While Dollar Tree is no longer the store where everything costs just $1, it's still one of the most affordable places to shop. Although most items are now priced at $1.25, you can still stretch

Remember to check the unit price when buying essentials at low-cost retailers like Dollar Tree. Check out three items to buy at Target instead of Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree stock and Dollar General stock are down 57% and 67% from their respective all-time highs. But Dollar Tree presently has a trailing-12-month net loss, and Dollar General's EPS are down more than 40%. With profits down, a drop in stock price was the probable outcome.

For this reason, they've become a reliable, go-to ingredient for many of our family-friendly dishes. So when I found them at the Dollar Tree for just $1.25 for a 4.5-ounce pack, you can bet I stocked up! It's the most affordable price I've seen for this pantry staple.

Dollar Tree’s stock (NASDAQ: DLTR) has declined from around $142 at the beginning to $69 now - about a 55% fall over a period when the benchmark S&P index grew 16%. In comparison, DLTR’s peer Target stock (NYSE: TGT) is up almost 9% over the same period.

What should parents buy at Dollar Tree before fall ends? The answer covers a medley of essentials. It may be time to restock certain school supplies, and it's definitely time for