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clearance

My Target Addiction: 9 Tips for Getting the Best Deal at Target

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If I put a band together, I will probably call it My Target Addiction.

Target is one of those places that reminds me of the the local grocery stores of the past. Our relationship with our local Target is not just commercial. I mean sure, the sweatpants I’m currently wearing and the cup my daughter is drinking out of, and the pillow behind my back are all from Target. And yes, Target is where we bought the ONLY sheets that would not slide off our mattress. We buy groceries, clothes, toiletries, housewares, and a lot of other things we need at Target. I’m typing this to you right now, and as I look around at my house I can point to everything we bought at Target.

However, we know the employees at our Target. We talk to them. When Brian and I were first married, on the nights he worked much later than me, I would grab a small cup of tea and walk around Target for about an hour because I didn’t want to head home to an empty house. Target is where I would push a newborn baby around in a stroller when it was raining. Target is where I picked up baby reflux medicine and the kind pharmacist showed us how to use it. Target Optical is where they first diagnosed me with optic nerve swelling, and I got an early diagnosis. Target Clinic is where I go to see my favorite nurse practitioner when I cannot get in to see my doctor.

 

However, unlike most people I don’t think I’ve ever paid full price for anything at Target. A.) I’m cheap and B.) Because at some point Target will have a deal on it.

With these simple tips and tricks you too will know how to spend wisely at Target.

1.) Target RedCard (credit or debit). This allows you to save 5% off of every single purchase made at Target.

2.) Pharmacy Rewards. Sign up for Pharmacy Rewards and have your scripts moved over to Target. Every time you move a new prescription over to Target or you have up to 6 prescriptions filled at Target you get a 5% off your entire purchase coupon.

3.) Download the Target Cartwheel App. This is a FREE app with additional offers to those to download it. There are two ways to use it. You can look through it and add certain offers offers onto your Cartwheel to scan at checkout OR you can scan the items in your cart to see if they currently have a deal. Some items are always on Cartwheel and you can save every time you shop: like milk and cheese.

4.) Clearance Schedule. I know my local Target Clearance and Sale Schedules. I also ask my sales associates or managers when this might change. For example at my Target I know

Monday:Electronics, Kids Clothes, Baby Stuff, Accessories
Tuesday:Women’s Clothes, Pets
Wednesday: Men’s Clothes, Furniture, Health & Beauty
Thursday: Housewares, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Home Decor
Friday: Auto, Hardware, Jewelry

This means if I have my eye something I wait and see what day of the week it is before I buy it.

5.) Seasonal Cycles. It is good to know seasonal cycles at Target. For example,  right now we are in the midst of what I like to call “ORGANIZE/BULK/HEALTH” time at Target. This means this is the time of year in the seasonal section at Target when organizational items, workout clothes and sporting things, and bulk foods and items are available in the seasonal section. This also means that in a few weeks they are going to want to clear this section out to make room for what I like to call “SPRING INSANITY” stuff, which is all the planters, gardening stuff, outdoor decor and furniture, lawn toys for kids and the like. So to clear it out they will put it all on sale. There is always a rotation so if you have your eye on some hand weights, wait a week or two they might go on sale to make room for some patio furniture.

6.) Shop the end caps first. Some of the best deals I have found on sheets, towels, dishes, cups, table linens, or toss pillows are on the end caps. Especially, when it comes to home decor or housewares. These items typically follow the seasons, and are switched out often. The end caps are where Target puts older sale things to make room newer non sale items.

7.) Goodwill and Target. Did you know that Target will donate things it cannot sell to local Goodwill stores who will sell it at even steeper discounts?

8.) Don’t forget your bags! Target will reward you for bringing your reusable shopping bags by giving you a $.05 discount for every reusable bag used.

9.) Text Coupons. Make sure to ask a sales associate or look on the shelf if there are text coupons available. Sometimes there are signs indicating text coupons for items available that will not exclude Cartwheel or other discounts.

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Tips for Thrifty Shopping at Target: A Rug Story

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(I was not paid or perked by Target in anyway, I just enjoy that store that much!)


I love a good deal. I don’t love a good deal enough to shop on Thanksgiving Day or battle crowds the day after. However, I love when the stars align just right, there are coupons and apps, and sales, and you get something you wanted for way way less.

