Shopping 2.0: All the Ways You Can Save More Money at Target
If you’re a regular Target shopper, you already know that its main attraction is low prices. With a little research and the help of some special programs, you can get really thrifty at Target—so thrifty that it won’t even matter that you had 5 things on your list and inevitably left with a cart full of items you didn’t know you wanted or needed. (Such is the nature of a Target trip! Embrace it!)
We did a little digging to find out how to stretch your dollars a little further at the Bullseye.
Use Cartwheel
Cartwheel is one of the easiest ways to save money at Target—it’s a free program and app that can help you save more money on your purchases as you go (anywhere from 5 to 50% off on items, including clearance). With the app, you can search available deals, or just scan your items as you shop to see if there are additional savings you may not have known about. If you don’t want to use the app, you can use Cartwheel online, select the offers you want to take advantage of, and print out a barcode to scan at checkout.
Use the Target REDcard
Using Target’s REDcard will save you an additional 5% off your purchases every single day, plus, you get free shipping on most items and an extended return window of 30 extra days. But if you’re hesitant to sign up for another store credit card, note that there’s an alternative option—you can get the traditional REDcard credit card if you want, or get a debit card that links to your existing checking account. You still get all the benefits, just without an extra credit check or another monthly bill to worry about.
Do Your Research for Price Matching and Adjustments
Target does offer price matching and price adjustments, so before you head to the store, do a little research on competitor’s prices for any particular items you know you’re going to buy—it might only save you a few dollars on that one purchase, but that adds up. And as far as price adjustments go, hold on to your receipts—you have 14 days after your purchase to get a price adjustment if an item you just bought goes on sale.
Check the Weekly Ad and Daily Deals
If you’re not checking the weekly ad and searching for daily deals on the website before you head to Target or shop online, you’re missing out on major sales. You can check the weekly ad here (just be sure to adjust to your local store), and check for deals every day here. Right now, for example, the deals page reveals several ways to get free gift cards for purchases of baby essentials, and major discounts on furniture and home goods.
Print Manufacturer’s Coupons from the Website
A little digging on the Target website will bring you to a goldmine of manufacturer’s coupons—just go to coupons.target.com to scroll through pages of coupons that you can print out and bring with you on your next Target trip. You can also bring manufacturer’s coupons from outside the website, just be sure to double-check that they match up with Target’s coupon policy.
Ask for Rain Checks on Sold-Out Sale Items
If a sale item you really want is sold out when you get to the store, you can actually ask for a rain check so you can still purchase it at the sale price. Rain checks give you 30-45 days (the offer windows vary by state) to still purchase the item at the discounted price originally offered—even if the sale is over when you come back to purchase it. You may also be able to get a substitute item in its place.
Do you have any secret Target shopping tricks? Please share!