News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

10 Items That Aren't Worth the Trip to Five Below

Things to skip at Five Below to save money and avoid disappointment.

10 items five below feature image
Updated Feb. 12, 2025
Fact checked

Shopping at Five Below can be tricky. You may think you’re saving money on essentials, but sometimes those low prices can be deceiving. Some Five Below products can actually be more expensive than going to a different store.
Other times, their items are made of low-quality materials and will have to be replaced more often.

To save you time, hassle, and wasted money, here are 10 items that aren’t worth the trip to Five Below.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

Electronics

Courtesy of Five Below keyboard

Five Below carries inexpensive electronics—some in its “Five Beyond” section—but the money saved up front is not always worth it. These items often don’t last long, so you have to buy a replacement sooner than if you’d bought it elsewhere.

Plus, Five Below electronics' performance isn’t always great, and they often have issues connecting to other devices. It’s usually worth visiting another store for electronics you know will work well and last.

Home decor

Courtesy of Five Below home decor

Sometimes you can find cute home decor at Five Below, but the quality isn’t always great. These items may not hold up over time, so it’s worth checking somewhere else to find the pieces you want for your home.

Even the seasonal decor at Five Below will likely need to be replaced yearly, racking up the overall costs.

Office supplies

Courtesy of Five Below office supplies

Five Below carries a wide assortment of office supplies, including pens, desk organizers, notebooks, paper clips, and more—but they aren’t always worth buying. 

They often aren’t as durable as higher caliber options at other stores and can even be more costly.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Fitness and exercise gear

Courtesy of Five Below fitness and exercise gear

High-quality gear is essential to ensuring you have the support you need during exercise, and you typically can’t find that at a discount store.

While it might cost more upfront, it’s best to invest in reliable equipment to ensure you don’t unintentionally harm your body or interfere with your exercise goals.

Clothes and accessories

Courtesy of Five Below clothes and accessories

Five Below has cheap clothing and accessories, but they may not be the best choice. People have noted their clothing often doesn’t keep its shape after being washed and doesn’t hold up for long.

The accessories and jewelry are also made of cheap materials and could fade or tarnish quickly.

Food and drinks

Courtesy of Five Below food and drinks

One thing drawing people in at Five Below is their selection of snacks, candy, and drinks. It’s easy to reach for these items before checking out, but they’re not always a good deal.

Going to the grocery store for food and drinks is often more affordable, and you can choose more nutritious options instead.

Furniture

Courtesy of Five Below furniture

You may find small pieces of furniture at Five Below that are aesthetically pleasing initially, but quickly realize their lack of durability. The cheap materials can fade or wear out quickly.

For sturdy, reliable, and stylish furniture and storage that’ll last years instead of months, consider choosing other stores that use sturdier materials instead

Personal care products

Courtesy of Five Below dove deodorant

You’ll find plenty of personal care products at Five Below—from skincare and makeup to soap and toothpaste—but it’s not worth going out of your way to get. 

The name brands at Five Below tend to be more expensive than in other stores, and their cheaper brands don’t have great ingredients.

Some of these products also contain harsh chemicals that could cause skin irritation or hair damage over time.

Blankets and pillows

Courtesy of Five Below blankets and pillows

Blankets and pillows are more things you’ll want to skip at Five Below. The blankets are thin and uncomfortable, especially after being washed, and the pillows don’t hold up for long.

Other stores have higher quality choices that are more comfortable and look better in your home. Plus, the price often isn’t much higher than what you’d find at Five Below.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!2

Get Capital One Shopping now

Cleaning products

Courtesy of Five Below cleaning products

It’s tempting to stock up on essentials like cleaning products at Five Below, but they don’t actually have the lowest cost. Other retailers have the same cleaning supplies for less, so make sure to compare prices on your favorite items.

You might benefit more from getting them at your favorite grocery store, saving you a trip and some money.

Bottom line

Red Lemon/Adobe Five Below store exterior

Five Below has plenty of affordable products, but be mindful of what you buy because not everything is worth it. Some items are more expensive than at other stores, and some seem like a good deal at first but don’t hold up or work properly.

Not everything at Five Below is a bad deal, so don’t avoid the store entirely. You can keep more cash in your wallet by checking other stores’ apps to compare prices and look for additional discounts before heading out.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details


Financebuzz logo

Thanks for subscribing!

Please check your email to confirm your subscription.