In this case, patience really paid off.

I have been wanting this rug from Target for a good long while. I loved the pattern, I loved the size (7′ x 10′), and most of all I loved the price. I had my eye on it for awhile as the 5′ x 7′ rug in our family room was not big enough for the space.

When I first saw the rug, it was only available in like a tan/beige color.

Then, a few months ago, I noticed the released two other colors, a charcoal gray and a navy blue. I was elated. The charcoal gray and navy blue would be better at hiding messes.

Next, after flipping through the colors a few times trying to make a decision I noticed, that for whatever reason, the gray one was $10 less. That kind of made the decision for me. Charcoal gray is a good neutral, and will look nice with the family room walls I painted in the the spring. TIP #1: See if variations of the item are a different price and decide if it is worth it to you to spend a little less on a different variation of the item.

When I make my trips to Target, I always ask sales associates if there are any additional coupons or sales on items I am looking at. Usually, they are willing to help and find out for you. A few weeks ago, a sales associate told me about Target Cartwheel. Target Cartwheel is an FREE app you can download with additional coupons and savings. Without the asking the sales associate, I probably wouldn’t have known about Cartwheel, and wouldn’t have seen the EXTRA 15% off on Area Rugs that they were running. TIP #2 If a sales associate asks if you need help, always ask if there are any additional savings on an item you are looking for. They might steer you toward, an app, a coupon, or the sales flyer which are things you might not have seen.



Next, I waited a few days until a Friday. I know that at my local Target they switch around sales, and mark clearance items in the Home Department on Fridays (How do I know this? I asked.) I figured I could wait another couple days to see if anything in the home decor department would be on sale or go on clearance. Sure enough, rugs were marked down another 10-15% which I was able to use with my Target Cartwheel coupon. TIP #3: Always ask when departments mark there clearance items or move around stock or put up sales. If you aren’t in a hurry, it is worth it to wait a few days for the extra savings. Also, if they run out of your item when there is a sale going on, you can always get a Rain Check!


Finally, because we have a Target RED card, and area also a party of the pharmacy rewards program there, I had two more discounts of 5% off each. TIP #4: If you have a credit card account with a store, always make sure you see if there are additional rewards or promotions for card holders. Some stores like Home Depot don’t take the percentage off for cardholders unless you ask (so ALWAYS ask), but Target does it automatically for cardholders.


So, between the extra $10 off because of the color(149.99 – 10.00 = 139.99), the Cartwheel coupon of 15% off (139.99 – {139.99 x 15%} = 119.00) , the sale price of 10% off (119.00 – {119.00 x 10%} = 107.10), I also had a 5% off coupon off my entire purchase from the pharmacy rewards (107.10 – {107.10 x 5%} = 101.75), and I have a Red Card which brought the price down another 5% (101.75 – {101.75 x 5%} = 96.67), I got the deal of the century on this rug. I paid less than $100 for a brand new 7′ x 10′ rug.

The kids were thrilled to help me roll it out, and and play, and I am happy I saved a ton of money!



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Shopping: Fabric Style

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Fabric shopping, to me, is probably the most overwhelming of all shopping. I would consider myself and very experienced shopper, and I come from a long line of bargain hunters (aka cheap-o’s), but fabric shopping gets me completely overwhelmed.

There are just too many options. Too many colors. Too many textures. I wish I had the Sarah Richardson gift of being able to purchase and coordinate fabrics.
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I don’t know if any of you stopped by JoAnn last week when they were having their huge store sale and clearance, but I did, and that made the shopping more overwhelming. When all the prices are good, it is hard to narrow anything down. Also, I don’t like to shop for just one fabric when I am making something, I like to do things that coordinate to help help bring some interest to the project (which is a secret right now, sorry).
Anyway, after hours of searching, I found this set of three fabrics that met my criteria of coordinating and being a great price (they were on clearance and half off of that!) and contained neutrals that I love (crisp white, chocolate brown, and soft gray).
Now the fabric is bought, it is time to start looking at sewing machines.
Anyone else have trouble fabric shopping? Think it is overwhelming? What do you do to get through a sea of gorgeous fabric on sale?