Target

1. Go Green, Get Paid

Bring in your own reusable bags, and Target will give you a 5-cent discount at checkout for each reusable. It’s not much, but it can add up — especially on those big shopping days.

2. Shop Online Instead of In-Store

“My advice to save money at Target that most people don’t know — and that Target does not talk about — is that online prices are cheaper than in the store,” said Vanessa Valiente, a San Diego-based personal shopper and creator of the fashion blog V-Style. “To get the online price in-store and save time, order the items online and then click on the ‘pick up in store’ option. If you are already in a Target store and want to get the online price, you can look up the item online and then have the cashier price match the item.”

3. Compare Prices at Multiple Store Locations

An item might be on clearance at one store and not another. To find the best price at different Targets in your area, use BrickSeek.com’s Target inventory checker, said Collin Morgan, CEO at the frugal living site Hip2Save.com.

“One of the things I love about Target is that if you wait long enough to purchase an item you love, it will eventually go on clearance,” said Morgan. “Just grab the UPC number off the tag or the DPCI number found on online listings and use BrickSeek to check current pricing. If you are lucky enough to live near multiple Target stores, you can look and see where the best price is before heading out to shop. I will say that BrickSeek is not always 100% accurate, but it’s a great resource.”

4. Use Coupons From Other Sites

Target coupons aren’t limited to those you can find on the website, app and circulars. Check sites like RetailMeNot, Groupon and DealCatcher to find more Target coupons to stack.

5. Use a Coupon Aggregator When You Shop On Target.com

Install the Honey plugin on your browser and you’ll automatically have any applicable promo codes applied to your Target.com purchase.

6. You Don’t Need To Buy 2 Items To Benefit From ‘2-for’ Pricing

Target will often label discounted items as “2 for x-dollars,” but you don’t actually need to buy two items to get the lower price, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady. These signs might entice you to buy more than you normally would, so just stick to buying one of whatever item is marked down to truly save.

7. Buy Toys in January, July and December

Target has semi-annual toy sales during January and July, and also offers big discounts on toys during the holidays, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady. Stock up on toys for birthday and holiday gifts during these periods with major markdowns.

8. Get a Rain Check on a Sold-Out Sale Item

If an item you want is out of stock, you can ask customer service to issue you a rain check that will enable you to purchase the product at its sale price for that day, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady. This rain check is good for up to 45 days. Not every Target store offers this perk — but it can’t hurt to ask.

9. Use Manufacturer’s Coupons — Even If They Say They Are For Other Stores

Target accepts manufacturer’s coupons, even if they’re labeled as “redeemable at Walmart” or redeemable at another store, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady.

 

1. Pick Your Day

Because most Targets mark down certain departments on specific days for clearance, knowing the schedule can help you find the best Target deals.

“For instance, you’ll find the best deals on clearance electronics on a Monday and sporting good clearance on Thursday,” said Christy Palmer, founder of the All Things Target blog.

Here’s a schedule Palmer said is good for most Targets:

Monday: Electronics, accessories, kids’ clothing, books, baby, stationery
Tuesday: Domestic goods, women’s clothing, pets, market (food items)
Wednesday: Men’s clothing, health & beauty, diapers, lawn & garden, furniture
Thursday: Houseware, lingerie, shoes, toys, sporting goods, decor & luggage
Friday: Auto, cosmetics, hardware, jewelry

2. Check For Price Adjustments

Here’s a moment everyone has felt and no one likes: You finally buy that dress you’ve been wanting only to see it go on sale the next day. Well, at Target, you can get the difference between what you paid and the new sale price refunded, said Palmer.

So, if an item you bought goes on sale within 14 days of purchase, just bring in your receipt and Target will adjust the price for you. Some exclusions do apply, so make sure you read Target’s policy before requesting a price adjustment.

3. Shop Amazon

Wait, you can shop on Amazon to save money at Target? Correct, because Target is one of many retailers with price match guarantee.

As expected, there are some rules and restrictions. But in general, Target will match the lower price from select online or local retailers.

