Let me tell you something the big homesteading influencers won’t.
You don’t need a $300 haul from the farm supply store to run a serious homestead.
You don’t need the premium brand. The fancy label. The “professional grade” version of something that does the exact same job as the $1.25 version sitting on a shelf three miles from your house.
Because here’s the truth — and I say this as someone who has spent way too much money learning it the hard way:
Most of what you actually use every single day on a homestead is simple. Functional. Unglamorous. And available at the dollar store.
I’m not talking about the random, low-quality junk that falls apart the first time you look at it. I’m talking about 17 specific items — things I’ve personally tested, used, and relied on — that do real work on a real homestead without draining your wallet.
And the first one on this list?
It’s something you’ve walked past a hundred times without realizing what it could do.
Let’s get into it.
Before You Shop — The Dollar Store Homesteader’s Mindset
Before we dive into the list, a quick word about how to shop smart.
Not everything at the dollar store is worth your time. Cheap pruning shears that snap on the first branch. Flimsy garden gloves that shred in a week. Thin plastic tarps that don’t survive a single rainstorm. I’ve bought all of those so you don’t have to.
This list is curated. Every item on it passes what I call the “function test” — if it just needs to hold, contain, organize, clean, or protect, the dollar store version works just as well as the name brand. Sometimes better.
The homesteading mindset isn’t about spending the most. It’s about spending smart. And once you start seeing your dollar store through that lens, you’ll never walk out empty-handed again.
With that said — let’s get into the list. And I promise, by item number three, you’ll be rethinking your next trip to the farm supply store.
Category 1: Garden and Growing
1. Binder Clips and Clothespins
Here’s the item you’ve walked past a hundred times.
Binder clips and wooden clothespins are one of the most versatile tools on a homestead — and most people never think to grab them outside of an office or laundry room.
Use them to organize seed packets by planting date. Clip frost cloth to wire hoops over your raised beds. Bundle dried herb stems together for hanging. Seal open bags of feed, grain, or scratch. Clip row cover to stakes without tearing the fabric.
The large binder clips, in particular, hold frost cloth to wire hoops better than most purpose-made garden clips that cost five times as much.
A pack of 12 for a dollar. You’ll use every single one.
And speaking of keeping things organized in the garden — the next item takes that a step further.
2. Plastic Storage Bins and Buckets
A dollar store plastic bin is one of the most useful objects on a homestead, and it has nothing to do with storage.
Use a shallow bin as a seed starting tray. Stack two together — drill holes in the bottom of the top one — and you have a self-watering planter that costs almost nothing. Use a deeper bin as a worm bin liner, a compost collection bucket under the kitchen sink, or a water catchment vessel under a downspout.
The key is to think of these not as “bins” but as vessels. Containers. Vessels for growing, collecting, fermenting, and organizing.
Buy several. You’ll find uses for all of them.
And if you’re starting seeds in those bins, you’re going to want the next item on this list.
3. Plastic Wrap and Cling Film
This one surprises people. But stay with me.
Plastic wrap stretched over a seed tray creates a perfect humidity dome — the same function as those $8 plastic dome lids sold at garden centers. It traps warmth and moisture, speeds germination, and costs a fraction of the price.
It also works as grafting wrap for fruit trees, a temporary seal over cut produce in the root cellar, and a moisture barrier for storing dried herbs.
One roll. Dozens of uses. And it takes up almost no space in your supply cabinet.
Once those seeds sprout, though, you’ll need to keep track of what’s what — and that’s where item number four comes in.
4. Permanent Markers and Craft Sticks
Popsicle sticks and a Sharpie.
That’s it. That’s your entire plant labeling system.
Write the variety and planting date on a craft stick, push it into the soil, and you’re done. For outdoor use, dip the labeled end in melted beeswax to waterproof it — it’ll last a full growing season without fading.
Use the same system for canning jar labels, livestock medication records, and seed packet organization. The permanent marker writes on almost any surface, including glass, plastic, and metal.
A pack of 50 craft sticks and a two-pack of markers for a dollar each. You’ll never run out of labels again.
