rest will be pulled off the shelves once the employee finds out it’s a penny item.
Next, it’s recommended you make your purchases via self-check out if possible. The reason? Not all employees are aware of this “penny list” system and some might even push back. The Krazy Coupon Lady reports that it is mentioned in the employee handbook that they are obligated to sell the item to you.
You can politely remind the cashier about the policy, but know that if they refuse, there’s nothing you can do but remove the item or items from your transaction. In that case, you may want to try another store in your area if possible!
With just a little extra effort, you could save bundles during your next Dollar General shopping trip. Happy hunting!
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