Global Scale Modeller

A quick search found nothing on the topic (I'm sure little tips are scattered throughout the threads) but I think a list of useful items found at dollar stores might give someone a shopping list and save a little money. So far I've found:

Q-Tips (cheapies, but good for getting water off decals)
paint brushes (kids arts and crafts type quality, but good for spreading paint or glue around dioramas and then throwing them out)
tapes (masking and scotch, not quality enough for masking models but for holding pieces together or down for painting etc)
clamps and clothes pins (holding parts together while drying)
toothpicks
pipecleaners (very useful for cleaning paint out of eyedroppers and airbrushes)
white glue
x-acto knives (a local chain has them, no protective cap , but the regular no.2 blades fit, nice to have more/different blades available BTW- if the handle is too smooth I add hockey stick tape to the handle)
paper towels (why? modelling is such a neat, clean hobby )
foam core (smaller sheets)
nail files/emery boards
box cutters
wood skewers (painting wheels, same as tooth picks but longer, or if you want to replace the ones attached to alligator clips
all kinds and sizes of plastic storage boxes and trays for parts, paint, tools, etc
cheap paint (kids finger painting quality, but will do for diorama bases)
wire (antennas or mounting parts for painting)
pliers (cheap ones, but good enough for stuck paint jar lids)

There a pile of stuff in these stores that can save you some money. Take a look in one with modelling in mind and you'll be surprised how much stuff you walk out with.

Please add more items that you know of or interesting uses for cheap stuff.

In many dollar stores they also sell air-drying clay, works great for laying down a base for your diorama and it only costs $1.25 CAD per package!!

I picked up two packets of small plastic shot "glasses" i.e. For small measures of spirit, about 20 in a pack and use them for mixing paint for the airbrush and putting small amounts of clear into.

Oh and not strictly from a shop, but if in a cafe having toast, the preserves often come in small jars. I keep these and when clean are ideal for storing spare mixed paint in to touch up later.