Now let’s move from the garden to the kitchen — because this next category might surprise you.
Category 2: Food Preservation and Kitchen
5. Wide-Mouth Funnels
If you do any canning, fermenting, or bulk food storage, a wide-mouth funnel is not optional.
It’s the difference between a clean, efficient kitchen and a sticky, frustrating mess.
Use it to fill canning jars without dripping. Pour rendered lard into storage containers. Transfer dried herbs from a cutting board into a jar. Make infused oils without losing half the batch to the counter.
Dollar store funnels are often the exact same diameter as name-brand versions. Check the opening before you buy — if it fits a wide-mouth Mason jar, you’re good.
One dollar. Saves you time, mess, and frustration every single time you use it.
And once those jars are filled, you’ll want to make sure they’re sealed and organized properly — which brings us to the next item.
6. Rubber Bands — Assorted Sizes
Rubber bands are one of those things you don’t think about until you need one and can’t find one.
On a homestead, you need them constantly.
Secure cheesecloth over a fermentation jar. Bundle dried herb stems before hanging. Hold lids on fermentation crocks during active bubbling. Color-code your canning jars by batch date — one color for spring, another for fall. Wrap a rubber band around a stubborn jar lid before opening for instant grip without a jar opener.
A bag of 200 assorted rubber bands for a dollar. Keep them in the kitchen, the barn, and the garden shed.
Fermentation is one of the most powerful preservation tools you have — and the next item makes it even easier.
7. Cheesecloth and Mesh Produce Bags
Cheesecloth is one of those items that homesteaders use constantly and almost never think to buy at the dollar store.
But it’s there. And it works.
Use it to strain homemade broth, make fresh cheese, cover fermentation jars, dry herbs, and sprout seeds. Layer two pieces of dollar store cheesecloth for the same filtration as a single layer of specialty cloth.
Mesh produce bags work equally well for sprouting, drying, and storing root vegetables in a cool pantry.
One dollar. Reusable. Washable. Indispensable.
Now here’s one that most homesteaders never think to grab at the dollar store — but once you do, you’ll wonder how you managed without it.
8. White Vinegar — Large Bottle
White vinegar might be the single most useful liquid on a homestead, and the dollar store version is chemically identical to the name-brand version.
Use it as the base for canning brine. Mix it 1:1 with water in a spray bottle for an all-purpose cleaner that works on kitchen surfaces, canning equipment, and fermentation vessels. Use it full-strength as a weed killer on cracks and pathways. Set a small dish of it near your fruit bowl to trap and drown fruit flies. Add a splash to the rinse cycle as a natural fabric softener.
One large bottle. One dollar. More uses than you can count.
From the kitchen, let’s head to the coop — because your chickens deserve a spot on this list too.
Category 3: Livestock and Animal Care
9. Petroleum Jelly
This one earns its place on the list every single winter.
A thin coat of petroleum jelly applied to your chickens’ combs before a hard freeze prevents frostbite. It takes 30 seconds per bird and can save you from dealing with damaged, blackened combs all winter long.
But that’s just the beginning.
Use it to lubricate stuck jar lids. Condition leather gloves and harnesses. Protect metal tool heads from rust during storage. Soothe cracked, dry hands after a long day of outdoor work.
One small tub. One dollar. Keep one in the barn and one in the kitchen.
And while you’re in the coop, here’s another dollar store find that pulls double duty.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar — Small Bottle
One tablespoon per gallon of water, one to two times per week.
That’s the entire protocol for using apple cider vinegar as a chicken water additive — and the benefits are real. It supports gut health, discourages algae growth in waterers, and acts as a mild natural fly deterrent around the coop.
Use it to clean and deodorize waterers and feeders between refills. Apply diluted to minor skin irritations on livestock. Add a splash to the rinse water when cleaning the coop.
The dollar store version works exactly the same as the health food store version for these purposes.
Now let’s talk about something that every homesteader needs but almost nobody thinks to grab at the dollar store.
11. Zip Ties — Multi-Pack
Keep a handful of zip ties in your pocket during morning chores.
You’ll use them more than you expect.
