Looking at your bank account and wondering how to stretch those last few dollars until payday? You’re not alone. When I was paying off my debt, I discovered one of the best-kept secrets in bargain hunting: Dollar General penny items. These nearly-free treasures can help you stock your home with necessities without breaking your budget.
What if I told you there’s a way to buy items for just one cent at Dollar General? It sounds too good to be true, but penny shopping is real—though the store doesn’t advertise it. These penny items are technically supposed to be removed from shelves, but when they slip through the cracks, savvy shoppers can find incredible deals.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about finding penny items at Dollar General. From understanding how the system works to using the right tools to find these hidden deals, these tips will help you join the ranks of budget-conscious shoppers who walk out with bags of items for just pennies. Let’s unlock these secrets together.
Complete Guide to Dollar General Penny Shopping
1. Understand What Penny Items Actually Are
Penny items at Dollar General aren’t advertised specials—they’re products that should have been pulled from shelves. When merchandise is discontinued or seasonal items are past their selling period, Dollar General marks them down to a penny in their system. This is their way of flagging items that need to be removed from the sales floor and either sent back to the distribution center or thrown away.
Employees are instructed to scan and remove these items during their regular inventory management, but in a busy store with limited staff, many items get overlooked. That’s where your opportunity comes in. If you find these items still on the shelf, the register will ring them up for just $0.01 each—regardless of their original price. This could mean getting a $10 item for a single penny!
2. Learn the Penny Item Schedule
Dollar General follows a predictable pattern for marking items down to a penny. New penny items typically appear in the system every Tuesday morning. This is why Tuesday has become known as “Penny Day” among experienced penny shoppers. The corporate office updates their system overnight on Monday, so by Tuesday morning, new penny items are in the system.
Seasonal items follow a specific markdown schedule. For example, summer items (like pool toys, gardening supplies, and beach accessories) usually go penny about 4-6 weeks after the end of summer. Halloween items might go penny by mid-November, and Christmas merchandise often hits penny status by late January. Knowing this schedule allows you to anticipate which categories might be going penny soon.
Many penny shoppers keep a calendar marking when certain categories typically go penny based on previous years’ patterns. By tracking this information, you can plan your shopping trips around the most likely times for finding specific types of penny items.
3. Look for Specific Price Tags and Stickers
One of the most reliable ways to identify potential penny items is by understanding Dollar General’s price tag system. The store uses a color-coding system on their clearance stickers that can help you spot items likely to go penny soon.
Color Codes: Yellow price tags indicate an item is on clearance. Items with yellow stickers that end in $0.25 or $0.50 are often close to going penny. If you see a yellow tag with a price ending in 0, 5, or sometimes 1, it might already be a penny in the system despite what the tag says.
Dot System: Dollar General also uses colored dots to indicate seasonal merchandise. Green dots represent spring/summer items. Red dots indicate fall/Halloween merchandise. White or snowflake dots mark winter/Christmas products. When these seasonal items are outdated, they’re prime candidates for penny status.
SKU Numbers: The barcode numbers (SKUs) on Dollar General products can also provide clues. Experienced penny shoppers learn to recognize certain number patterns that frequently go penny. For example, many penny shoppers look specifically at the last 4-5 digits of a barcode to identify penny candidates.
Take time to examine these markers carefully. The original price tag is often irrelevant once an item is in the penny database—a $20 item will still ring up as $0.01 if it’s in the system as a penny item.
4. Check the Clearance Sections First
When hunting for penny items, always start in the clearance sections. Most Dollar General stores have dedicated areas where they consolidate clearance merchandise, making them treasure troves for penny shoppers.
Look for clearance endcaps at the ends of aisles, special clearance sections (often in the back of the store), and seasonal clearance areas. Pay special attention to the very top shelves and bottom shelves in these sections. Many times, employees will quickly place items in clearance without scanning them first, and the highest and lowest shelves are often the least maintained areas of the store.
Take your time examining items in these areas. Don’t rush through—penny shopping requires patience and attention to detail. Check each item for the markers we discussed earlier: colored dots, specific clearance stickers, and items that seem out of season or like they’ve been on the shelf for a while.
It’s also worth checking the “as is” section if your store has one. This is where slightly damaged goods or opened packages end up, and these items are frequently overlooked during penny item pulls.
5. Use Penny Item Lists and Apps
While Dollar General doesn’t officially publish which items are pennies, there’s an entire online community dedicated to tracking and sharing this information. These resources are invaluable for serious penny shoppers.
Facebook Groups: There are numerous Facebook groups dedicated to Dollar General penny shopping. Members share lists of current penny items, often with photos and SKU numbers. Some groups even have members who work at Dollar General who leak new penny lists before Tuesday morning.
