Find out which are the best cheap stores in the United States and end up shopping without spending a fortune!
Travel to the United States is often associated with shopping. This is because the country has countless opportunities to buy products that, in Brazil, cost a fortune.
I'm talking about brands like Apple, Acer, Samsung, Louis Vuitton, Gucci...
But what happens when our budget doesn't support this type of purchase? And when, in fact, do we want to make incredible purchases without spending a lot?
In this case, the best option is to avoid brand stores and visit the big department giants, whose mission is to offer popular products at affordable prices.
In this post, I showed you the best cheap stores in the United States, the ones you need to know if you want to return from your trip with a stuffed suitcase, but without spending too much.
Best cheap stores in the United States
Remembering that just because the store sells very cheap products doesn't mean they're worth it, huh? On your trip you will find both excellent products and those that are not worth the expense.
If you don't know what to buy, Here in this post you can find the best products to buy in the United States, covering various categories such as electronics, beauty, children's, supplements, clothing and accessories.
Now, let's go to the cheap stores:
Walmart
Starting with the most popular thrift store in the country, Walmart. This store, which is usually huge, offers an impressive variety of products at affordable prices. From grocery and electronic products to fashion, beauty, sports, decoration, home items, and everything else you can imagine.
There you will not only find the store's own brand, with excellent prices, but also renowned brands such as Samsung, Sony, Levi's, Maybelline, Flower Beauty, elf, Centrum, and Essie.
The store's philosophy is to always offer the lowest prices, therefore, If you're only going to make a single shopping stop and want to save the most on popular products, this is probably your best choice.
Target
Another popular option for budget shopping in the United States is Target. With stores across the country, Target offers a wide variety of products, from food and cleaning products to clothing, electronics, home goods and decor.
In fact, many TikTok influencers do hauls and hauls showing off the decor they bought at Target for the upcoming holiday. It's without a doubt the store with the most beautiful things, and it's a must-see if you're looking for modern items for the home.
In addition to its own line of affordable products, Target also sells several different brands, such as Apple, Nintendo, Cuisinart, Dyson, Revlon, Sonia Kashuk, and Threshold. The clothing section is also excellent, with several fooled famous brands, bikinis, and bags and accessories.
Dollar Tree
For a true US budget experience, you can't miss the Dollar Tree. As the name suggests, everything in the store is sold for the fixed price of one dollar, and when I say everything, I mean all. It's not that fake R$1,99 where products end up costing R$10,00.
There you can find everything from everyday items, such as cleaning products and kitchen utensils, to themed decorations and party items. Of course, the quality isn't the best, not even compared to Target. But for US$1,00, it's more than a deal.
One of the biggest advantages of Dollar Tree is the possibility of finding branded products at very affordable prices. The store offers a rotating selection of well-known brands, including Coca-Cola, Colgate, Scott, and others. Forgot the toothpaste? Want to buy a snack for the morning? Buying here is the most economical option.
ROSS Dress for Less
If you're looking for incredible deals from big brands, Ross is the place for you. There you can find everything from clothes and shoes to home decor, accessories, sporting goods and much more, all at much lower prices than usual.
But much lower, like sneakers from well-known brands for US$20, Samsonite bags for US$50 and so on.
In fact, one of Ross's biggest advantages is the variety of brands and styles available. You can find everything from luxury brands to more affordable brands, all with considerable discounts. Brands like Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, and many others are a fraction of the price you'd find elsewhere.
Not to mention the hundreds of racks filled with pieces and pieces of clothing. ROSS tends to have such large stores that I suggest arriving as soon as it opens so things are still in place. It's happened more than once that I've gone to the store and not found the pair of shoes I wanted to buy, for example.
Personally, I find it difficult to buy clothes there because the number of items available is huge and I lose patience. But I've bought countless shoes, bags, accessories, and even workout clothes for a ridiculous price (like $5 for Under Armor workout tops!).
It is also an excellent place to buy perfumes, especially famous or older perfumes. Here on the blog there is a complete post with the best perfumes to buy in the United States.
Very similar to ROSS are TJ Maxx and Marshalls. The proposal of both stores is exactly the same as ROSS: branded products with incredible discounts. I feel like TJ Maxx has more renowned brands and a better selection, while Marshall has cheaper brands.
Goodwill
If you watch the secondhand shopping niche on TikTok, you've probably heard of Goodwill. This is a very popular second-hand store in the United States, where you can find items from every possible brand for a super affordable price.
Goodwill's difference is its commitment to sustainability and the community, as the proceeds from sales go towards professional training and employment programs for people in vulnerable situations. In other words, you are buying pieces at a discount, and also helping a good cause!
And don't think that because they're second-hand, the pieces are of low quality, or look used, okay? With a good eye and patience to search, you can find items that have never even been used, and from excellent brands.
How to save even more on your purchases in the United States
In the United States, coupons are a popular way to save even more on your purchases. Who doesn’t remember that program called “extreme couponing”, that showed people who made their entire month's purchases using coupons, and only paid pennies in the end? It was incredible.
Today the coupons are still available, and you can find them both in person in some pamphlets, and also manually, both on the website and in the apps of the stores you visit.
Speaking of apps, it's also worth signing up for store loyalty programs, especially Target and Walmart. You get exclusive coupons, in addition to being able to take advantage of offers that are only available to program participants. You can register online, even before your trip.
You can also save by avoiding the 4,38% credit card IOF on international purchases, paying less using cards with Wise or the Nomad card. At Nomad, you can even buy dollars in up to 3 installments, super interesting for those who are going to make a lot of purchases.
How taxes work on United States products
One detail to pay attention to, however, is that although these stores are cheap, you will not pay the price that is on the product label. This is because in the USA, taxes are only calculated at the checkout, and vary depending on the city and state you are in.
The value of taxes in the main destinations visited by Latin American tourists are:
- New York (city): 8,875% (includes a 4% state tax and a 4,875% city tax)
- Los Angeles, California: 9.5% (includes 7.25% state tax and 2.25% local tax)
- Orlando, Florida: 6.5% (includes 6% state tax and 0.5% local tax)
- Miami, Florida: 7% (includes 6% state tax and 1% local tax)
In other words, if you are going on a tour of Miami, Orlando and New York, for example, it is worth leaving to shop in Orlando, as it will be cheaper.
Conclusion
If you want to shop without spending a lot during your trip, visiting the best cheap stores in the United States is essential. By combining these stores with promotions and coupons, you can bring back a stuffed suitcase without spending a fortune!
And you, have you ever shopped at any of these stores? What were the prices like? Tell me in the comments!