How To Find Penny Items At Dollar General The Ultimate Guide To 001 Deals

Dollar General offers a unique savings opportunity through its penny shopping program, where specific items are marked down to just $0.01 for customers who can locate them on store shelves. This program, known as the Dollar General Penny List, provides savvy shoppers with the chance to obtain various products for an incredibly low price. Unlike traditional free samples or promotional offers, these penny items are actual products that have been deeply discounted and sometimes overlooked by store employees during clearance processes. Understanding how this program works, when to shop, and what to look for can help consumers maximize their savings at Dollar General.

What is the Dollar General Penny List?

The Dollar General Penny List is a weekly compilation of specific items that will ring up for $0.01 at Dollar General stores. These items are not intentionally placed as promotional offers but rather represent products that Dollar General has marked down for removal from their inventory. Penny items typically have already been heavily discounted, usually by more than 90%, and the company is having difficulty selling remaining inventory. To signal to employees that these items should be removed from shelves, they are marked down to $0.01. However, when employees miss pulling these items from the sales floor, they remain available for purchase by observant shoppers.

The penny list changes weekly and is updated on Monday afternoons, allowing shoppers to plan their store visits for the following week. According to the information provided, the list might include various categories of products, from food items and snacks to seasonal merchandise and household goods. The key to successful penny shopping is knowing which items to look for and when they might appear in stores.

When to Shop for Penny Items

Timing is crucial when penny shopping at Dollar General. The documentation indicates that penny markdowns typically occur on Tuesdays, making this the optimal day to search for deeply discounted items. Shoppers are advised to visit stores early on Tuesdays to increase their chances of finding penny items before they are purchased by other deal hunters.

The weekly penny list is released on Monday afternoons, providing shoppers with a preview of what might be available. However, it's important to note that availability can vary significantly between stores. The documentation explicitly states that "your mileage may vary" when it comes to finding these items, as not all locations will have every penny item in stock.

In addition to the regular penny list, there are also surprise penny items that may appear without prior notice. These surprise items are often related to seasonal merchandise, such as Halloween apparel, party supplies, or seasonal decorations that have been marked down 70% before eventually reaching the $0.01 price point.

How to Identify Penny Items in Stores

Finding penny items requires attention to detail and knowledge of what to look for. The documentation emphasizes that shoppers should "pay attention to the size, flavor, and count of the item you're looking for." This is important because penny items are often specific versions of products that have been discontinued or heavily discounted.

Penny items may have small stickers or markings indicating their clearance status, but these are not always visible. Shoppers should look for items that appear to be on clearance but haven't been completely removed from shelves. These items might have irregular pricing stickers or be located in clearance sections, end caps, or other promotional areas.

When checking potential penny items at checkout, shoppers should be prepared for the possibility that some items may not ring up at $0.01. The documentation suggests having a polite conversation with cashiers if an item doesn't scan at the expected price, as employees may need to manually adjust the price.

Recent Penny Items and Categories

Based on the information provided, recent penny items have included various food products, snacks, and seasonal merchandise. For example, the penny list for November 11, 2025, included:

• Alani Nu Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Bar, 1.83 oz (UPC: 810030517269)
• Alani Nu Munchies Protein Bar, 1.69 oz (UPC: 810030518051)
• Alani Nu Breezeberry Energy Sticks, 10 ct (UPC: 810030515074)

Surprise penny items have included categories such as: - Halloween Apparel - Halloween Party supplies - Halloween Seasonal items

The documentation also indicates that penny items have historically included face masks, candy, freezer food items, medicine, and various food and drink products. The variety of penny items suggests that almost any category of product could potentially appear on the penny list at some point.

Penny Shopping Tips and Strategies

For those interested in penny shopping at Dollar General, several strategies can increase the chances of success:

1. Visit stores early on Tuesdays when new markdowns typically take effect.
2. Check the penny list on Monday afternoons to know what items to look for.
3. Pay attention to the specific size, flavor, and count of items on the penny list.
4. Look for items that appear to be on clearance but haven't been completely removed.
5. Be prepared to check prices at checkout, as not all penny items may be properly marked.
6. Consider joining Dollar General penny shopping communities or groups for additional tips and real-time updates.

The documentation also suggests that shoppers interested in penny shopping should study the process and learn from experienced penny shoppers. Joining a Dollar General penny shopping group can provide valuable insights, visuals of penny items, and information about successful shopping strategies.