Fence wire pulling away from a post? Zip tie. Waterer needs to be secured to a fence rail? Zip tie. Wire mesh on the chicken run coming loose at a corner? Zip tie. Electrical cords in the barn need bundling? Zip tie. Gate latch broken and you need a temporary fix until you get to the hardware store? Zip tie.
A multi-pack of 100 for a dollar. They’re not a permanent solution for everything — but as a first-response repair tool, nothing beats them.
From the barn to the homestead workshop — the next category is where things get really interesting.
Category 4: Tools, Repair, and Utility
12. Bungee Cords — Multi-Pack
Bungee cords are the duct tape of the homestead — except they’re reusable.
Secure a tarp over your woodpile before a storm. Hold a cold frame lid closed against the wind. Keep a feed bin lid from blowing off. Strap a load of firewood to a garden cart. Secure a gate that won’t latch properly.
Dollar store bungee cords are fine for light-duty use. Inspect the hooks before trusting them with anything heavy — but for everyday homestead tasks, they hold up well.
A pack of four for a dollar. Buy two packs.
And speaking of tarps and covers — the next item belongs in every homestead supply kit.
13. Painter’s Tape and Masking Tape
Painter’s tape is one of the most underrated organizational tools on a homestead.
Write on it with a Sharpie and stick it to anything — it peels off cleanly and leaves no residue. Label storage containers, freezer bags, and canning jars. Mark seed rows on a planting calendar. Make temporary repairs on hoop house plastic until you can get proper repair tape. Color-code livestock medication syringes so you never mix them up.
It sticks to glass, plastic, metal, and wood. It comes off without tearing labels or leaving sticky residue. And it costs a dollar.
Now here’s one that belongs in every homestead first aid kit — and it costs a dollar.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide
Keep a spray bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the barn.
It’s safer than bleach around animals, just as effective for surface sanitation, and costs almost nothing.
Use it to clean wounds on livestock and poultry. Sanitize canning equipment and fermentation vessels. Treat minor infections in chickens — a diluted spray on a wound is gentle, effective, and won’t harm surrounding tissue. Clean and deodorize waterers and feeders.
The 3% solution sold at the dollar store is the same concentration as the pharmacy version.
We’re almost at the end of the list — but the last three items might be the most useful of all.
Category 5: Preparedness and Homestead Essentials
15. Candles — Taper or Pillar
Every homestead needs candles. Not as decoration — as infrastructure.
When the power goes out, candles are your first line of light. But on a homestead, they do far more than that.
Shave wax from a taper candle to make fire-starting tinder — it catches a spark faster than almost anything else. Mix wax shavings with sawdust and press into muffin tins for homemade fire starters that burn for 15 minutes. Rub a candle along a sticky drawer or zipper to lubricate it instantly. Seal the flap of a seed packet or envelope with a drop of melted wax.
Melt the bottom of a taper candle slightly and press it into a jar lid for an instant, stable candle holder that costs nothing.
A pack of six taper candles for a dollar. Keep them in the kitchen, the barn, and your emergency kit.
And if you’re thinking about emergency preparedness, you’ll want this next one too.
16. Mylar Gift Bags
This one surprises people every time.
Mylar gift bags — the shiny, crinkly ones sold in the dollar store’s gift wrap section — are made from the same material as purpose-made Mylar storage bags. The same material used in emergency blankets. The same material used in long-term food storage.
Use them to store small quantities of seeds, spices, or dried herbs for long-term preservation. Line a box with them to create a makeshift Faraday cage for protecting small electronics from an EMP. Lay them flat in the garden as reflective mulch — they bounce light back up onto plants and can meaningfully increase yields in low-light conditions. Tuck one under a seedling flat to reflect heat and light during early spring starts.
A pack of four for a dollar. Most people walk right past them.
And finally — the one item on this list that most people overlook completely, but that experienced homesteaders swear by.
17. Reading Glasses — Multi-Pack
Hear me out.
Reading glasses from the dollar store are not a fashion statement. They’re a functional tool — and on a homestead, you need them in more places than you think.