Penny List Websites: Websites like “The Penny List” or “Penny Puss” compile and publish current penny items weekly. These sites often include detailed descriptions, images, and even the exact barcode numbers of penny items.
Apps: The Dollar General app itself can be used to check prices by scanning barcodes. Additionally, some third-party apps are specifically designed for penny shoppers, allowing you to scan items and check if they’re on current penny lists.
Take time to join these communities and familiarize yourself with the resources. Many experienced penny shoppers check these lists before heading to the store so they know exactly what to look for. Just remember that inventory varies by location, so not every store will have every item on the penny lists.
6. Scan Before You Buy
One of the most valuable tools for penny shopping is the Dollar General app with its barcode scanner feature. This allows you to discreetly check prices without drawing attention or having to ask employees.
Download the official Dollar General app on your smartphone and create an account. When you’re in the store, use the app’s scanner function to check prices on items you suspect might be pennies. Simply open the app, tap on the barcode scanner icon, and point your camera at the item’s barcode.
The app will show you the current price in the system. If it displays $0.01, you’ve found a penny item! If not, you can decide whether to purchase it at the displayed price or leave it behind. This method allows you to quietly identify penny items without alerting staff.
Some experienced penny shoppers also invest in portable barcode scanners that connect to their phones, allowing for faster and more discreet scanning, especially when checking numerous items. The initial investment in such a device can quickly pay off if you’re serious about penny shopping.
Scanning items before taking them to the register also prevents the potentially awkward situation of having a cartful of items that you thought were pennies but actually aren’t. It helps you shop more efficiently and with confidence.
7. Be Discreet About Your Penny Shopping
This is perhaps the most important rule of penny shopping: discretion is essential. Dollar General’s official policy is to remove penny items from shelves because these items are supposed to be pulled from inventory.
Never ask employees directly which items are pennies or tell them you’re looking for penny items. This will likely prompt them to check their system and remove those very items before you can purchase them. Similarly, avoid discussing penny shopping loudly while in the store or drawing attention to penny items you’ve found.
Shop quietly and act like a regular customer browsing the store. If employees ask if you need help, politely decline or ask about something unrelated to penny items. Keep your scanning discreet—try to look like you’re checking your phone rather than obviously scanning numerous items.
At checkout, if your items ring up as pennies, stay calm and complete your transaction as normal. Don’t express surprise or excitement that might alert the cashier to what you’re doing. Many penny shoppers even mix in a few regular-priced items to make their purchases seem more routine.
Building relationships with store employees can be helpful, but be careful not to reveal your penny shopping intentions. Being friendly and respectful goes a long way, and employees are less likely to question your purchases if they recognize you as a regular, pleasant customer.
8. Know When to Shop
Timing is a critical factor in successful penny shopping. The day and time you choose to visit Dollar General can significantly impact your chances of finding penny items.
Tuesday Mornings: Since new penny items typically hit the system every Tuesday, shopping early Tuesday morning gives you the best chance at finding newly-penned items before employees can pull them or other penny shoppers can clear the shelves. Many serious penny shoppers are at their local Dollar General when it opens on Tuesday mornings.
Understaffed Hours: Visiting during times when the store is likely to be understaffed—such as early mornings, late evenings, or during shift changes—can increase your chances of finding penny items that employees haven’t had time to remove. Weekends can also be good times as stores are often busy with regular shoppers, giving employees less time to focus on clearing penny items.
After Store Resets: Dollar General periodically reorganizes their shelves and displays (known as “resets”). These busy periods often result in items being overlooked or misplaced, increasing the likelihood of finding penny items. Pay attention to when your local store is undergoing changes or reorganization.
Multiple Stores: Don’t limit yourself to just one location. Visit multiple Dollar General stores in your area, especially those in less trafficked areas or stores that seem less organized. Each store will have different inventory and varying levels of efficiency in removing penny items.
Planning your shopping trips strategically around these timing factors can significantly improve your penny shopping success rate. Many experienced penny shoppers create a Tuesday morning route of several stores to maximize their chances of finding good deals.
9. Check Rural and Less-Trafficked Stores
Not all Dollar General locations are created equal when it comes to penny shopping. The store’s location, staffing level, and management can greatly affect the availability of penny items.
Rural Dollar General stores and those in less busy areas often have more penny items available for several reasons. These locations typically have fewer staff members who might not have time to thoroughly scan and pull all penny items from shelves. The managers at these stores might also be less strict about enforcing the penny item removal policy.
Additionally, rural stores often have fewer penny shoppers competing for the same deals. While penny shopping has become increasingly popular in urban and suburban areas, many rural Dollar General locations might only have a handful of customers who know about the penny system.