Understanding Dollar General's Clearance Process

To better understand penny shopping, it's helpful to know how Dollar General's clearance process works. According to the documentation, new clearance items are added each week, and their discounts increase weekly until they eventually reach just $0.01. This means that items marked at 90% off might stick around for a week or a few weeks before dropping down to the penny price point.

This gradual markdown process creates opportunities for shoppers at different discount levels. Those looking for deeper discounts can wait for items to reach the penny price, while those who need items immediately might purchase them at earlier discount stages.

Dollar General Coupon Strategies

While penny shopping focuses on deeply discounted items, Dollar General also offers various coupon options that can be combined with penny items for additional savings. The documentation provides information about Dollar General's coupon policy:

• Store coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons to maximize savings
• Dollar General offers $5 off $25 coupons through their app
• Coupons that print on Saturdays are always for the next Saturday, so shoppers need to shop earlier in the week for additional coupons
• Store coupons can be stacked with DG cash-back offers
• Digital manufacturer coupons cannot be stacked with DG cash-back offers

When using a $5 off $25 printed coupon, the documentation recommends handing it over before entering your phone number for all digital coupons. This ensures proper application of all discounts.

Historical Penny Shopping Trends

The documentation provides a history of penny shopping events at Dollar General, showing patterns and trends over time:

July 2025: - July 29: No Penny List + New Markdowns - July 22: DG Penny List (Memorial Day Flowers) + New Markdowns (90% off Socks) - July 15: DG Penny List (Face Masks) + New Markdowns - July 8: DG Penny List + No New Markdowns - July 1: DG Penny List + New Markdowns

June 2025: - June 24: DG Penny List + New Markdowns - June 17: No Penny List + No New Markdowns - June 10: Dollar General Penny List + New Markdowns - June 3: DG Penny List (Mother's Day) + No New Markdowns

May 2025: - May 27: DG Penny List (Food Items + Medicine) + New Markdowns - May 26: DG Penny List (Hostess) + No New Markdowns - May 23: DG Penny List (Easter + Brown Dot) + No New Markdowns - May 20: DG Penny List (Food + Drink) + No New Markdowns

This history shows that penny lists often relate to seasonal events or holidays, such as Memorial Day, Mother's Day, and Easter. Shoppers may want to pay particular attention to penny lists around these times for themed or seasonal items.

Maximizing Savings at Dollar General

For those looking to maximize their savings at Dollar General, combining penny shopping with other discount strategies can be highly effective. The documentation suggests the following approach:

1. Check the weekly penny list on Monday afternoons
2. Plan a shopping trip for early Tuesday
3. Use the Dollar General app to access digital coupons
4. Stack store coupons with manufacturer coupons when possible
5. Look for additional clearance items with increasing discounts
6. Consider cash-back offers that can be combined with store coupons

By following this approach, shoppers can potentially obtain items for just pennies while using additional coupons for further savings on regular-priced items.

Potential Challenges of Penny Shopping

While penny shopping can offer significant savings, it's not without challenges. The documentation acknowledges several potential difficulties:

• Penny items may not be available at all locations
• Employees may have already removed penny items from shelves
• Some penny items may not ring up at $0.01 at checkout
• Competition from other penny shoppers can be fierce
• The time and effort required to find penny items may not always result in significant savings

Shoppers should approach penny shopping with realistic expectations and understand that it requires patience, persistence, and flexibility.

Conclusion

The Dollar General Penny List offers a unique opportunity for shoppers to obtain various products for just $0.01, provided they can locate these items on store shelves. While not traditional free samples or promotional offers, these deeply discounted items can represent substantial savings for observant shoppers. By understanding when penny markdowns occur, how to identify potential penny items, and how to combine penny shopping with other discount strategies, consumers can maximize their savings at Dollar General.

For those interested in penny shopping, staying updated on the weekly penny list, visiting stores early on Tuesdays, and being prepared to check prices at checkout are essential strategies. While not every store will have all penny items, and success can vary, the potential rewards make penny shopping worth considering for deal-seeking consumers.

Sources

1. Dollar General Penny List - The Krazy Coupon Lady
2. Dollar General Penny Shopping Master List - The Freebie Guy
3. Dollar General Deals - The Freebie Guy
4. Dollar General Saturday Scenarios List - The Freebie Guy
5. Crazy For Couponing