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Reading Time: 6 minutesThere’s something magical about a trip to Target. That symbolic red bullseye is like a beacon for shoppers nationwide, reeling you in with promises of low prices on everything from food and electronics to limited-edition designer collections.
If you love shopping at Target, you’ll love our list of shopping tips that can help you save even more on great deals. We’ve rounded up the best money-saving tips that you can take advantage of while strolling down the Target aisles or simply scrolling through their website.
1. Stack Your Coupons
Okay, extreme couponers, get ready to jump on Target’s incredible coupon policy, which allows customers to pair a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon.
For those that get a rush on scouring the ad pages and websites to get the best deal possible, here are some tips on what Target allows for coupons. You can:
- Combine 1 Target coupon, 1 manufacturer coupon, and 1 Circle offer per item
- Use valid internet coupons with a scannable barcode and a purchase requirement
- Have a maximum use of four identical coupons per household each day
- Apply one category or store-wide coupon per transaction
- Stack multiple rebate offers from various apps on top of coupons
In addition, you can combine these coupons with the discount you get from the Target RedCard, compounding the amount of savings on each purchase. With stacks upon stacks of savings, your eyes are sure to light up at the checkout line.
2. Sign Up for the Target RedCard for Extra 5% Off
Credit: Target
There are so many benefits for Target shoppers when you sign up for their RedCard that it’s almost too good to pass up.
Some of the perks of the RedCard include:
- 5% off purchases: Not only can you get an extra 5% off in-stores or online, but you can also save 5% on clearance items, top deals of the week, specialty gift cards, same-day delivery orders and at any in-store Starbucks location.
- Longer return window: As a cardholder, you’ll even get an extra 30 days to return items to the store.
- Free 2-day shipping: Plus, if you’re wondering about shipping costs, rest assured that those with a RedCard in hand qualify for free 2-day shipping on most items at Target.
Another great thing about RedCard is that you can get it as a credit card or a debit card that is tied to your normal checking account. Of course, if you get a RedCard credit card, be sure to keep your balance paid off every cycle. With an APR of 22.90 percent, you’ll definitely want to stay out of the red.
3. Become a Target Circle Member
Credit: Target
If you consider yourself a loyal customer who frequents Target, you might as well join Target Circle, their free loyalty program formerly known as Cartwheel to continue racking up discounts and reward points. All you need to do is create an account on Target.com, and you’ll automatically get the following Circle benefits:
- 1% back on in-store and online non-RedCard purchases (if you use your RedCard, you’ll still save 5%)
- Access to hundreds of deals, including offers tailored to you
- 5% off on your birthday
- Help direct what nonprofit Target donates to in your community
Just make sure you’re logged into your Target website account or enter your phone number when checking out in-store to qualify for these rewards.
If you’re shopping in stores, review the Target app to find a Circle offer you’d like to use and scan your phone at the checkout to redeem the discount.
4. Download the Target App
Credit: Slickdeals/Target
Whether you have Android or Apple, download the Target app to make shopping that much easier by simply making a few taps.
The app allows customers to check if a local store has an item in stock, create and add to shopping lists, as well as view Circle offers and Weekly Ads.
There are even app-exclusive features, like curbside pick-up and the option to apply all possible savings—Circle offers, gift cards, promos and 5% RedCard savings—with a single scan using the Wallet barcode.
The app is pretty user-friendly too, so if you’re not careful, you could be scrolling on there for days!
5. Mark Your Calendar
Most Targets follow a specific schedule for their weekday product markdowns, and knowing that schedule will help you score some impressive early bird savings. Here are some general observations on when you can expect markdowns by category:
- Monday: kids’ clothing, baby products, electronics, stationary and accessories
- Tuesday: women’s apparel, domestics, food and pets
- Wednesday: men’s apparel, diapers, furniture, lawn and garden, and health and beauty
- Thursday: shoes, lingerie, housewares, décor, luggage, sporting goods and toys
- Friday: cosmetics, jewelry, hardware and automotive
You’ll also find great deals on seasonal items and holiday clearance if you know when to shop. The day after certain holidays like Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter, holiday-themed merchandise is reduced 50% (30% for candy, sweet tooths). A week later, the price drops to 70% off, followed by an incredible 90% off only a few days after that. You’ll also find similar markdown schedules on back-to-school items and seasonal décor.
6. Read the Clearance Tags
Clearance red tags can light up a shopper’s eyes, but there’s more to that label than just Target’s favorite color and simple discount. You’ll want to search for two numbers beyond the listed price.
First, look in the upper right-hand corner for a tiny number that will range anywhere from 15 to 90. While not followed by a percent sign, it does tell you the current percentage taken off of the original price. 15% markdowns are usually the first cost reduction for clearance items, so if you’re on the fence about a purchase, try waiting a few days to a week to see if Target will boost the discount to 30% or 50%.
Don’t just look at the percent or dollar amount, either. The cents listed in the clearance price can give you great info, too. If the amount ends in a $0.06 or $0.08, the price will be slashed again during the next cycle of markdowns. However, if the amount ends in $0.04, it means that the current price is as low as it will go.
7. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
Credit: Target
That’s “bring your own bag,” just to clarify. (Entering Target with a bunch of beer could lead to a different outcome entirely.)
You can go green and save money while you’re at it thanks to Target’s reusable bag incentive. For each reusable bag you bring with you to use at the checkout, you’ll receive a $0.05 credit. While it’s not much, if you consider that most stores charge $0.05 to $0.10 per bag, the discount can add up even more.
So not only does your wallet get bigger with a few nickels on each purchase, you can also feel good knowing you’re being eco-friendly.
8. Utilize price matches and adjustments.
Target has one of the best price-matching policies that extends to tens of thousands of items and up to 29 online retailers, which includes Amazon, Bed Bad & Beyond, Apple, Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Lowes, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sephora, Chewy and many more.
According to our previous article where Slickdeals did a complete breakdown on Target’s price-matching and price-adjustment policy, you have up to 14 days to request a price-match on an online or in-store policy. The item in a lower-priced competitor’s ad or website must be an exact identical product, and it has to be in stock as well. There are several guidelines and limitations, so go check out the article above to take full advantage of this policy.
Keep in mind that price match and price adjustments exclude any Circle offers, registry coupons and products that are on clearance or are tied with any special offers. You can, however, pair the price match with a manufacturer’s coupon.
9. Create a Registry on Target.com
Credit: Target
Target registries can be used for all types of occasions like for a wedding, a newborn, housewarming events and kids’ birthdays. For wedding, baby and college registries, Target allows users to get up to 15% off on unpurchased items sent to your email.
You can create registries for special events, such as:
- Wedding: Customers get a 15%-off coupon on everything remaining on the list during the week of your special day.
- Baby: First, your registry must have items in it and be active for 2 weeks before the expected arrival date. Then, you can receive a 15%-off coupon approximately 2 months before the expected arrival date.
10. Earn Gift Cards by Shopping Online
Peruse the GiftCard with Purchase section on Target’s website to earn free gift cards for everyday purchases you may already be planning to make. These gift cards can range from $5 to $20 in value. One caveat is that you must select same-day delivery or do same-day pick up. So, for example, you can buy 3 Tide Laundry Detergent and get a $10 Target GiftCard as long as you go pick up the detergents at a local store or schedule a delivery that same day.
Jin Rhee
For the past decade, Jin Rhee has been a content writer with expertise in comedy, sports, and technology. Besides finding the best deals, Jin Rhee enjoys keeping up with the latest current events and the ongoing NBA bubble.