Last updated: June 2026
Penny Tree is an independent, automatically-updated catalog of Dollar Tree penny and clearance items. This policy explains what we collect and why. We try to collect as little as possible.
If you sign in with Google, we receive your name, email address, and profile picture from Google (only these — never your contacts, Gmail, or Drive). We use your email to identify your account and your name/picture to set up a public username and avatar. Your email is never shown publicly. We store a randomly-generated session token in a cookie to keep you signed in.
If you post a comment, photo, or find, we store what you submitted along with your account and a one-way hashed form of your IP address (used only to fight spam and abuse).
Everyone: your shopping list is stored only in your own browser (we never receive it). When you mark "I found it," we store your vote and any city/state you optionally provide.
When you first visit, we ask for your cookie choice. Essential cookies always run (they make the site work), and we show ads that keep the site free. Google Analytics loads only if you select "Accept all." You can change your analytics choice anytime via the Cookie preferences link in the footer, or manage cookies in your browser.
| Cookie / storage | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
pt_sess | Essential | Keeps you signed in after you log in with Google (not set unless you log in). |
pt_view | Essential / preference | Remembers whether you last viewed penny items or all cheap items. |
pt_consent | Essential | Stores your cookie choice so we don't ask again. |
| Shopping list, sign-in state (browser storage) | Essential / preference | Your saved shopping list lives in your browser's local storage; short-lived cookies are used during Google sign-in. |
Google Analytics (e.g. _ga) | Analytics | Anonymous, aggregated traffic stats. Loads only with your consent. |
| Adsterra | Advertising | Serves the ads that keep the site free. These run on all visits and may set their own cookies. |
We use Google for sign-in, Google Analytics to understand traffic, and Adsterra to show ads that keep the site free. Google Analytics runs only after you accept cookies; ads run on all visits. These services have their own privacy policies and may collect usage data and set their own cookies. We do not sell your personal information.
You can turn Google Analytics on or off anytime with the Cookie preferences footer link, change your public username on your account page, and sign out at any time. To delete your account and the comments/finds/hauls tied to it, email privacy@pennytree.org from the address you signed up with and we'll remove them.
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict use of your data (for example under the EU/UK GDPR or California's CCPA/CPRA), including the right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for advertising. To exercise any of these — including an advertising opt-out — contact us at the email above and we'll honor your request.
Penny Tree is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information.
Questions? Email privacy@pennytree.org. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Dollar Tree, Inc.