Fine seed work. Reading small print on medication labels. Removing a splinter by lamplight. Reading a map in the field. Identifying a plant from a field guide. Checking the tiny print on a canning lid to confirm the seal date.
At a dollar each, there’s no reason to have just one pair. Keep a pair in the barn. One in the garden shed. One in the first aid kit. One in the truck.
When you need them, you need them immediately — and at a dollar a pair, losing one is not a crisis.
Quick Reference Guide
| Item | Primary Homestead Use | Bonus Use |
|---|---|---|
| Binder Clips / Clothespins | Frost cloth fastening | Seed packet organization |
| Plastic Storage Bins | Seed starting trays | Worm bin liner |
| Plastic Wrap | Germination humidity dome | Root cellar produce protection |
| Craft Sticks + Markers | Plant labels | Canning batch records |
| Wide-Mouth Funnel | Jar filling | Herb and lard transfer |
| Rubber Bands | Fermentation jar covers | Jar grip / color-coding |
| Cheesecloth | Broth straining | Sprouting and herb drying |
| White Vinegar | Canning brine base | All-purpose coop cleaner |
| Petroleum Jelly | Comb frostbite prevention | Tool rust protection |
| Apple Cider Vinegar | Chicken gut health additive | Waterer cleaning |
| Zip Ties | Fence and mesh repair | Barn cord management |
| Bungee Cords | Tarp and load securing | Feed bin lid retention |
| Painter’s Tape | Container labeling | Hoop house repair |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | Wound cleaning | Equipment sanitation |
| Candles | Emergency lighting | Fire starter material |
| Mylar Gift Bags | Seed and herb storage | Reflective garden mulch |
| Reading Glasses | Fine seed work | Medication label reading |
What to Skip — Dollar Store Items That Aren’t Worth It
In the spirit of full honesty, here are a few things I’ve bought at the dollar store so you don’t have to:
Cheap pruning shears. They’ll snap on the first woody stem. Not worth it.
Thin plastic tarps. They won’t survive a single hard season. Spend the extra few dollars at the hardware store.
Canning lids. Do not use dollar store canning lids for pressure canning or water bath canning. This is a food safety issue. Stick to name-brand lids for anything you’re sealing for long-term storage.
Flimsy garden gloves. They shred within a week of real use. Buy better gloves elsewhere.
Spray bottles with weak triggers. Test the trigger before you buy. Some work fine. Some are useless after three pumps.
Everything else on this list? Fair game.
How to Shop the Dollar Store Like a Homesteader
Go with a list. The dollar store is designed to make you browse — and browsing leads to buying things you don’t need. Walk in with your list, work through it, and leave.
Buy multiples of consumables. Rubber bands, craft sticks, painter’s tape, hydrogen peroxide — when you find something that works, buy two or three. At a dollar each, there’s no reason to run out.
Check quality before buying. Squeeze the bungee cord hooks. Test the spray bottle trigger. Look at the seams on the cheesecloth. Most dollar store items are perfectly functional — but a quick inspection takes five seconds and saves you a wasted trip.
Know your dollar store chains. Dollar Tree tends to have the best selection of kitchen and preservation supplies. Dollar General often carries better quality on tools and hardware items. Family Dollar is worth checking for cleaning supplies and first aid items. If you have all three near you, a quick rotation through all of them once a month will keep your homestead supply cabinet stocked for almost nothing.
The Bottom Line
Here’s what I want you to take away from this.
You don’t need a big budget to build a serious homestead.
You need a sharp eye, a good list, and the willingness to look past the label and ask one simple question: does it do the job?
Because that’s what homesteading has always been about. Not the fanciest tools. Not the most expensive setup. But the resourcefulness to look at what’s available — right in front of you, for almost nothing — and put it to work.
That’s the skill. That’s the mindset. And that’s what separates the homesteaders who thrive from the ones who burn out trying to keep up with a lifestyle that was never supposed to cost that much in the first place.
Take this list with you on your next dollar store run.
Pick one item. Just one. Try it. See what it does.
And then come back and tell me I was wrong.
Save this for your next shopping trip — and share it with a fellow homesteader who’s tired of overpaying for the basics.
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