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    How to Save Money at Target

    Target Springfield, VA by j.reed on FlickrWays to Save Money at TargetBy: Kate Parham

    If you're going to shop there anyway, you might as well make the most of your dollar, right? We help you do just that in the fourth article of a five-part series outlining the best ways to save money at the nation's leading retailers. So far, we've looked at saving money at CVS, Kroger and Walgreens. Now, it's time to learn how we can maximize our savings at Target, the second largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. Here's what you need to know about Target before shopping:

    Sales Cycle:
    Target's sales cycles run Sunday through Saturday, meaning that advertised sale prices change on Sunday. However, keep in mind Target's sale prices can vary regionally and sometimes even from store-to-store within the same area.

    Bonus: Top 5 Places to Find Coupons

    Money Saving Tips:
    While Target doesn't have a rewards program, there are a lot of ways to get additional savings at the discount retailer. First, Target offers dozens of printable coupons online, with no printing limit. So, you can print 500 coupons for toothpaste if the deal is just that good! If you'd prefer to save your computer's paper and ink, you can even print coupons at Target stores at the Registry computers. You can also sign up to receive mobile coupons straight to your phone.

    Another plus when shopping at Target is the store's "Gift Card Promos." Often times, when you buy a certain amount of a particular product, you will receive a $5 gift card. Combine these offers with coupons, and you can often make money on your purchases! To check whether or not a product is participating in a gift card promo, scan the product's barcode at one of the store's red machines located at the end of aisles. The screen will show you the price and the corresponding promo.

    In addition to gift card promos, Target has a national markdown schedule. Every two weeks, items will continue to be marked down until sold out or until the discount reaches 75 percent. You can find these items at the clearance racks, typically on the end caps of aisles. And finally, Target offers a $0.05 bag credit if you bring your own bags to carry your merchandise home.

    Bonus: The Coupon Dictionary: Your Guide to Coupon Lingo


    Coupon Policy:
    Below is a summary of Target's coupon policy:

    • Target accepts the following types of coupons: Target store coupons, manufacturer coupons, Internet printable coupons and mobile coupons.
    • Target does not accept competitor coupons, but they will match competitor prices if the advertisement is local, current and the product being matched is identical.
    • Target offers price adjustments within seven days of purchase.
    • Target allows you to stack one manufacturer coupon and one store coupon per item.
    • For promotional "Buy One, Get One Free" (BOGO) sales, you may not use two coupons or promos to get two free items. Unless stated otherwise on the coupon, the use of one BOGO coupon requires that you purchase two valid items, where you pay the full price for the second item.
    • Target does not offer "overage," meaning they will never pay you to take the item out of the store. So if the coupon value exceeds the purchase price of an item, the cashier will adjust the price of the item to match the coupon amount.
    • Target does not double or triple coupons.
    • All Internet printable coupons must have a bar code and be scannable.
    • Target does offer rain checks on out-of-stock items, except gift card promotions. Target rain checks expire 45 days after issue.

    Bonus: Secrets of Extreme Couponers

    Extras:
    Target has a large trial size section filled with items usually marked at around $1.00. While some coupons exclude trial sizes, some do not specify a size requirement. If you have a coupon that doesn't exclude trial size, you can often score free products in this section.

    Use the Target Store Locator to see where the nearest Target store is in your area.

    Whether you're an extreme couponer or a recent couponing convert, you can learn new ways to save money at Quizzle.com. Find out how to save money on your home loan, improve your credit and make better choices for a more secure financial future. And check out these other, helpful money-saving articles:


    Photo credit: Target Springfield, VA by j.reed on Flickr

     

