The Ultimate Dollar General Penny List Guide: 7 Secrets To Scoring $0.01 Deals In December 2025

The Dollar General Penny List is not a myth; it is the holy grail of extreme couponing and clearance shopping, offering specific products that ring up for just $0.01. This phenomenon is a legitimate, though unofficial, part of Dollar General’s inventory management system, where items that have hit their final 90% markdown and are slated for removal from the store floor are automatically repriced to a single cent. As of December 10, 2025, while official weekly lists can fluctuate (sometimes showing "no new penny list"), the core mechanics and the hunt for existing or "surprise" penny items remain a massive opportunity for savvy shoppers. This guide provides the absolute latest, most accurate information for 2025 on how to master the art of penny shopping, ensuring you walk out with a cart full of goods for practically nothing. The key to success lies in understanding the markdown process, utilizing the essential DG App, and knowing which UPC codes and color dots to hunt for in your local stores.

The Dollar General Penny List: What It Is and How It Works

The Dollar General Penny List is a weekly, internal list of products that the retailer has decided to completely discontinue and remove from their inventory. These items have completed their markdown cycle, typically moving from 10% off all the way down to 90% off. When the system is instructed to remove them, their price is automatically set to $0.01 to signal to employees that they must be pulled from the shelves.

The Weekly Penny Schedule

The official list of new penny items is typically released on Tuesday mornings. This is when the system updates, and the products officially drop to the one-cent price point. Successful penny shoppers know that Tuesday is the best day to shop, as the items are often still on the shelf before employees have a chance to pull them. * Initial Markdown: Items are usually grouped by Seasonal Clearance or specific internal categories. * The Final Drop: After reaching 90% off, the remaining stock is scheduled to “penny out.” * Employee Protocol: Store employees receive a list of UPC codes and are instructed to remove these items. The goal of the shopper is to find them before they are successfully pulled.

7 Secrets to Finding $0.01 Items Today

Mastering the penny list requires strategy and speed. Here are the seven most critical secrets the pros use:

1. Master the DG App Scanner

The Dollar General App is your single most important tool. You must download it and use the built-in Price Checker feature. The app allows you to scan the barcode/UPC of any item in the store. If the item scans at $0.01, it is a penny item, and you can purchase it. * Crucial Tip: Never trust the shelf price. Always scan the item using the DG App to verify the price. If the app shows $0.00, it means the item is not in the system and the register will likely reject it. A $0.01 price is the correct confirmation.

2. Learn the Color Dot and Tag System

Dollar General uses a color-coding system on its clearance stickers to help shoppers track a product's markdown progress. Knowing these codes helps you identify items that are *about* to penny out. * Yellow Price Tags: Often indicate a clearance item that is on its way down. * Red Dot Clearance: A specific category of clearance (e.g., Red Dot Toys or Red Dot Home) that follows its own markdown schedule, often leading to a penny drop. * Seasonal Items: The most common penny items are seasonal, such as leftover Summer Lawn & Garden, Valentine's Day, or Fall Décor. Look for the color of the sticker associated with that season's clearance.

3. Hunt for Surprise Penny Lists

Sometimes, a category of items will "penny out" without being on the main weekly list—this is known as a Surprise Penny List. These are often items that were missed during a previous markdown cycle. The only way to find these is through diligent scanning of random clearance or misplaced items. Recent examples have included specific clothing tags or certain food items.

4. Focus on UPC Codes

Extreme penny shoppers rely on UPC codes (Universal Product Codes). Online penny shopping groups often share the exact UPC codes for confirmed penny items. You can manually input the last few digits of the UPC into the DG App's search bar if the barcode is damaged or missing to check the price. This is a highly technical but extremely effective method.

5. Check Endcaps and Misplaced Items

Penny items are supposed to be removed, but they often end up in unexpected places. Always check: * Endcaps: Displays at the end of aisles. * Top Shelves: Items placed high up and forgotten. * Clearance Aisles: The main clearance section is a goldmine. * Misplaced Items: Products left in random sections of the store by other shoppers or employees.

6. Understand the Clearance Event Cycle

Dollar General holds large Clearance Events throughout the year, where already-reduced items get an extra percentage off (e.g., 50% or 70% off). These events often precede a major penny drop, so paying attention to the Clearance Event Schedule (like the predicted one for February 2026) can give you a head start on which items will be $0.01 next.

7. Be Polite and Prepared at Checkout

While Dollar General policy technically requires employees to sell you the item for the price it scans at ($0.01), some cashiers may be unaware or hesitant. * Preparation: Have your items ready and know that they are scanning for a penny. * Politeness: Be courteous. If a cashier refuses, you can politely ask for a manager or simply choose to leave the item. Never argue, as staff reserve the right to refuse a sale.

Topical Authority Entities for Penny Shopping

To truly become an expert penny shopper, you need to understand the language of the hunt. Here is a list of key entities and terms to solidify your knowledge:

Key Penny Shopping Entities:

• DG App Scanner: The mobile tool used to verify the $0.01 price.
• UPC Code: The unique product identifier used to track penny items.
• Seasonal Clearance: The primary category for most penny drops (e.g., Christmas, Easter, Summer).
• Clearance Event: A weekend sale offering an extra discount on all clearance items, often leading to new penny items.
• Surprise Penny List: Items that go to a penny unexpectedly, outside of the main weekly list.
• Red Dot Clearance: A recurring, color-coded clearance category that often pennies out.
• Digital Coupons: While not for penny items, using Digital Coupons on regular-priced items alongside your penny haul maximizes savings.
• Inventory Checker: A term used by shoppers to describe the DG App's function.
• Markdown Cycle: The process of an item moving from full price to 10%, 25%, 50%, 70%, 90%, and finally, $0.01.
• Clearance Stickers: The colored stickers used by the store to denote clearance status.
• Yellow Dot/Tag: A specific clearance color to track.
• Blue Dot: Another common clearance color to track.
• Green Dot: Yet another color in the system to monitor.
• Endcaps: High-traffic areas where clearance and forgotten items often reside.
• Shelf Tag: The paper tag on the shelf, which often shows the original price or a current markdown price, but should never be trusted for penny items.

The Future of Dollar General Penny Shopping in 2026

As we move toward the new year, the process of penny shopping remains a constant battle between diligent shoppers and store employees attempting to clear the shelves. The fundamental rule will not change: the DG App and the UPC codes are the only reliable sources of truth. The best strategy for 2026 is to join a reputable online community that shares confirmed UPC codes and visual guides for new penny items as soon as they drop on Tuesday. By combining community knowledge with your personal effort in scanning and searching multiple store locations, you can continue to score unbelievable deals. Remember, penny shopping is a treasure hunt—and the treasure is a cart full of goods for next to nothing.