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Shopping at Target

I've loved Target since I was a senior in high school.  I took my mom to Target to get all of the items on my list, throwing things in the cart and laughing while she started to sweat.  Oh, the years when the things I put in the cart weren't being paid for out of my own pockets!  Don't worry mom, payback is coming, having two girls of my own.

I'm sure I'm not the only one sucked in by the bulls-eye from the parking lot.



I love Target even more now because it's so easy to save money.

1. Target takes your manufacturer's coupons.  Print them on your computer, cut them out of the paper, however you would like to do it...Target will take them!

2. Download the Cartwheel app on your device.  There are deals on there, clip up to a certain number and use them in conjunction with sales and your paper coupons!  The Target associates are more than willing to help you get the deals on there so if you have any issues, please ask.  I have NEVER seen a place so willing to help you use their app!!  You can find deals by category or you can just scan the products in your cart to see if there are any matching coupons!  If you, for example, have pencils in your cart that don't have a coupon but another similar brand has something on sale it will pop up below your 0 matches and you may choose to swap out brands for a better deal.

3. Look at the sales flyers.  Match them up with your coupons and Cartwheel deals.  You can get extra savings.  A lot of the best deals will earn you gift cards when you buy a certain amount. Flyers are in the Sunday paper most places and of course, available online as well.  Sales run Sunday through Saturday.

4. Sign up for their Red Card.  I love the credit card because I would buy a lot online and return to the store when the kids were younger.  Much easier to try clothes on in the comfort of your own home, rather than the tiny dressing room with two children.  Then, instead of having the full amount debited from my checking account, I could return before the closing date of the card and only be charged for what I actually used.  Oh, did I mention the FREE shipping (on most items)?  Total perk.  OH and the best, is 5% off everything every day online and in store.  Extra coupon right there -- I could always use that discount!

I'm not sure how or why but I get Target store coupons in the mail as well.  Maybe it's my Red Card benefit, or because I've ordered online.  But I get monthly coupons for items specifically for me - most of which I have purchased from Target in the past.  Some of them are specialty items or seasonal.  Target store coupons can be paired with manufacturer's coupons too so you can double dip the savings!

Confused?  Let's give some real life examples from a purchase I made recently...

Here's an awesome example of how I used Target and all of these things to my benefit --- just a little over a month ago.  Target was running an awesome deal.  $5 gift card when you bought 2 packs of Cottonelle toilet paper and $5 gift card when you bought 3 boxes of Kleenex tissues multi-packs.  There was also a coupon for a free $5 gift card when you spent $25 in paper products  (select brands) that I had received in the mail. We were out of Kleenex - you know, back to school time plus allergies plus a round of a cold virus sweeping through the house.  Timing could not have been better.

So, I got these huge Cottonelle toilet paper mega roll packs - largest ones they sold at Target, on sale for $15.59.  I printed coupons from the internet for $.75 off any Cottonelle pack and had 1 paper coupon for $1 off so I could use those both to combine with the gift card deal in the ad. Can I just say the mega rolls are the best?  You don't have to change them nearly as often and seeing as I'm the only person in this house willing to change the roll, I'm all about extending that job!

I did the same with the Kleenex - used $.50 off multi-pack coupons from the paper and printed to get the Kleenex boxes for a discount, then another $5 gift card.  These happened to be bonus boxes so instead of 3 per package there were 4 boxes per package!  Essentially after all discounts and gift cards were considered, each 180 ct box of tissues only cost me $.63!

Because I bought more than $25 worth of paper products I received an additional $5 gift card.

Now to the Annie's stuff, I had paper coupons and Cartwheel was giving 20% off Annie's products.  Plus they were all on sale - so I was able to get mac n cheese boxes and Cheddar bunnies for way less than I would normally pay. Mac n cheese boxes were on sale for $1 and the 20% off made them $.80 but I had $.50 coupons so they were only $.30 a box!  The cheddar bunnies were on sale for $2.50 and my 20% off made them $2 and I had a $1 off coupon for each so only $1 per box of cheddar bunnies.

I was out of napkins too, so I bought the Target brand.  I was able to find a Cartwheel coupon there as well, so I got to save a little extra.



My grand total was $47.07 and I got $15 back in gift cards for my next shopping spree (don't worry - I already spent it!) And we are well stocked in paper goods for a LONG time! I love this place!!  Best part was the cashier who was cheering me on and excited about how much money I saved!

Do you have any questions about shopping at Target?

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