Target Coupon Tips: How to Stack Your In-Store Savings

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If you’re like me, you absolutely love the fulfilling joy that is couponing. (Yes, I’m that person in line.) But as much fun as it is to clip along those dotted lines and devise a savings strategy, it can also be totally frustrating trying to decipher which coupons work together (and which, sadly, do not).
Target is one of the better stores for stacking multiple discounts as long as you know how the store’s coupons work — and we’re giving you the inside scoop to help you save even more.

What Types of Coupons Does Target Accept?

Let’s start with the basics. Target accepts a wide range of store coupons and manufacturer coupons, but it also has some hidden discounts on its website, as well as its mobile app. Here are all your options:
Manufacturer Coupons
Those Sunday newspaper coupons that you know and love obviously work at Target, plus the store accepts up to four copies of the same manufacturer coupon per household, per day (unless the coupon says something to the contrary). That means you can buy four identical items and apply four identical coupons for some serious savings. Check out the store’s online collection of printable MFR coupons, or just search for “MFR” in the “Cartwheel” section of the mobile app to find them on the go.
You can also print manufacturer coupons from online coupon sites to use at your local Target. Just make sure that they have a barcode for the cashier to scan.
Target Coupons
Target has its own store coupons that can be found via its mobile app and in its weekly circular. The mobile app is the best place to access these deals since it’s now fully integrated with the store’s Cartwheel savings program (which means way more coupons with no clipping necessary).
These coupons come in two different formats:

• Target item-level coupons (e.g., 15% off Hershey’s Valentine’s Value Bags)
• Target category/storewide coupons (e.g., save 10% when you spend $25 on Valentine’s Day items)

Item-level coupons can typically be redeemed up to four times per transaction, while category/storewide coupons are limited to a single use per transaction instead.

Slick Tip: If a Target store coupon reads, “Limit one coupon per purchase,” that doesn’t mean you can only use it once. Per purchase means that you can use one coupon per eligible item (or up to four times per transaction).

Cartwheel Offers
Cartweel gives customers additional discounts when they shop in-store — and it’s an absolute must-have if you want to save big. Just browse the complete list of current Target Circle offers online or via the app, add up to 50 of your favorite deals, and then present the in-app barcode (or a printed version) at the register to apply all of your loaded savings at once. You can redeem each Cartwheel offer up to four times in a single transaction, and you can complete up to six of those transactions per day. In other words, split your purchases accordingly.

Slick Tip: Scan anything (and everything) you add to your cart to see if it’s included in any current Cartwheel offers. And remember, Cartwheel offers can only be used in-store.

Target Coupon Combinations: Which Coupons Can You Stack?

Now that you’re armed with all of your discounts, it’s time to put them together and increase your overall savings. Target’s coupon policy allows you to combine the following coupons per item (unless otherwise noted in the fine print):

• One manufacturer coupon (paper or Cartwheel digital)
• One Target coupon (paper or digital)
• One Cartwheel offer

Cartwheel offers are listed twice because, as noted above, Cartwheel contains a mix of manufacturer coupons and regular Cartwheel offers. Just note that you cannot stack a $-off Cartwheel coupon with a manufacturer coupon since they are essentially the same thing.
On the other hand, %-off Cartwheel offers are much more flexible and can be stacked with manufacturer coupons, as well as other Target store coupons.
Also, keep in mind that you can use Target’s item-level coupons alongside category/storewide coupons to take your savings further. For example, you can use a Target coupon for 15% off General Mills cereals and a coupon for $5 off a $20 grocery purchase. As a bonus, the store’s coupon policy notes that, “The threshold for the category coupon is based on the retail price of the qualified items prior to manufacturer item-level and Target item-level coupons.”

Slick Tip: Click on the “Wallet” icon in your Target app to find category-based or storewide coupons that can work alongside your Cartwheel deals. No matter what order you hand in your coupons, here’s the order in which they’ll be deducted from your purchase amount:

• Target store coupons
• Cartwheel offers
• Manufacturer coupons

More Ways to Maximize Your Target Coupons

Target’s coupon-stacking fun doesn’t stop there. Use the following tricks to take your couponing to the extreme:
BOGO.
Stack your coupons and Cartwheel offers with current BOGO deals to save even more. Just keep in mind that you can only apply these discounts to any items that you pay something for (and not any of the freebies). So if it’s “buy one, get one free,” you can only use coupons on one of the items. But if it’s “buy one, get one half off,” then you can use coupons on both.
Look for gift card promotions. 
Target regularly offers free gift cards with select purchases as an incentive to buy. You can even split your purchases up as needed to earn a gift card on the first transaction and then apply it to the next.
Shop in the clearance section. 
That’s right — when it comes to coupons, Target’s clearance items aren’t off-limits. Just check the fine print first though, since some Cartwheel offers do exclude clearance items.

Slick Tip: Always read the store’s clearance labels to see if you’re getting the best deal possible. Check the upper right-hand corner of the red clearance sticker to see the total percentage off. (It can go as high as 90%!)

Use your REDcard. 

You can save an extra 5% on everything storewide with a Target REDcard. Just choose between a traditional credit card or a debit card version that’s linked to your existing bank account.
Get a coupon adjustment.
Even with Target’s all-in-one app, couponing can get a little complicated. If you forgot to bring a printed offer with you, just ask for a “Missed Coupon Adjustment.” The store will honor the discount post-purchase as long as it’s within 24 hours. (Some locations offer a three-day grace period, so check with your local store for details.)
Create a registry.
 

At Target, you can create a gift registry for anything you please — and the store will issue you a coupon for 15% off any unpurchased registry items right after your scheduled event.
Price match. 
Target price matches with a long list of retailers (including Amazon). The best part about Target’s price-matching policy, though? You can use a manufacturer coupon on top of your price match. Unfortunately, Cartwheel offers, Target Gift Card offers, Registry completion coupons and Target coupons cannot be combined with price matches.

Slick Tip: Download the Amazon app on iOS or Google Play to instantly compare prices as you shop.

Are you a Target couponer? What tricks do you use to get the biggest bang for your buck? Keep the conversation going in the comments, and check out “7 Tips for Shopping at Target” for even more ways to save!

Images courtesy of Target.