The old saying goes that the best things in life are free. But today you would think the best things in life are dirt cheap. I am often told by some silly bargain hunter of the immense pleasure they get from saving money. Whether it be at Walmart or the Dollar Tree, these cheapskates love to brag about their recent acquisition of various goods. But are they really getting more bang for their buck or have they simply found another way to screw themselves over? When times are tough, people tend to look for an easy way out instead of weighing their choices wisely and making the best decision based on the facts. People do not have time for facts. They are far too busy trying to prove whatever fantasies they believe in to be bothered with actual investigative journalism. But I have long since separated myself from the cult of consumerism and so I have all the time in the world to scrutinize those who claim to have discovered ways to save money. Whenever you save money on a product, that generally means the product is either stolen or somehow defective and therefore low in quality. Thieves will sell hot items they steal in large quantities for ridiculously low prices in order to increase profit, for example. However, I have not yet found any evidence that any of the Dollar Tree stores are stealing goods from high end stores, though I would not put it past them. What I have found is that many of the products on your local Dollar Store shelves are actually broken, contaminated, expired, toxic, or all of the above. This should come as no surprise to the consumers who are purchasing traditionally expensive products for almost nothing. The businesses of this nation must pay extremely high prices in order to stay open so it only follows that the only way to charge such low prices on a consistent basis is to cut corners when it comes to ensuring the health of your consumers. Further, American industry has a long tradition of selling defective products to its consumers with no regard for the consequences of their actions. The Ford Pinto, a car that would burst into flames upon the slightest impact, was sold to consumers even though Ford was well aware that their cars were not properly built. Asbestos was used for years as insulation, even though plenty of evidence existed proving the deadly substance's connection to causing cancer. Business operates for one purpose: profit. And profit does not care if you live or die. Putting yourself and your family's and friend's health at risk is no way to save a few dollars. I understand times are hard, but a bargain is only a bargain if the product you are purchasing actually works. If the product you are buying is ineffective, you are not saving money, you are wasting money. The product will not work sufficiently and you will be forced to buy more and more and more, essentially spending the exact same amount of money you would have spent had you just bought a quality product in the first place, and more than likely spending a bit more on all the gas you will have to buy to make that tenth trip to the dollar store each month. The reality is that you are living in a time of high prices and that means that you will have to make reasonable sacrifices, none of which should involve sacrificing the quality of your health. Products such as medications and supplements, often sold for a buck in Dollar Stores, have been found to be expired before the time of purchase or to not contain the ingredients that they claim to contain on the label. Food items bought at Dollar Stores have been found to be expired while on the shelves. Clothing items sold at Dollar Tree stores have been found to contain bacteria like the kind that causes various skin infections. Many of the chemicals and pathogens found in these items have caused severe illness and even death. But you wouldn't know about that because, in certain states, none of this is even illegal. Still feel good about saving all that money?