So yesterday I was staring at my grocery list feeling broke as usual, wondering where the heck I could stretch my bucks farthest in Girard. Saw both Dollar General and Walmart sitting right there off 422, practically neighbors. Thought: which one’s actually cheaper? And which one wastes less gas? Figured I’d drag my toddler along and find out for real, not just guess. Grabbed my phone, a pen, and an old receipt for scribbling notes.
The Plan & Getting There
First, I checked Google Maps quick. Turns out both are stupid close – Dollar General’s maybe a minute down the road from my place near the high school, Walmart’s maybe three minutes past that. Basically no gas difference unless you’re walking. Decided my test would be buying the same bunch of junk from both places on the same dang day. Made a mini-list: hand soap, paper towels, a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, diapers (always needing those!), fruit snacks for the little dictator, and some deodorant. Normal stuff we always run out of.
Stop One: Dollar General (The Hopeful One)
Rolled into the Girard DG parking lot around 10 AM. Place is small, bright yellow, kinda cramped. Grabbed a little basket. Here’s the damage:
- Dial Hand Soap: $1.25 (Looked like the normal size)
- Paper Towels (single roll): $1.00 (Gotta love that DG price tag)
- Gallon of Milk: $4.55?! My mouth kinda popped open. That felt high.
- Loaf of Cheap White Bread: $1.75
- Off-brand Diapers (size 4): $6.99 for a small pack
- Fruit Snacks: $2.00
- Dove Deodorant: $5.75
Total Damage at DG: $22.29 before tax. Kid started yelling for snacks already. Fun times.
Stop Two: Walmart (The Giant Beast)
Drove literally down the road for another minute to the Walmart. Felt huge and overwhelming after DG. Got another basket. Here’s what Walmart charged for the same junk:
- Dial Hand Soap (same size): $0.97 (Already cheaper? Okay!)
- Great Value Paper Towels (single roll): $0.96
- Gallon of Milk (Great Value): $3.48 (Huge difference!)
- Great Value White Bread: $1.32
- Parent’s Choice Diapers (size 4, bigger pack): $5.97 (More diapers for less money?!)
- Great Value Fruit Snacks: $1.98
- Equate Deodorant (similar to Dove): $3.48
Total Damage at Walmart: $17.16 before tax. Toddler spotted a Paw Patrol balloon, crisis narrowly avoided.
The Aftermath (And Toddler Tax)
Stared at my two receipts back in the car. Walmart kicked DG’s butt by over $5 on just seven measly items. DG won on the single roll of paper towels by a whopping 4 cents, and the hand soap by 28 cents. Everything else – especially the milk, diapers, and deodorant – was way cheaper at Walmart. Felt kinda ripped off by DG, honestly. And remember my kid? Yeah, that fruit snack from the list? Ended up opened in the Walmart parking lot. Extra dollar gone right there.
So yeah, for Girard Ohio folks: Walmart wins on price. Hands down. DG might be slightly closer if you live near it, but saving a minute drive isn’t worth paying extra unless you’re literally just grabbing one or two tiny things like that single roll of paper towels. My wallet felt the sting at DG. Next time, I’m heading straight to the big, chaotic beast that is Walmart. Guess size does matter for prices around here. Now, gotta go hide that off-brand deodorant before my partner complains…