4. Know the Clearance Codes

Clearance items are some of the best deals at Target, Palmer said, and they are marked down to certain levels in a certain order. “First, items will get marked down to 15% or 30% off, then to 50% off and finally end up at 70% off,” she said.

If you’re on the hunt for clearance items, they should be marked down in red or yellow stickers, according to Palmer. The new price and the percentage of the markdown will be in the top right-hand corner without a percent symbol.

“Check the number in the upper-right corner of the price tag,” said Palmer. “If it says ’70,’ it’s been marked down to 70% off.”

If a price ends in $0.04, this usually indicates it’s reached its lowest markdown.

5. Shop For the Holidays Early — or Late

Want Halloween or Christmas decorations, Easter baskets or back-to-school items that are practically free? Wait a few days or a few weeks after the holiday to buy them.

Holiday items will be cut by 50% the day after the holiday — 30% for candy. But wait a week or so, and products could go down to 70% off. Then, a few days later, if anything is left, they’ll go to 90% off, which is practically free.

Here’s a list of days and times of year that Target offers holiday sale prices, according to All Things Target:

• Valentine’s Day
• Easter
• Summer
• Back-to-School
• Halloween
• Christmas …

6. Stack ‘Em and Save

If you’ve done your pre-Target-run prep properly, you might have more than one coupon for a single item. No problem: Target lets you stack coupons.

Don’t be shy about handing the checkout person a Target coupon, a manufacturer’s coupon and even a third coupon, such as a Target Cartwheel discount for the same item.

7. Use a Cash-Back App or Website

To save even more money at Target, sign up for an Ibotta, Ebates or BeFrugal account. These online programs and smartphone apps give you money back for selected items you buy at Target or other participating stores.

Every service is slightly different, but the bottom line is you receive cash back for the items you buy.

8. Use Target’s Wedding Registry — Even If You’re Not Getting Married

Even if you’re not actually getting married or having a baby, creating a wedding or baby registry is a sneaky way you can save on big-ticket items.

“What I do to save money at Target is that I create a registry for items that I need,” said Becky Beach, founder of MomBeach.com. “After the date of the registry [event, Target gives you a coupon] for 15% off [the remaining items]. That’s how I was able to get a brand new TV set cheaper after our toddler broke the one we had.”

Stack the 15% off deal with the 5% you get for shopping with a REDcard and any Cartwheel discounts, and you can save big bucks.

9. Buy Discount Gift Cards

You can shave even more off your bill by buying discount gift cards at sites like Gift Card Granny or Raise. The cards are real gift cards that you use like cash, so the bonus is that the gift card savings are in addition to any savings with coupons or sales.

10. Don’t Rely On Advertisements

Periodically, Target might have unadvertised markdowns on items. These bargains will be labeled with red and white sale signs, and the signs will have dates on the bottom telling you how long the sales are valid, Palmer said.

“Some are valid longer than a week, some sale prices will last a month or more,” she said.

Target shoppers often end up buying more than they plan. The so-called “ Target Effect” sometimes has customers walking into the store for just a single item, then leaving with dozens more. Thankfully, Target makes saving money as easy as it makes spending it.

Through Target’s website, shoppers can find coupons and clearance deals that can be used online or in stores, including coupons found through the Target app or manufacturers. Knowing when to shop is equally as important as checking for coupons — Target marks down different departments on different days, and has its best sales after certain holidays.

Here are some other tips for saving money at Target:

If you’re like a lot of people, you love Target, but you don’t love what it does to your wallet. Who hasn’t run in to the big box store intending to pick up toilet paper and laundry detergent and walked out an hour later with a cart full of other items you just had to have?

It can be hard resist the siren call of the red bullseye, but shopping at Target doesn’t have to mean spending a lot. Though the chain has a reputation for high prices – it lost to Walmart when we did a head-to-head price comparison – savvy bargain-hunters know how to find deals at the store. By combining store sales, coupons, clearance discounts, and other savings tricks, it’s possible to indulge in your Target addiction without going broke.

A quick internet search reveals dozens of Target savings secrets from bloggers and shopping experts. From knowing the markdown schedule (we’ll get to that in a minute) to maximizing coupons to taking advantage of rain checks when a sale item is sold out, there are literally dozens of ways to save at the store. The problem is keeping track of them all.

