Target Shopping Tips Everyone Should Know
How to get the best deals and avoid any impulse buys that you may grow to regret both in store and online.
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The hallowed aisles of Target contain all manner of wonders—pastel-colored workout equipment, planners for days, and oodles of skin-care goodies. Even if you go into the “Expect More, Pay Less” retailer for something as banal as toilet paper, you’ll likely have a serendipitous experience once inside, and also online.
“Target is a unique shopping destination because it always has what you're looking for, but with a fun twist and an affordable price,” says Christina Butan, senior commerce editor at InStyle, a sister publication of Shape. “Whether you're looking for a new sweater, beauty essentials, or seasonal home decor, Target always has a charming selection of budget-friendly items, which is why you see so many memes about people walking in to get one thing but then leaving with $100-plus worth of products.”
To help you make the most of your next trip to Target and avoid any impulse buys that you may grow to regret both in store and online, we asked Butan for all of her insider tips. Below, she offers her tried-and-true tips for shopping all Shape’s favorite categories at Target (Think: Athleticwear, skincare essentials, and supplements.)
Related: The Target Grocery Items Worth Adding to Your Cart, According to Dietitians
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Target strikes the incredible balance of having the things you need (like moisturizer, paper towels, and protein bars) and the things you may not need but very much want. That means that this store is a great place to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon with friends or when you just need to restock your spice collection. While the superstore is a blast all year round, Butan says it especially shines during the holiday season.
“It's a reliable shopping destination," she says. "For example, every year for the holidays I know it's going to have the cutest selection of wrapping paper, gift bags, and ornaments, so I do a chunk of my shopping there knowing I won't break the bank."
Target is also famous for its year-long sales, excellent return policy (a full 90 days with your receipt), and killer dollar section. And because many Targets are home to a Starbucks coffee, you can enjoy all of this with a grande oat milk latte. Heaven.
Insider Tips for Scoring the Best Deals at Target
We’ve created a little shopping guide to help you make the most of your time (and bucks) at this superstore. Here are 12 insider tips for getting the best deals at Target.
Take Advantage of Weekly and Seasonal Sales
Target has a weekly markdown schedule that’s the stuff of legends. While there’s no published schedule, internet rumor says that the schedules is as follows:
Monday: Books, accessories, baby items, kids’ apparel, and electronics
Tuesday: Food, cleaning products, pet supplies, and women’s apparel
Wednesday: Beauty and health, garden and lawn care, diapers, furniture, and men’s apparel
Thursday: Housewares and decor, luggage, lingerie, shoes, sporting goods, and toys
Friday: Jewelry, makeup, auto, hardware
Along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, look out for seasonal sales, too. For example, after summer, you can likely pick up summer sports equipment, bathing suits, and warm-weather athleticwear at a discount. In January, you can pick up discount sweaters, holiday decorations for next year, and baking supplies.
Related: The Best Target Skin-Care Finds, According to Dermatologists
Join Target Circle for Money Back on Every Purchase
Target's free loyalty program gives you 1 percent back with every purchase, says Butan. "So I always have a few bucks waiting for me to be redeemed at checkout. Target Circle members also get special deals that non-members don't have access to, as well as offers to earn rewards if you make a qualifying purchase.”
Bonus: When your birthday rolls around, you can take 5 percent off whatever you add to your cart. And thanks to Target’s exclusive partnerships with other brands, Circle members get amazing perks like three free months of Apple Fitness+ and a two-month trial of Apple Music.
Spend Some Time in the Dollar Section
Right at the front of the store, you’ll find what is, perhaps, the greatest thing the Bullseye has to offer—the dollar section. While not everything is a dollar, you can still score tons of knick-knacks at a major discount. From funny erasers to seasonal decor, you don’t want to skip perusing this section.
Check the Target Weekly Ad for Unbeatable Deals
Target’s weekly ad showcases all the best deals to shop for on a particular week. Here, you can score everything from toothpaste and supplements to fruit and tech at a massive discount.
Download the Target app and click on the “Discover” tab to sign up for Target's weekly ad notifications. From there, you’ll be able to swipe through that week’s coupons and deals.
Download the App for Easy Coupon Clipping
Butan suggests downloading the app so you can see how much you've saved, easily clip Target Circle offers, and easily see what's new at the retailer. When it comes to shopping, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing exactly how many dollars you’ve saved during the year.
Look at Target’s Prices Before You Run Through Your Errands
Rather than dashing from the grocery store to the pharmacy to the beauty supply store, see if you can check off all your shopping at Target, Butan says.
“I always forget that you can now shop Ulta beauty products at Target, so before placing that Ulta order, check to see if they have your favorites at Target," she says. "Chances are that they do, and this helps me get two shopping trips done in one.”
She also likes to see if she can score supplements for a few dollars less at Target rather than at Amazon. Frequently, the answer is… yes!
Sign Up for a Target RedCard for 5 Percent Off All Purchases
A step up from joining the Target Circle program, the Target RedCard is a debit or credit card that gives you 5 percent off all purchases. The debit and credit cards offer similar benefits (two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and 30 extra days to return your items).
However, as a RedCard credit card holder, you’ll also receive 2% back on gas and dining at Target. You will also earn 1 percent on anything purchased outside of the store.
Take Advantage of Price Matching
Target’s Price Match Guarantee ensures that you get the best deal on everything on your list in stores and online. If you find another retailer that’s selling the same product for less, ask for a price match.
Target will often bring its own selling price down to keep you as a customer. Of course, there are exceptions and rules—but giving price match a shot can seriously help your wallet.
Subscribe to Your Most-Purchased Products
Just like Amazon, Target offers a subscription model for making sure you never run out of household essentials like shampoo, dish soap, and laundry detergent. Make your life a little easier by automating this process, and you’ll never have to make an emergency run to the store for toilet paper again.
Sell Old Electronics to Target for Store Credit
Target’s Electronics Trade-In Program allows you to swap old phones, tablets, wearables, headphones, speakers, and more for store credit. Once Target hands you your gift card, you can shop for anything your heart desires. Simple.
Opt for Drive Up, Order Pickup, or Target's Same-Day Delivery with Shipt to Save Time
With Drive Up or Order Pickup, you can preorder your must-have wellness products. Then, roll up to your local Target within two hours to pick them up. Short on time? Try Target's same-day delivery with Shipt to get your products now.
Shop Target Exclusive Wellness Brands at a Great Cost
Of course, there are some things you can only buy at Target, including All in Motion workout gear, Ghia non-alcoholic drinks, and Ashley Tisdale’s lifestyle/beauty brand Freshne. Next time you’re strolling the hallowed halls of this superstore, consider adding these musts to the cart.
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Read the original article on Shape.
