2009 has been a really tough economic year. Record unemployment, declining home values and job insecurity have American families carefully watching their budgets. Dollar stores, unlike other retailers, have experienced strong traffic and sales this year. From a consumer viewpoint, are dollar store products a good deal or just a marketing ploy?

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What is your perception of a "dollar store"? My only experience until this fall was the $.99 store in a neighboring city. When it opened 15 years ago I walked in and looked around, spent maybe 3-4 minutes looking at stuff that I would never buy and left. This fall a co-worker offered me some TGIF Buffalo Stix cheese snacks (I love anything cheese) and I was hooked. I asked where he bought them and he replied at the dollar store down the street. Well, I had to check it out. That was a great price for a delicious junk food fix. Now this is one of my favorite stores.

Each time I shop at this dollar store I find a different product to try. Here is a short list of the dollar store deals I have found.

Food items and not just junk food. Granted it was junk food that led me to the store. However, I have found other food bargains. Spices, chicken stock, national brands of bottled tea, soy milk all are available for just $1. The quality is great and the price unbeatable. I am big on food freshness so I always check the "Best if used by" dates. If a product is out of date, I don't buy it even for $1. However, I have yet to find an out of date item.

Cleaning/home maintenance supplies. I have several pieces of rental property and I have used just about every cleaning product on the market. The best cleaner, hands down, is called Totally Awesome. It is a concentrate that you dilute according to your cleaning job. The first bottle of this that I used was left in a house by the former tenant. I used it to degrease the stove and range hood, as a spot remover for stains on the carpet and as the cleaning solution in my carpet cleaning machine. The only problem I had was when I had used it up, I could not find it sold where I shopped. I checked Wal-Mart, every grocery store and hardware store in town.

On my second junk food run to the dollar store, there at the back of store were 1 quart bottles of the Totally Awesome concentrate.

Light bulbs. Energy Star certified compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL), 60 watt equivalent for a dollar each. The world's largest discounter down the street charges $11.99 for a six-pack of the same CFL bulb. A 4 pack of long life incandescent bulbs that sells for $1.89 at the local hardware store, just $1. I am always replacing bulbs when renters move, I don't know why most people pack used light bulbs but they do.

Holiday/Gift Bags/Cards. I have never been very aware what holiday type items cost. However, this summer while attending a wedding 1,100 miles away from home, I had to find a gift bag. I was shocked at the prices, $4.50 minimum, for a one use disposable bag. My dollar store has a large variety of sizes, both plain and decorative. Other party/holiday items include wrapping paper, boxed Christmas cards, paper plates, napkins, plastic wear and helium filled party balloons.

Dollar store deals are real. There are many other categories of products available in the dollar store that I have not yet tried that may yield even more bargains. If you have not been in a dollar store, check one out. Browsing is free and sampling is just $1.00.

Are you looking for good deals online? If so, you may turn to eBay.com or Craigslist.org. These websites have great prices on a wide range of new and used items, including movies, books, cars, clothes, video games, furniture, home decor, and more. If you aren't an avid internet user, one of the problems you may run into is internet acronyms.

Internet acronyms are basically abbreviations. You may wonder why a Craigslist or eBay seller can't just type out what they want to say. Honestly, it has to do with our modern use of language. Due the popularity of instant messaging programs, tweets, and text messages, many Americans have grown Boxed wholesale accustoming to fitting lots of words into small spaces. This is with the use of abbreviations. Many have grown so used to using them that they don't even think twice. That is why you are likely to find some abbreviations on Craigslist and eBay.

Even if you aren't an avid internet user, some popular acronyms that sellers use are easy to guess. Unfortunately, others are a lot harder. If you see abbreviations in a Craigslist or eBay listing and you don't know what it means, contact the seller for more information. You can also continue reading on for a list of common abbreviations found on classified websites and online auction websites, as well as their meanings.

DOA means dead on arrival. This phrase is used to describe items that don't work. You are buying it and will receive it broken.

GU and LN both mean gently used and like new, respectively. Both are used to describe items that are used, but in good condition. In this instance, always ask for pictures, as we all have different views on "like new."

NWT means new with tags. This is most commonly associated with clothes with the tags still attached. Boxed items can be associated with NIB, which means new in box. On the other hand, you may find NWOT or NWOB to describe items that are new without the original tags or boxes.

HTF, LTD, and OOP are typically used to describe older items, possible vintage or antique things. HTF means hard to find. LTD means limited edition. OOP means out of print, which is for books.

Most sellers, especially on Craigslist, will use words to describe what they are selling. You are more likely to run into acronyms on eBay. But, now at least you have some idea of what to expect.