10 Tips for Saving Money at Target

Sharing tips for saving money at Target is one of my favorite things to do! I hope that you have watched my new video on 10 tips for saving money at Target. If not, check it out below.

As a bonus, I’ve put together 10 more tips not shared in the video. Read on to learn how to save big at Target. For regular Target tips, be sure to follow me on Instagram. I often share deals I find in my Instagram stories.

Leverage Target’s price match policy

Target will price match local competitors and certain online retailers, including Amazon.com and Walmart.com. According to Target’s website: “price matches may be requested at time of purchase or within 14 days after purchase. The full list of online competitors includes: Amazon.com, BedBathandBeyond.com Bestbuy.com Barnesandnoble.com Buybuybaby.com Costco.com CVS.com Diapers.com Petco.com Petsmart.com SamsClub.com Sears.com Staples.com Ulta.com Walgreens.com Walmart.com Wayfair.com

Look for opportunities to earn free gift cards when you buy products that you love

Target will often do promotions like buy 2 items, get a $10 gift card. These promotions are a great opportunity to stock up on home essentials like diapers, paper products and toiletries.

You can also stack coupons with these promotions to save even more.

Sometimes the Pharmacy will offer coupons for flu shots or transferring a prescription.

Shop online and use in-store pick up or direct shipping to avoid impulse buying.

Shopping online definitely will help you steer clear of those tempting areas like the dollar section and clearance end caps. Also, I often find Target.com to have better online prices than a lot of other retailers. This is especially true if you are using your 5% discount with your Red Card.

Bring reusable bags

Don’t forget to bring reusable bags when you go to Target. Target will give you 5 cents off your purchase for each bag you bring in.

Pay attention to deal cycles

The BIG clearance mark-downs are cyclical. For instance, the big toy clearance typically happens at in late January and the end of July/early August (on a Thursday) every year. Mark your calendar and start paying attention to mark-downs prior to the sale.

Look at how low the price is

There is misinformation out there that if a price ends in 4, that this is the lowest the price will go. This is not true. You need to look at if the item is marked down 30% off, 50% off or 70% off. If the item is marked down to 70% off (and isn’t seasonal) then that is as low as it will go. Clearance stickers also say in the top right corner how low the mark-down is, just in case you aren’t good at mental math!

Ask an employee to check for back stock

If you find a great deal, or you know of a great deal, but you don’t see it on the floor, ask an employee if they are willing to check the stockroom for the item. I have known people to get BOXES worth of clearance items because the items were not stocked on the floor.

Watch the weekly ad for sales/coupons

The weekly Target ad is the best way to see everything on sale in the store for the week. You can look at it online here. Once in a while they will have an exclusive tear out coupon, so those weeks are a good week to pick up a Sunday paper and get one. Sometimes guest services will have extra copies too.

Use the scanners throughout the store

The scanners are a great way to find unmarked sale/clearance items, or items that are priced lower than what is stickered. I always feel like I won a contest when I discover a seasonal clearance item that isn’t in the seasonal section – ha!

Leverage in-store bonus coupon events

At various points during the year, Target will do special incentive for shoppers to earn coupons on future purchases. For instance, at back to school time, anyone who spent $15 on back to school products got a 20% off coupon to use on a future purchase. Another example – Target also does a car seat trade event annually (going on now). Simply bring in an old car seat and Target will give you a 20% off coupon to use on a new car seat.

I hope this helps you save the next time you shop at Target. When you’re there, be sure to pick up a copy of my book Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter and Thrive. It’s now available in paperback at your favorite Target or on Target.com.

Bonus Target shopping hack – use shipt

Also, for those weeks when you don’t have time to make your Target run, you can use shipt to do your shopping for you. The best part? Your shipt shopper brings your items right to your house. Use this referral link to get 50% off your first year (only $49). It’s one of the best things I have done for myself – saves me time and money. (Shipt also shops at lots of grocery stores and Costco!)