To do that, your best bet is to head to Target-specific shopping blog like All Things Targetand Totally Target. There, you’ll find rundowns of the weekly ad, tips and tricks, and other advice for making the most of your Target shopping experience. To get you started on your Target savings adventure, we’ve compiled 12 of our favorite secrets to getting the best deal at Target. Happy shopping!

1. There’s a method to the clearance madness

Target deal-hunters need to know when things are typically marked down so they don’t miss out on a bargain. Here’s when different categories of items typically go on clearance at most Target stores, according to Mike Catania, founder of PromotionCode. (Your store might have a slightly different markdown schedule.)

• Monday: Electronics, accessories, kids’ clothing, books, baby, and stationery
• Tuesday: Domestics, women’s clothing, pets, and market/food items
• Wednesday: Men’s clothing, health and beauty, diapers, lawn and garden items, and furniture
• Thursday: Housewares, lingerie, shoes, toys, sporting goods, decor and luggage
• Friday: Auto, cosmetics, hardware, and jewelry

Clearanced items can be found all over the store, but the endcaps – the displays at the end of the aisle – are a good place to start looking. Markdowns start at 15% and can go down to 90% off for seasonal items (discounts on regular items stop at 70% off). Check the upper-right corner of the price tag to see how much an item has been discounted. If you see the number “15” or “30” and are a gambler, you might want to wait for a further discount.

2. January and July is the best time to shop for toys

Target is always discounting old merchandise to make room for the new, but sometimes, the store really cleans house. In the toy section, the big clear-outs happen in January and July, according to All Things Target. Sometime in mid-January and again at the end of July, the store will discount last season’s toys to 70%. The markdown should happen on the day your store normally starts toy discounts. For most shoppers, that will be Thursday.

3. The Black Friday deals are among the best

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, shoppers descend on stores hoping to snag great deals on holiday gifts. Some of the best Black Friday bargains around are at Target. The same goes for Cyber Monday.

“Every year, Target is one of our top five stores for Black Friday deals,” Benjamin Glaser, features editor with DealNews, said. “Interestingly, unlike Amazon and Walmart, Target also makes the list for the best deals of Cyber Monday. It should definitely be one of your first stops for apparel, electronics, and appliance deals during the whole two-week period surrounding Thanksgiving.”

4. You don’t need to apply for a credit card to get RedCard savings

You may already know that shoppers with a Target RedCard save 5% on all their Target purchases. But a 23.15% APR makes the RedCard risky for all but the most responsible shoppers.

“The APR on the Target Red Card makes it an incredibly poor choice unless you’re prepared to pay the balance off in full each month and don’t have reservations about how Target collects your shopping data based on its use,” Catania said. “That said, it’s particularly handy for big-ticket items around the holidays to get free shipping or for already-heavily-marked-down items as the 5% flat discount applies to just about everything.”

Fortunately, there’s a way to get that 5% discount without running the risk of getting into debt. Target also has a RedCard debit card that links directly to your bank account. You still have to be willing to let Target collect data on your shopping habits, but there’s no chance you’ll end up paying interest on those discounted housewares you couldn’t pass up.

5. You don’t need the app to save with Cartwheel

Sure, you’ve heard about Target’s Cartwheel app, which gives you access to special coupons and discounts. What you may not know is that it’s possible to get those savings even if you don’t have a smartphone. All you have to do is go online, create an account, and add offers. Then, print out your barcode and take it with you when you shop. At checkout, the clerk will scan your code, and you’ll get the discount. And because your barcode never changes, you only need to print it out once to save big.

6. You can stack deals to create big savings

One of the best ways to save when shopping at Target is to stack offers. “I maximize my savings using sales, a manufacturer coupon, Cartwheel, and a Target coupon,” Fatima Ward-Johnson, a mother of five who lives in Chicago and shops at Target several times a week, told The Cheat Sheet. If you have a RedCard you can also add that to your savings stack.

Of course, keeping track of coupons and finding the best deals can be a bit of headache. Sites like Totally Target and All Things Target will help you find the best coupon match-ups.

