What is 5 Below Store? My Honest $100 Review
If you have spent any time in American strip malls over the last few years, you have likely walked past a bright, colorful storefront packed with neon signs and buzzing with teenagers. But if you have never stepped inside, you might find yourself wondering: What is 5 Below store, exactly, and how do they sell things so cheaply?
To find out, I decided to take a crisp $100 bill and go on an unvarnished shopping spree. I wanted to see past the marketing hype, test the quality of the merchandise, and figure out whether this discount chain is a goldmine for frugal shoppers or just another graveyard for disposable plastic goods. Here is my honest, item-by-item breakdown.
What Is 5 Below Store? A Quick Primer
Founded in 2002, 5 Below is a specialty value retailer catering primarily to teens, tweens, and bargain-hunting adults. The core concept is simple: almost everything in the store is priced between $1 and $5. However, in recent years, the company introduced "Five Beyond," a designated section in the back of most stores featuring upgraded items priced up to $25 (such as larger electronics, pet furniture, and weighted blankets).
Despite the expansion into higher price points, the bulk of the store remains focused on ultra-affordable novelty items, tech accessories, beauty products, snacks, and room decor.
My $100 Spending Experiment
Walking in with a cart and a budget, I forced myself to buy a diverse mix of categories rather than just loading up on candy. I grabbed tech gear, beauty supplies, home organization tools, and random impulse buys. Here is where my $100 actually went:
- Phone charger cords and a ring light ($15)
- Room decor, LED strip lights, and a small faux plant ($18)
- Skincare, face masks, and lip glosses ($16)
- Snacks, energy drinks, and Japanese candies ($12)
- Board games, a puzzle, and craft supplies ($15)
- Graphic t-shirt and novelty socks ($10)
- Five Beyond weighted eye mask and desk organizer ($14)
- Tax: ~$7
Total damage: Exactly $97.24. Now, let’s talk about the quality.
The Hits: What Is Actually Worth Buying
Not everything at 5 Below is cheap junk. After using and testing my haul for a few weeks, several items genuinely surprised me with their value.
1. Tech Accessories and Cables
We have all paid $25 for an emergency iPhone charging cable at a gas station. At 5 Below, braided lightning and USB-C cables cost $3 to $5. While their cheapest standard cables wear out quickly, their reinforced braided cables held up remarkably well. Their 10-foot long cords are a massive quality-of-life upgrade for bedside charging.
2. Trendy Room Decor and Lighting
If you want to deck out a dorm room, bedroom, or home office on a shoestring budget, this is the place. The LED strip lights I bought for $5 work just as well as the $20 versions from big-box retailers. The faux plants look convincing from a distance and instantly brighten up dull shelves.
3. Snacks and Novelty Candy
The snack aisle is a hidden gem. You can find unusual KitKat flavors, imported sodas, and giant bags of gummy candy that normally cost twice as much at movie theaters or specialty grocery stores. It is a fantastic spot to stock up on movie night treats.
The Misses: What to Avoid
Unfortunately, low prices often mean low durability. My $100 experiment also highlighted a few categories you should skip entirely.
1. Ultra-Cheap Cosmetics and Skincare
While the skincare section looks adorable with its pastel face masks and trendy ingredient callouts (like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide), check the ingredient lists carefully. Many of the super-cheap serums and creams are heavily fragranced and caused mild irritation for my sensitive skin. Stick to established drugstore brands for your actual face care.
2. Cheap Toys and Gadgets
I picked up a $5 remote-controlled stunt car. It broke within 45 minutes of use when it gently bumped into a table leg. Similarly, cheap plastic craft kits often contain dried-out paints or flimsy components that frustrate kids rather than entertain them.
My Honest Final Verdict
So, is 5 Below worth your time and money? Absolutely, provided you shop with a healthy dose of skepticism.
If you treat it as a novelty store where you can score cheap tech cables, fun room decor, and great snacks without breaking the bank, it is a fantastic resource. However, if you are looking for high-durability electronics, long-lasting toys, or premium cosmetics, you will likely walk away disappointed.
My $100 bought me a surprising amount of joy and practical utility—just make sure you skip the flimsy plastic toys and keep your expectations realistic.
