THERE are several major super saver secrets that Family Dollar offers its customers.

Some feature significant bargains — even a game that can earn shoppers rewards just by playing.

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Family Dollar has also upgraded to selling grocery items at low prices along with their other one-dollar merchandise, similar to several other dollar stores.

With about 8,000 store locations across the United States, customers are likely to save money.

There are also hidden ways to make the most of Family Dollar purchases.

In fact, there are at least eight.

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1. MOBILE APP

First and foremost, Family Dollar helps its customers get massive discounts and deals on items through its mobile application.

That might be relatively obvious to some, but the savings come from "Smart Coupons" that are offered within the app, which customers can save and bring into the store.

Not only that, but Family Dollar app users can use their phone as a barcode scanner to check for deals when they're shopping in person, according to Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at DealNews.com.

"Not only will the app provide 'Smart Coupons' that are offers you can save in-app and redeem when you shop in-store, but you can even use the app in-store to scan a barcode and see if there are any offers for that product," she told Best Life.

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"Because of that, you can potentially find savings you had no idea about, and could save even more than planned."

2. CASHBACK APPS

Another method to save at Family Dollar would be to use third-party cashback applications like Ibotta.

Ibotta offers money to customers when they use it to shop at certain stores.

Jeanel Alvarado, a retail expert at RETAILBOSS, explained how the application works at a base level.

 "Simply snap a picture of your receipt after making a purchase, and you'll receive money back in your Ibotta account," she said.

Not to mention, Ibotta can be combined with other coupons and offers from Family Dollar.

"This can be especially helpful when combined with other coupons and discounts," Alvarado added.

3. COUPONS ARE KING

Despite the benefits of digital shopping, getting and using physical coupons and Family Dollar will still save customers the most, per Ramhold.

"Shopping in-store will obviously allow the use of coupons so you can save even more on your purchases," she explained.

Not only that, but it also allows you to get your items immediately after you take advantage of the deals.

"Because of that, it really seems that in-person shopping is the best way to go, as you'll be able to use coupons and have your items immediately," the consumer analyst continued.

4. PLAY THE GAME

Arguably, the most interesting way to save money at Family Dollar is to play "SmartSpins."

SmartSpins is an interactive game that allows you to earn coupons after you earn the ability to spin from spending at a Family Dollar location.

To play, customers need to download the store's mobile app and become a member of the Smart Coupons program.

It's a creative way of earning points or rewards for shopping.

5. ORANGE STICKERS

Looking for specifically colored stickers can also mean more savings at Family Dollar.

The orange stickers on the shelves in the store mean that the items are on the lowest possible clearance, even if they aren't in the designated clearance section.

"To maximize your savings, look for clearance items with orange stickers, which indicate final markdowns," Alvarado said.

"These items can often be found mixed in with regular-priced merchandise or on dedicated clearance shelves."

6. DOUBLE CHECK PRICES

Despite Family Dollar offering low prices and one-dollar items, it's always important to look around at other retailers to make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck.

"They sell name-brand small appliances, but it doesn't mean they're a good deal," Ramhold noted.

"For example, you can get very basic Black+Decker coffee makers for $17 or $25, which isn't a bad price, but you may be able to find them cheaper elsewhere, such as at your local Walmart, and even department stores around holidays like Black Friday."

She added: "That's when we often see small appliances drop to as little as $10 depending on the store."

Either way, staying on the lookout will always ensure smart shopping.

7. NO RECEIPT, NO PROBLEM

One of the most important benefits of shopping at Family Dollar is actually their return policy, per Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings expert.

"You can get a 100 percent refund on private label items if you return within 30 days," she told Best Life.

"Even customers who misplaced their receipt can return up to three items within a 30-day period."

However, the funding without a receipt will be based off of the store's lowest advertised price for the product.

It will also be awarded in-store credit instead.

8. GET A PRICE VERIFICATION

Lastly, make sure to get a price verification when shopping at Family Dollar.

As The U.S. Sun previously reported, several Family Dollar locations in failed price verification checks in the past few months.

Items were ringing up differently at different cash registers, resulting in some customers allegedly being overcharged.

"While this was in a particular area of the country, between that and shutdowns due to a rat infestation at a distribution facility, it can make it hard to shop with confidence at Family Dollar without doing research beforehand or while you're shopping," Ramhold explained.

For more on Family Dollar, check out The U.S. Sun's coverage of a superfan of the retail chain that found an entire outfit for only $16.

The U.S. Sun also has the story of how Family Dollar pulled more than 400 products from its shelves last summer.

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