7. Free gifts make shopping even sweeter

A discount is great, but sometimes, Target will actually give you stuff for shopping there. The most common deals involve free gift cards with purchase. At the time of this writing, you could get a $10 gift card when you buy two boxes of diapers, or a $5 gift card when you buy $15 worth of personal or skin care items, and those were just two of dozens of similar offers.

In addition to gift cards, you can sometimes score other freebies. “Purchase when it’s possible to get a free gift with purchase. Last month, Target offered a free beauty sampler box with a $30 beauty purchase,” Alyce Green of Makeup Bonuses said. When you create a baby registry, you can stop by the guest services counter and pick up a bag of coupons and samples.

Gift card offers change frequently. The current promotions are listed on Target’s website.

8. You can almost always save $5 off a $50 purchase

Not all Target discounts are well-publicized, and a quick search of deal sites like PromotionCode or RetailMeNot can turn up additional savings. “Target runs an online offer of $5 off $50 purchases almost year-round with relatively few limitations that is not available in-store or publicized in their mailers,” Catania said.

9. If you use outside apps, you’ll save even more

Pairing exclusive Target deals with additional rewards from outside apps has the potential to magnify your savings. Shopkick will reward you with “Kicks” just for visiting Target (and other stores), scanning items (even if you don’t buy them), and uploading your receipts. You can redeem Kicks for gift cards, including Target gift cards. With Ibotta, you unlock rebate deals by performing simple tasks, shopping, and then uploading your receipt to earn cash back.

10. Target price matches most big chains

Unfortunately, Target doesn’t have an app like Walmart’s Savings Catcher, where you can upload your receipts and receive a gift card if the app finds the items you bought on sale somewhere else for a lower price. But Target does do price matching. If you find a cheaper price for an item at a competitor – including big competitors like Amazon, Costco, and Sam’s Club — just bring in the ad and show it to the clerk to get the same price at Target. If you’ve already bought the item, you can request a price adjustment at guest services within 14 days of purchase. In addition to local competitors, Target will match prices at more than a dozen big online stores.

11. You can get gift cards for your old electronics

Do you have an old phone, tablet, or other gadget that’s gathering dust? Take it to your local Target and trade it in for a gift card. You can get your device appraised online, ship it for free, and receive a gift card in return. Or, you may be able to drop it off at a local Target store. (Not all Targets participate in the trade-in program, so be sure to check online before you go.) You can get as much as $65 for a working LG G4 with a charger or $23 for a Garmin Approach S5 smartwatch with all its accessories.

12. Goodwill gets Target’s castoffs

To get great deals on Target products, you might want to head to a completely different store. If clearance items don’t sell at Target, they sometimes end up at Goodwill. You’ll need to check out the racks at your local thrift stores or talk to the staff to find out if they sell “new” items from Target.

Shopping at Target is fun. Saving money at Target? Now, that’s just a blast. Here are eleven strategies to save more at Target. Do you know all of them?

The beautiful thing about shopping at Target? There are multiple ways to stack coupons and discounts for krazy-awesome savings. It’s a couponer’s dream store! Do these 17 things on your next Target shopping trip and relish the savings:

 

1. Use a manufacturer coupon and a store coupon on one item.

Target’s coupon policy lets you use both one manufacturer and one store coupon on a single item! Check out our Target page and we’ll show you exactly how to score the best deals by stacking discounts—free printable coupons included!

 

2. Use Cartwheel offers inside the Target app and save up to 75% — without clipping a single coupon!

Cartwheel offers live inside the Target app and all you have to do is “add” the Cartwheel offer you want by tapping it and then scan your phone at the checkout.

Here are just a couple examples of Cartwheel grocery offers:

• 40% off spaghetti sauce
• 25% off salad dressing
• 20% off coffee
• 20% off KIND bars
• 15% off cereal
• 10% off yogurt

 

3. Stack multiple rebate-app offers on top of coupons and other discounts.

Who says you only get to use one rebate app per receipt? If you see the same offer on Ibotta and Checkout 51, you can redeem them both, so keep your eyes peeled. These two work similarly — take a photo of your receipt showing you purchased the qualified item(s) on all of them. Or scan the QR code on your receipt at some stores.

