I did it again.

I went out to see what kind of full everyday carry kit I could build for $10 or less.

Previously, I tried this challenge at Walmart and Harbor Freight.

At Walmart, I found everything I was looking for, but I overspent. The final total came to $11.88 before tax.

At Harbor Freight, I spent $10.95 before tax, but I came up one item short because I could not find a notebook or even a proper lighter.

This time, I went after the low-hanging fruit and took the challenge to Dollar Tree.

And this time, I actually succeeded.

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The Challenge

The goal was simple: walk into Dollar Tree and build a basic EDC kit for under $10.

I wanted to cover the same basic categories as the previous Walmart and Harbor Freight challenges:

• Fire source
• Notebook
• Pen
• Cloth item
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Cutting tool

Dollar Tree ended up being the first store where I was able to find everything I wanted and stay under budget.

Item 1: Handy Lighter

The first item I picked up was a handy lighter for $1.50.

This is not a standard Bic-style pocket lighter, but it is still a useful fire source.

I opted for the long-reach version, which makes sense for bug-out bags, emergency boxes, EDC bags, and general household use.

The best part is that it is refillable.

Dollar Tree also carries shorter lighters, which may be better for on-body carry, but for this kit, the long-reach lighter still checked the fire-source box.

Item 2: Mini Composition Notebooks

The mini composition notebooks may be one of the best values at Dollar Tree.

You get three notebooks for $1.25, and each one has 60 lined sheets.

I pick these up almost every time I go to Dollar Tree because they are inexpensive, useful, and easy to throw into a pocket, pouch, glove box, or bag.

For a budget EDC kit, these are a strong win.

Item 3: Gel Pen

To go with the notebooks, I picked up a gel pen for $1.25.

A pen and notebook are easy items to overlook, but they are still extremely practical everyday carry tools.

Whether you are writing down measurements, notes, reminders, directions, or contact information, having a pen and paper still matters.

Item 4: Microfiber Cloths

For the cloth item, I picked up a pack of microfiber cloths for $1.50.

This was my substitute for a handkerchief, hank, or bandana.

For the price, this is a pretty good value because you get five microfiber cloths in the pack.

I am not personally a huge fan of the way microfiber feels, but it is still useful for cleaning glasses, screens, tools, gear, and other items.

One important note: do not use a microfiber cloth to stop bleeding from a cut. Microfiber can stick to a wound, and removing it can be extremely painful.

Item 5: 2-in-1 Flashlight

The flashlight was probably the weakest item in the kit.

Dollar Tree has a lot of useful budget items, but I still wish they would upgrade their flashlight selection.

I picked up a 2-in-1 LED flashlight for $1.50.

It has a forward-facing light and a COB-style side light. The package claims 50 lumens, although that may be generous.

It is brighter in person than it appears on camera, but this is not a light I would get overly excited about.

Still, the goal was to find a flashlight, and that is exactly what this is.

Item 6: AAA Batteries

The flashlight did not come with batteries, so I had to pick up a pack of AAA batteries for $1.50.

That is one advantage Dollar Tree has for this kind of challenge. Even when the flashlight does not include batteries, you can still grab everything in one stop.

Cheap flashlight, cheap batteries, and the kit keeps moving.

Item 7: Royal Norfolk 4-Inch Paring Knife

The final item was the Royal Norfolk 4-inch paring knife for $1.25.

If you have seen some of my other videos, this probably does not surprise you.

I have no problem carrying a paring knife as a cheap utility blade.

Dollar Tree does sell other cutting tools, including utility knives and very cheap folding knives, but I do not trust the folding knives they carry. They feel like the kind of knives that may bend, fail, or break the first time they are used hard.

The paring knife, on the other hand, is simple.

It seems sturdy, feels like it may be full tang, and is sharp enough for basic cutting tasks.

You can use it to cut cardboard, open mail, open packages, and handle everyday utility jobs.

For $1.25, I think it is one of the better cutting options in the store.

Total Cost

• Handy lighter: $1.50
• Mini composition notebooks: $1.25
• Gel pen: $1.25
• Microfiber cloths: $1.50
• 2-in-1 flashlight: $1.50
• AAA batteries: $1.50
• Royal Norfolk 4-inch paring knife: $1.25

Total: $9.75 before tax

Did Dollar Tree Win?

For this specific challenge, yes.

Walmart had better individual items in some categories, but I overspent there.

Harbor Freight had some useful gear, but I could not complete the full kit and still went over budget.

Dollar Tree gave me everything I was looking for and kept the total under $10.

That makes this the first real success in the $10 EDC challenge series.

Is This Premium EDC?

No.

Not even close.

But that was never the point.

The point was to see whether someone could walk into a store with a very small budget and still put together a useful everyday carry kit.

For under $10, Dollar Tree delivered a fire source, writing tools, paper, a cloth item, light, batteries, and a cutting tool.

That is not bad at all.

Final Thoughts

This Dollar Tree EDC kit is cheap, simple, and far from perfect.

The flashlight is not great. The microfiber cloths are not my favorite. The paring knife is not a traditional EDC blade.

But the kit is complete.

And for under $10, that is the win.

Out of the Walmart, Harbor Freight, and Dollar Tree challenges so far, Dollar Tree is the first one that actually stayed under budget while covering every category I wanted.

Let me know which budget EDC kit you think came out best.

Outro Music

The music at the end of this video was created by me using Suno AI.

Use the following link to listen in its entirety:

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Thanks for stopping by Surviving the Daily. I hope you are having an amazing day, and I will see you next time.