How to Save Money at Target

Target.  Oh how I love thee. Pretty clothes, lovely housewares, and groceries, all in one place. I even get my photos printed and my prescriptions filled in your wonderful, one-stop-shop. I can munch on popcorn or drink coffee while I browse your aisles. Oh how well you know me Target.

Surely I am not the only woman in America that feels this way about Target. If you are like me, and you can't go a week without being drawn in by that hypnotizing red bullseye, I have good news. There are many ways to save money at Target, and it is possible to have a love of Target and not break the bank.

Coupons
In addition to the manufacturer coupons that you can find in your Sunday paper, you can also use Target store coupons. You can use one manufacturer coupon and one store coupon on the same item. This is called stacking coupons. Say I have a manufacturer coupon for $1 off Revlon, and a Target coupon for $1 off Revlon. I can use both, and get $2 off a Revlon item. Awesome! Your can read Target's coupon policy here. You can print Target coupons from Target.com. Often there are coupons for clothing, which make for some amazing deals when looking through the clearance rack. And unless the coupon states excluding clearance, you can use coupons on clearance items! Woot! There are also coupons for groceries, home items, toys, candy, even Target's store brands Up and Up and Market Pantry. Target also offers mobile coupons, so if you have a smart phone, sign up for their texts. Text COUPONS to 827438, and you will get a text with a link to mobile coupons. To redeem them, you just have the cashier scan the barcode from your phone. Easy peasy.

Reusable Bags
Saving the environment can save you green! You get a five cent discount for every reusable bag used. You can use any reusable bag you have, it doesn't have to be a Target bag to qualify for the discount. Keep an eye out in the weekly Target ad for special promotions. Sometimes Target offers a free reusable freezer bag with the purchase of a certain number of frozen food items. I use my reusable bags all the time, and I love the added benefit of not having my food bust out of the bottom of a plastic bag when I'm trying to carry my groceries into the house.

Target Debit Card
The debit card, not the credit card. The debit card is just like using your bank debit card. The only difference is that you can only use it at Target. It doesn't have any fees, and you get 5% off your entire purchase every time you use it. That's free money right there. Also, if you like to online shop, the debit card gets you free shipping on Target.com, with no minimum purchase. Nice.

Pharmacy Rewards
If you are getting your prescriptions filled at the Target Pharmacy while you shop, make sure you are signed up for their pharmacy rewards program. For every 5 prescriptions you fill, you get a 5% off shopping day card. You can use this with the 5% off you are already getting with your Target debit card, so it's more like 10% off. Sweet!

Shopkick
If you aren't familiar with Shopkick, you can sign up here. This is a rewards app that you can use on your Android or iPhone. You get points (kicks) for walking into certain stores (Target is one of them) and for scanning specific items. You can redeem these kicks for rewards, like Target gift cards. I've been using this app for two years, and it is great. My husband and I have been redeeming our points for Target gift cards and we use them towards our groceries. He scans the items (you don't have to buy them) while I am doing our grocery shopping. It's like a fun scavenger hunt for him. There are also MORE COUPONS for Target in the Shopkick app. You have the cashier scan the barcode, just like with the mobile coupons.

Other Random Tips
What? I haven't told you enough already? You want to save more money? Well, it's your lucky day! Let me let you in on a secret. Seasonal clearance. All the savy shoppers go to Target the day after a holiday to get major deals. Especially on candy. I don't care if the M&M's are red and pink for Valentine's Day, because they all taste the same to me. In fact, Valentine's clearance candy is great to use for filling Easter eggs. And have you noticed holiday packaging for cake mixes, napkins, and hand soaps? Candy isn't the only thing that you can score. If you are really good at planning ahead, you can get Christmas decor and wrapping paper at 90% off and then save it for next year. Or Valentine's day cards for your kid's class party. This year I got clearanced Halloween costumes, and my son plays with them year round. He loves to dress up as various super heroes.

Target has a daily deal online everyday. It is always for one day only, and you get free shipping, even if you don't have a Red card.

If you use twitter, follow @TargetStyle. They give away a pair of shoes every Friday, with an event they call  #freeshoefriday. It's usually at 1pm central time, and you have to tweet your answer to their question. One lucky responder gets a free pair of shoes. I haven't won yet, but I'm still trying.

Target offers price matching. Check the other ads in your Sunday paper or online, and if you find a great advertised price at a local competitor, bring the ad to customer service, and they will match it.

My last tip of the day is to point you towards my favorite website when it comes to finding deals at Target. TotallyTarget.com. She writes up a match-up every week of the current ad with which coupons are available. This saves me a lot of time when I am making my grocery list. Just go ahead and bookmark that page. You'll thank me later.

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to hear about how much money you saved for your family on your next shopping trip!