When the show “Extreme Couponing” started appearing on TLC, it didn’t take long before my sister and I were hooked. Maneuvering through our college years we were looking for any way to stretch a dollar, and couponing seemed like an easy way to get the most bang for our buck. In addition to couponing, like any good Minnesota natives, Target became a frequent shopping destination for sales and deals. Now I wouldn’t classify us as “extreme couponers,” not by a long shot, but we do save hundreds of dollars a year by following some of the simple tips below when we shop at Target. I hope these tips will inspire you to pinch a few pennies on your next Target trip.
Shop the Sales
One of the easiest ways to save money is to shop the sales. If you need to buy Alfredo sauce and a brand that you’ve never tried before is on sale, why not save a little money and branch out?
Shop End Caps
Target uses their end caps to display sale, price cut, and clearance items. Typically end caps that point toward the middle of the store will contain sale items or featured deals, while end caps that point toward the outer perimeter of the store will contain price cuts or clearance items. To learn more about Target’s markdown schedule follow the link at the end of this article.
Cash in with Free Gift Cards
To promote certain items, Target may offer a free gift card for purchasing said items. An example would be a free $5 gift card with a school supply purchase of $25 or more.
Use those Catalinas
At checkout when the cash register prints your receipt, it may also print coupons which are called “catalinas.” The register prints off catalinas that are specifically based on what you’ve purchased. For example, after purchasing a package of V-8 cans, I received a catalina at checkout for $2.00 off a purchase of three packages of V-8 cans.
Sign Up for a Target REDcard
There are many benefits to signing up for a Target REDcard, including 5% off of all your Target purchases, free shipping from Target.com, and an extra 30 days for returns. If the idea for signing up for another store credit card is unappealing, Target also offers the REDcard in debit form, which draws money directly from your bank account. If your average grocery bill is $200, that’s a savings of $10 a month, translating to $120 back in your pocket at the end of each year.
Shop with Re-Usable Bags
Target provides a five cent credit for each re-usable bag that you use. Why not get paid to shop in an environmentally friendly way?
Price Match
There’s a common misconception that Wal-Mart is the only store that will price match (i.e., take a lower price from a competitor’s ad and “match it”). Thus, few individuals know that Target also abides by the price match policy as well. Let’s say that Wal-Mart’s Weekly Ad has listed “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” on sale for $9.96 and the film is regularly priced for $11.96 at Target. If you bring Wal-Mart’s Weekly Ad to Target and show it to the cashier at checkout, Target will match Wal-Mart’s price so the film will only cost you $9.96. Please note that some Target stores only offer price matching at their customer service counter.
Print Coupons from Target’s Website
At the bottom of the Target home page under “Ways to Save” you’ll see link for coupons. You can then sort the coupons by category and select which coupons you would like to print. The page will even add up your total coupon savings with each coupon you select to print.
Sign Up for Target’s Mobile Coupons
The Target phone app also offers mobile coupons including Cartwheel and Passbook.
Stack Your Coupons
One of the best things about couponing at Target is the ability to stack both manufacturer coupons and Target coupons. Note that manufacturer coupons can be found in many places, from inserts in your Sunday paper to manufacturer websites like P&G, SmartSource, and RedPlum. For example, if you have a manufacturer’s coupon for $1.00 off of one package of Belvita Breakfast Biscuits and you have a Target coupon for $1.00 off of one package of Belvita Breakfast Biscuits, you can combine them to save $2.00 off of the $3.49 biscuits, bringing your total to just $1.49 a box! Brownie points if you can combine stacking manufacturer coupons and Target coupons with an item that’s already on sale (I’ve scored free croissants, nail polish, and multivitamins by using this method).
My sister and I have continued to bond over coupons throughout the years, and we hope that with the help of these tips you’ll be able to save a few dollars each shopping trip to put toward your future goals, whether they involve flying lessons, a new pair or aviators, or your next trip to your favorite travel destination.
If you’re inspired to learn more about shopping at Target or couponing in general, follow the links below for some great resources:
- ABC’s of Couponing http://www.cuckooforcoupondeals.com/questions/
- Updates to Target’s Coupon Policy http://www.cuckooforcoupondeals.com/?s=target+coupon+policy
- Target’s Markdown Schedule http://www.allthingstarget.com/markdown-schedule/
-Lauren Olson, JETPUBS Inc.