Another advantage of less-trafficked stores is that they sometimes receive seasonal merchandise later than busier locations. This timing difference can mean that by the time items go penny in the system, these stores still have plenty in stock, whereas busier locations sold out at regular price or early clearance prices.
If you live in an urban area, consider making occasional trips to Dollar General stores in surrounding rural communities. The gas money spent might be well worth it if you come back with bags full of penny items. Many penny shoppers map out stores within a reasonable driving distance and rotate between them on penny shopping days.
10. Be Prepared for Register Issues
Even when you’ve found legitimate penny items, you might occasionally encounter issues at checkout. Being prepared for these situations can help you handle them gracefully and successfully.
Sometimes cashiers will notice when items ring up as a penny and may refuse to sell them to you, citing company policy. If this happens, remain calm and polite. You can simply say something like, “I’d like to purchase what’s available on the shelf at whatever price it rings up, please.” Most cashiers will proceed with the transaction rather than argue.
If a cashier does refuse to sell you penny items, you have a few options. You can ask to speak with a manager, who might be more willing to complete the sale. Alternatively, you might choose to leave without the items and return when a different cashier is working.
Some penny shoppers use self-checkout when available to avoid potential issues with cashiers. However, keep in mind that many Dollar General stores don’t have self-checkout options, and some that do have employees monitoring the self-checkout area who might still intervene.
Another strategy is to separate your penny items among regular-priced purchases so they’re less noticeable at checkout. Breaking up your penny items into multiple transactions can also help them go unnoticed.
Remember that how you interact with employees can make a big difference. Being argumentative or demanding will likely result in being denied the penny items. A friendly, easygoing attitude often leads to more successful transactions.
11. Don’t Buy Just Because It’s a Penny
A common pitfall for new penny shoppers is purchasing items solely because they’re priced at a penny, regardless of whether they need or will use those items. This approach can lead to unnecessary spending and clutter.
Before adding an item to your cart, ask yourself whether you would purchase it if it were priced at $1 or even $0.50. If the answer is no, consider leaving it on the shelf. While the financial impact of a single penny seems negligible, these purchases add up over time, especially if you’re buying dozens of penny items regularly.
Consider also the space these items will take up in your home. Many penny shoppers end up with closets full of items they don’t need and will never use, simply because they couldn’t pass up the deal. This defeats the purpose of penny shopping as a money-saving strategy.
Instead, focus on finding penny items that you or your family will actually use, or items that would make appropriate gifts or donations. Seasonal decorations, household supplies, kids’ toys, school supplies, and personal care items can all be excellent penny finds when they’re items you would have purchased anyway.
Some penny shoppers also resell their finds at yard sales, flea markets, or online. If this is your intention, make sure you’re purchasing items that have resale value greater than the effort required to sell them. Consider the time and space needed to store and sell these items when deciding whether to purchase them.
12. Understand Penny Item Categories
To become an effective penny shopper, it helps to understand which categories of items frequently go penny. This knowledge allows you to focus your efforts on the most promising sections of the store.
Seasonal Items: This is the largest and most predictable category of penny items. This includes holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, gardening supplies, summer toys, back-to-school items, etc. These items typically go penny 4-6 weeks after the season or holiday ends.
Discontinued Products: When Dollar General decides to stop carrying a particular product, remaining inventory may eventually be marked down to a penny. This can include anything from household products to food items and personal care products. Watch for items that have new packaging on the shelf alongside older versions—the older packaging might be discontinued and ready to go penny.
Old Planogram Items: A planogram is the layout of products on store shelves. When Dollar General reorganizes their shelves, items that no longer fit into the new arrangement sometimes go penny. These can be harder to identify but are often found in clearance sections after a store reset.
Packaging Changes: Similar to discontinued products, items with outdated packaging may go penny when manufacturers update their product designs. Look for subtle differences in packaging between similar products.
By focusing your search on these categories, you can more efficiently identify potential penny items. Pay particular attention to endcaps and displays that seem out of season or that contain items with older packaging styles. These are often prime spots for finding forgotten items that have gone penny in the system.
Many experienced penny shoppers develop a sixth sense for spotting potential penny items just by glancing at a shelf and noticing what looks outdated or out of place. This skill develops over time with practice and familiarity with the store’s typical inventory and layout.
Making Every Penny Count
Finding penny deals at Dollar General isn’t just about saving money—it’s about being resourceful and taking control of your finances. When I started my journey to pay off debt, I learned that these small savings add up over time. A penny item here and there might not seem significant, but combined with other smart shopping habits, it can make a real difference in your budget.