    801 comments

    • dman  •  7 months ago
      The use of the Price Adjustment Policy is one of the most overlooked money saving strategies out there and is a great way to save a lot of money on clothes and it works great when you shop at Target in store or online. Once you start tracking the prices of clothes you already bought (even bought on sale) it is amazing to see how often the retailers fluctuate the prices and often there is a further price drop within a few weeks of the purchase. To track prices for my in-store purchases I do it manually when I visit the store again, and for online purchases I use a free service from Yairoo.com where I forward them my online purchase receipt email and they track and alert me on price drops, then I can contact the retailer and get my price adjustment. This works great for clothes purchases, as the clothes prices tend to fluctuate a lot from day to day or week to week, and also at popular and high end retailers as they tend to have the most shopper friendly Price Adjustment policies and often will do price adjustments past the policy stated time frame just to keep their customers happy.
    • dman  •  7 months ago
      You can also use many online services to track prices from some of your favorite retailers. One service I use is Yairoo.com. You just forward them your online receipts and they track the items you bought for additional price drops and alert you so that you can get a price adjustment from the retailer or your credit card. It is really easy to use, and you almost always end up saving money on something that you bought online, even if it was originally on sale. It is amazing how much the retailers change their prices day to day.
    • Yairoo  •  7 months ago
      The use of the Price Adjustment Policy is one of the most overlooked money saving strategies and it works great when shopping at Target either in-store or online. Once you start tracking the prices of items you already bought (even bought on sale) it is amazing to see how often the retailers fluctuate the prices and often there is a further price drop within a few weeks of the purchase. To track prices for my in-store purchases I do it manually when I visit the store again, and for online purchases I use a free service from Yairoo.com where I forward them my online purchase receipt email and they track and alert me on price drops, then I can contact the retailer and get my price adjustment.
    • Yairoo  •  7 months ago
      The use of the Price Adjustment Policy is one of the most overlooked money saving strategies. Once you start tracking the prices of items you already bought (even bought on sale) it is amazing to see how often the retailers fluctuate the prices and often there is a further price drop within a few weeks of the purchase. To track prices for my in-store purchases I do it manually when I visit the store again, and for online purchases I use a free service from Yairoo.com where I forward them my online purchase receipt email and they track and alert me on price drops, then I can contact the retailer and get my price adjustment.
    • Yairoo  •  7 months ago
      The use of the Price Adjustment Policy is one of the most overlooked money saving strategies out there and is a great way to save a lot of money on clothes. Once you start tracking the prices of clothes you already bought (even bought on sale) it is amazing to see how often the retailers fluctuate the prices and often there is a further price drop within a few weeks of the purchase. The exact same thing happens with electronics and appliances from stores like Sears, BestBuy, Walmart, Target, etc.
      To track prices for my in-store purchases I do it manually when I visit the store again, and for online purchases I use a free service from Yairoo.com where I forward them my online purchase receipt email and they track and alert me on price drops, then I can contact the retailer and get my price adjustment. This works great for clothes purchases, as the clothes prices tend to fluctuate a lot from day to day or week to week, and also at popular and high end retailers as they tend to have the most shopper friendly Price Adjustment policies and often will do price adjustments past the policy stated time frame just to keep their customers happy.
    • Henry  •  9 months ago
      I don't think you can print the coupons at a target store from their kiosks! You can print 2 of each per computer from home from Target.com website.
    • dman  •  9 months ago
      The author of this article thankfully mentioned one of the most overlooked ways to save money, the use of Price Adjustments. Retailers fluctuate their prices constantly, so an item you just bought on sale is very likely to drop in price perhaps even a couple of times over the next few weeks. For items you bought at a store, you have to check in-store to see if the prices dropped. For online purchases you can use a free service from Yairoo.com All a shopper needs to do is forward the receipt email for an online purchase to receipts@yairoo.com and the service will track the prices and alert you for additional price drops, and once you receive an alert you just contact the retailer and get you price adjustment. This is money you already spent going back into your pocket!
    • Brittney  •  9 months ago
      Also, the limit on anything in my Target is 10. People can only buy 10 of one item, and only use 10 manufacter coupons and 10 Target coupons. So, for 10 of the exact same items, a guest can use 20 coupons.

      I don't know how many different comments I've read that say, "The limit is two" "At my store the limit is six"

      That just goes to show how each store differs greatly from other stores.
    • Brittney  •  9 months ago
      What people need to understand, is that the coupon policy they read on Target.com is a very basic account of the policy of Target companies as a whole. But, each individual store has a much more complex policy.

      Each and every store manager has the right to alter any policies, as he/she sees a problem arise in their store. So when guests come in trying to act like they know more about the policy than the employees or the store manager, they are guaranteeing that, what they want, won't happen.

      For example, the Target we have has limits on how much soda someone can buy, which is ten. And, you can't seperate transactions, and they won't hold your second cart of soda. You have to buy ten, take and unload into your car, and then go back and get ten more. But you can only end up with 20 cases of soda. Of course, people try to cause a stink, saying "There are no signs anywhere" Well, guess what? There are no signs in the store saying "Don't steal." But it's still a policy. And, I've also read that another store has limits on how much milk people can buy. Stores can't have random signs everywhere, stating every little thing.

      Bottom line is, if you want to know a particular Target's policy, go into the store and ask Guest Service and/or a manager. Don't act like you know more about a store, than the store does.
    • Roscco  •  9 months ago
      Target is moving into Canada soon, I wonder if it will be the same here? Right now we shop at Walmart and they are pretty good.
    • chrissyh  •  9 months ago
      Here's alittle tip for all the millions 'couponistas' out there. Have alittle respect to the people behind you in line, as well as the cashier. If you have more than one transaction, go to another register or the end of the line. This goes for alllll stores out there. I have nothing wrong with these folks, but most of the time they think they're the only ones in line. Look behind you when you have more than one transaction. Thank you:) sincerely another cashier
    • Tanya  •  9 months ago
      I tried printing the online coupons at the Targe kiosk today, and I couldn't print them. I didn't bother asking anyone either, because it appeared to be a lost causes. Also, you can double up Target coupons with manufacturer coupons. e.g., you want Shout Colorcatcher. You get Target coupons delivered to your home address once in a blue moon, and then you can use Shout's Colorcatcher coupon from the manufacturer as well.
    • Anonymous  •  9 months ago
      Target is overpriced on their food products. Period.
    • Bobby Big'n  •  9 months ago
      here's the best one......... don't shop there!
    • Spawn32f  •  9 months ago
      aw ezzzz the reason they card you cause you probably look younger than the your pictured id hun so take it as a compliment lol and your sixty wow
    • Spawn32f  •  9 months ago
      so bobbie you did a target h!! huh lol you sick puppy well did she give you a discount
    • Dogsrule  •  9 months ago
      I save money buy shopping at Goodwill & Salvation Army stores where I have gotten many brand new items that have come from Target.
    • Rastus  •  9 months ago
      The number one way to save money at Target is go alone, leave wife and daughters at home. Snap!
    • Dora  •  9 months ago
      My Target informed me I can only use two like coupons per transaction, even if I have 5 of those items. So my location does hold a coupon limit per transaction.
    • Scott  •  9 months ago
      I have a tip for saving money at target.... don't shop there! About all they have at target is CRAP thats way over priced and mostly goods from China. Target where you can expect to pay more & get less

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