TIP: If you don’t have a smart phone, don’t worry. You can use Checkout 51 on any device—computer, tablet, or phone.

 

 

4. Know the clearance markdown schedule.

Go the first day items in each department are marked down for the best selection!

• Monday: Electronics, Kids’ Clothing and Stationery
• Tuesday: Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and Market
• Wednesday: Men’s Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty, Lawn and Garden items
• Thursday: Home goods, Lingerie, Shoes, Sporting Goods, Movies, Music, Books, Decor and Luggage
• Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry

 

5. Check how much you’re actually saving by decoding clearance tags.

Look in the top right corner of clearance tags to see how much you’re truly saving on clearance items. The number you see is the percentage off a product’s original price. Learn all of Target’s clearance secrets.

 

6. Don’t fall for “2 for $4” deals; you only need to buy one to get the sale price.

 

7. Pay attention to the difference in price cuts.

There are two kinds of price cuts, and they’re both marked with yellow tags. While permanent-price-cut items will retain their lower cost, temporary price cuts won’t and will go back up in price within 14 days. Take advantage of those temporary deals while you can!

 

8. Save 5% on everything with the free Target REDcard debit card.

For a family spending $200 a month, that’s an extra $10 in your pocket or $120 per year! Additional 5% savings can be stacked with sales, clearance, promotions, Cartwheel offers and manufacturer coupons. You also get 120 days (instead of the regular 90) to make a return as well as free shipping at Target.com. AND since it’s not a credit card, it’s free with no credit check required! Not a bad deal if you shop at Target often.

 

9. Pay attention to mobile offers you can find inside the Target app.

You can find a few mobile offers inside the Target app. These vary by week but you can use them with manufacturer coupons or Cartwheel offers. To access these, tap on “Wallet” at the bottom of the Target app and then tap “coupons.” Offers look like “$20 Target gift card with a $100 Baby purchase” or “$5 Target gift card with a $20 meat and seafood purchase.”

 

10. Stay connected with Target’s free in-store Wi-Fi.

Losing signal while you’re browsing through deals in the KCL app is annoying. Connect to their in-store Wi-Fi for free and browse away!

Download the KCL app for your Android.

Download the KCL app for your iPhone.

 

11. Stock up on toys in January, July, and December.

During the holidays, Target will offer daily deals on toys, and let me tell you — they’re incredible savings. Look for extreme discounts in January and July during Target’s semi-annual toy sales as well. To save big throughout the year, stock up for birthday and Christmas presents when prices are low!

 

 

12. Price match a product AND use a manufacturer coupon.

Download the Amazon app to make comparing prices easier. It will instantly recognize products based on their packaging. Head to customer service where a Target employee will verify the competitor’s lower price, then use a manufacturer coupon on top of that!

TIP: Target store coupons and Cartwheel offers can’t be used when you price match.

 

13. Item out of stock? Get a rain check!

Spare the disappointment in finding an empty shelf or item all out of stock. Take a photo of the shelf tag and head to customer service, instead. You’ll be issued a rain check for the sale price that day, which will be good for the next 45 days.

Note: Some Target stores don’t offer rain checks, please be sure to call your local Target ahead of time to check.

 

14. Use coupons and Cartwheel offers on BOGO promotions.

 

15. Get 5% off and free shipping on everyday items when you have them delivered on a set schedule every month.

Like Amazon Subscribe & Save, Target will give you 5% off (10% off if you have a REDcard) online orders when you subscribe to monthly deliveries of everyday essentials like diapers and toilet paper. You can always adjust the quantity and timing of delivered items and return them to any Target store if you change your mind!

 

16. Stack coupons with gift card promotions.

Gift card promos + manufacturer coupons + Cartwheel offers + rebate app offers + 5% off with REDcard = HUGE SAVINGS.

You can purchase more than one item eligible for a gift card promotion in a single transaction. Or, you can roll transactions and use the gift card you received for one set of products to pay for another set of products also eligible for a gift card.

 

17. Bring in a reusable bag and get 5 cents off your total.

Note: Individual Target stores have the right to refuse and limit coupons. Please keep this in mind if you’re visiting a new store!