Are Cheap Batteries a Good Way to Save Money?

We all use batteries, most of us on a daily basis. And unless you use all rechargeable batteries, you probably go through them somewhat quickly. Luckily you can go grab a big pack from your local dollar store for cheap, right?

Think again.

There are some items that are absolutely worth buying at a dollar store. But batteries aren’t one of them. It may give you a short term discount but probably end up costing you more in the long run– and puts your electronics at risk.

Batteries on the shelves at dollar store outlets tend to have lower wattages and have likely been sitting out on the shelves for long, long periods of time, maybe even for years. And batteries are one of those items that lose their power the longer they’ve sat unused.

On top of that, batteries that have been sitting around are more likely to leak, which can damage or even permanently ruin your electronic devices. That $1 pack of batteries can end up costing you a lot more money if they leak inside your expensive gaming controller or portable electric razor.

There are some products that are worth your while– and money– to spend a little extra for a pricier version, and batteries definitely fall into that category. If you’re in a pinch and have to buy them at your local dollar store, be sure to stick to name brands and try to reserve them for devices that don’t use up battery power quickly, like alarm clocks.