14 Ways to Save Even More Money at Target
Are you a Target shopper? Target is one of my favorite places to shop because you can get everything you need in one stop. Plus, Target offers great prices compared to many other retail stores.
You might be surprised to learn that you can save even more money while shopping there just by using a few extra tricks and tips. Take a look at these ways to save even more shopping at Target.
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1 | Check the Target weekly advertisement
Like most large stores, Target has weekly advertisements that showcase what’s available and what’s on sale that week. Items often align with upcoming seasons and holidays.
If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day decorations and back-to-school supplies, you’ll find them lots available and sometimes for sale during February and August.
I like browsing the ads regularly to check when my favorite household goods like a favorite toilet paper or dish soap go on sale. Then I’ll stock up so I have enough for a couple of months.
I don’t have to buy any at full price. When I’m starting to run low, I’ll browse the ads for a few weeks until my favorites come up for sale again.
2 | Shop at larger Target stores
Over the past several years, Target has been opening smaller stores in more dense urban areas. The stores are much smaller than the large Target stores you’ll see in suburbs. They carry much less too simply because there isn’t space for everything.
You might have noticed that items in Target stores in cities can be more expensive than in their suburban counterparts. If it’s convenient for you, it may be worth visiting a larger suburban Target to save more on your shopping.
3 | Use Target’s price match guarantee
If you shop at a Target in a city, you can use Target’s price match guarantee to get the lower price.
Look up an item on Target.com and check that the Universal Product Code (UPC) is the same on both the website and the in-store item.
You can usually find the UPC on the back or bottom of a physical product or its packing. On Target.com, you can find the UPC by clicking on a product’s details and scrolling to the bottom of the description.
Show the UPC and prices of both items to the cashier and they’ll give you the lower price. I’ve done this for several items on a shopping trip.
If you look up the items before you get to the check-out and have them ready to show, it only takes a minute or two more to check out.
If you’re worried about holding up the line, you can have customer service do the same for you after you check out. You’ll be refunded the price difference.
Target’s price match guarantee works for Target.com, select online competitors, or in Target’s or a competitor’s print ad.
You have up until 14 days after purchase to make the request. Read more about the guarantee here.
4 | Use Ebates for additional savings
Use Ebates to get 1% back on your purchases. You can use it on both Target.com and in-store.
You simply log in online to Ebates, find Target listed, and then shop the site as you normally would. If you shop in-store, first link your credit card to Ebates and then use the same card when you shop in the store.
Unfortunately, several categories of items like groceries and baby care items don’t apply on Ebates, but you can use it for clothes and other qualifying categories.
Once in a while, Ebates offers spectacular bonuses like double and triple cashback when you can get even more back for shopping as you normally would.
You can receive $10 free bonus when you sign up for Ebates and spend $25 within the first 90 days of signing up.
5 | Shop clearance items
Target has a clearance section both online and in stores. In stores, you’ll usually find the clearance section at the end of aisles.
Sometimes it’s teeming with lots of items and sometimes it’s scarce, so it pays to check it out each time you go shopping. Items are still good but may have damaged packaging or be discontinued, the last of the stock, or out of season.
6 | Shop when free gift cards are offered
One of my favorite Target deals is when you buy a certain number of designated items and get a free gift card with it.
You usually have to buy 2 to 4 items in the same category or from the same manufacturer and you’ll receive a free gift card at checkout. I’ve received $5 gift cards but seen that they can be more like $10 or $15.
Gift card offer with purchase of Pampers
List of $5 gift card offers
7 | Use coupons
Gone are the days when you had to cut paper coupons. Nowadays you can get all kinds of coupons online in a matter of minutes. There are three main types/ways to find coupons.
Store coupons. These coupons are provided directly from Target and can only be used at that store.
Manufacturer coupons. These coupons are provided by the manufacturer/brand and can usually be used at any store that sells the product.
Third-party sites. Sites like RetailMeNot and Coupons.com aggregate online coupons to stores so they’re easier for you to find and use.
8 | Use the Target Cartwheel app
I don’t like downloading extra apps on my phone, but the Target Cartwheel app is worth it. All you have to do is look through the coupons for items you like or want to buy before you go shopping.
Then when you go check out at the register, scan your barcode and the coupons will automatically be applied.
If you don’t shop with your smartphone, you also have the option of selecting items on the Cartwheel site at home and then bringing your printed barcode with you when you shop at Target.
One additional perk of the Cartwheel app is that you can stack those coupons with other coupons you may have and discounts from using the Target credit card. While each coupon might not seem like much savings, it really adds up in the end.
9 | Use coupon sites like Ibotta
Ibotta is another favorite app I’m using right now to help me save even more on my purchases. Ibotta helps you earn cash back on an ever-rotating list of items on the app.
I’ve earned $0.25 here and $0.25 there, sometimes just by shopping at a store like Target. You simply scan your receipt after shopping to verify your purchases and the money saved is placed in your account.
You can receive a $10 welcome bonus when you sign up for Ibotta!
10 | Get a Target credit card
If you’re a frequent Target shopper, the Target credit card gives you 5% back on your purchases in-store and online. This is a lot better than the 1% cash back a lot of other credit cards might give you.
The credit card is not ideal for everyone though. I recommend having sound credit and using the card responsibly (e.g., don’t go into debt using it) or opting for another way to save instead.
11 | Fill your prescriptions at Target
Target’s pharmacy, which is operated by CVS, provides perks for using their service. You get a $5 coupon when you earn 10 points by doing a variety of things like filling or refilling a prescription (1 point), adding prescriptions to a CVS.com account (3 points), and signing up for refill reminder emails (1 point).
12 | Turn your unused gift cards into Target gift cards
With the Target trade-in program, you can trade in gift cards from participating retailers that still have a balance on them and exchange them for Target gift cards.
You know all those gift cards you have hidden away in a drawer somewhere?
You can trade those in and spend the money on things you actually want or need at Target. My own mom had a Cheesecake Factory gift card lying around over 10 years. It would’ve been much more useful at Target.
13 | Trade in your tech gadgets
Not only can you trade in your unused gift cards, but you can also trade in your electronics for a Target gift card or cash via PayPal. Check out the trade-in site to see what’s accepted, then ship it to Target using the prepaid shipping label generated after getting your quote.
You send in your item and wait to receive your funds. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
14 | Take advantage of Target registry perks
Are you preparing for your wedding? If you use Target’s registry, you can return items for up to a year after your wedding, which is a huge benefit to those who find themselves all out of sorts after a wedding.
You can take your time opening presents and don’t have to worry about rushing to return things you don’t want right after.
Another benefit is that you get 15% off everything else that was leftover on your registry. Knowing that, I would probably add a few more things to my registry just to take advantage of the discount!
Are you ready to tackle Target? I hope so! I have a long list of things I need to buy on my next trip there. Of course, I’ll be saving by using some of the tips and tricks above. What about you? How do you like to save at Target?
