Life is pretty if you live in the middle of nowhere and a Target store is within 15 minutes.  If you have a Home Depot across from your Target store, then date night just improved! 

Target is a top store I love to shop at, living in a smaller area right after my top favorite wholesale club, BJs. 

I know I’m not the only woman, especially moms, who want a night out alone and find myself at Target.

Target already has us in the door just because it’s Target. I started working at the store as a manager in Starbucks when it first opened in our local town in 2008. Crazy huh?! I did love it.

I’m a deal shopper, and Target makes using coupons easy. They also don’t make you feel like a cheapskate because you always use the app. 

THE MISTAKE

How many of us walk into the store and buy things on sale and think well, it’s Target, all the prices are reasonable? Some of us believe who cares about the price I just love the shopping experience.

This is where you are making a huge mistake when shopping at Target. You could be saving $100’s a MONTH. Yes, a month by taking action by following my nine steps below.

Here we go, are you ready?  Grab your coffee and a snack because you need to take the time to absorb this info, and then you’ll be on your way to savings.

The 9-Step Secret to Saving Money at Target

TARGET CIRCLE- What is it and Why Use it

The first thing you need is the Target  App.  Cartwheel used to be an app on its own. Now, it is tucked inside the Target app and called Target Circle.

This is a Target Only App. You can’t use it at any other store. 

What the Target app does with the Circlel savings is offer coupons inside the app. You need to hit Circle offers and always look for items you need. If you find a savings offer, you tap the offer.

When you go to checkout, you must reopen your app and hit the wallet section to show the cashier the barcode. The cashier scans the barcode on your phone,e and the savings are applied to your total. 

You don’t have to have a smartphone to use it. You can create a Target.com account and print out the Circle barcode if you need to.

 YOU CAN USE CIRCLE OFFERS ONLINE

Just recently Target Circle offers can now be used for online shopping, the catch is you need to choose to pick up at your local store. If you have the item shipped to your house, you can’t apply the Circle discount.

This is handy when Target does their CircleToyy of the Day deals near Christmas. If you can’t make it that day but want the discount, add it to your cart online and pick it up in-store. 

You can also add coupons to your account and scan the barcode from a tablet, phone, or printed barcode from your computer.

HOW TO CREATE A TARGET ACCOUNT

• First, you will create an account.
• When you open the app, you will see your dashboard. This is a glimpse of all the things you can access.
• Add offers. Go to All Offers at the top and browse for deals.
• Browse by Categories, Name, or My Favorite Discount. I searched for the discount because 50% off or higher comes up first. If something is 50% 0ff, that’s huge then I check for coupons,

  and decide if I need it or not.

• Once you select offers, you can close the app and head to Target.
• Purchase selected items.
• At checkout, open your app and go to the My Wallet. This will show the barcode on your phone.
• If you are using a computer, go to my Target Circle, and the screen will show up with the option to print the barcode in the upper right-hand corner. You only need to print this once. Your offers will be updated to that barcode. So laminate that bad boy.
• Then the cashier scans your barcode, and the savings instantly come off.

The RedCard

The RedCard, my go-to shield against the full impact of the final bill. With a RedCard in hand, I stroll through the store, cutting prices left and right.

Can’t shop without it, and you shouldn’t either. It’s not just a credit or debit card; it’s the sign to the register that you’re a savvy saver,. It takes 5% off right at checkout, which for me is usually saving me on tax.

The Fine Art of Price-Matching

Target is one of the best and easiest stores to price match. Most of the time I find a better deal opening the Target app and checking the item online at Target.com.

They will price match to other retailers for the same exact item. All you need to do is show the price to them and they will adjust it.

It’s a habit that becomes a big money saver, check every item at Target to an online price.

HAND OVER MANUFACTURER COUPONS

TARGET TEXT COUPONS

Target frequently has mobile coupons. Where you text Target (827438) and enter whatever available code for the current mobile coupons. 

You will get a text back with a barcode you will need to have the cashier scan at checkout. These offers can be combined with Target Circle coupons AND manufacturer coupons. 

UPDATE: Target now has added their coupons right in the app for your convenience. 

Once you have the Circle app open, tap on Checkout at the bottom of your screen to bring up your circle barcode.

 After it’s open look at the bottom of the screen for a bright red Coupons tab and tap on it. Any available mobile coupons will automatically be on this tab. You can swipe side to side to see all the coupons and the bar code for each.

MONEY SAVING APPS

Then download (if you haven’t) the Ibotta App. This is my FAVORITE app after Circle. Why?! Because the savings update each week, I can save on produce and milk, and they stack with all the other coupons!

If you do not have Ibotta– you need to join with this link and receive a $10 WELCOME bonus just for signing up. The $10 will appear in your account after you redeem your first offer.

I won’t go into detail on Ibotta because I have already done a whole post on that here if you want to see how to work that one step by step. Which you do because the savings are real. In fact, I have $104 just from the last 4 months!

After you check Ibotta for additional savings you are going to want to check Checkout 51. This one is updated weekly and can be used from any store. It works like Ibotta- except there is no barcode to scan. Just your receipt showing proof of purchase.

Related: 6 Must Have Apps to Save Money on Your Groceries

TARGET SURVEY

Take the survey at the bottom of your receipt for a chance to win $1,500. Did you know these surveys are crucial for the store? The store gets scored on these greatly and each department’s performance on these weighs so much on everything – like raises!

I didn’t like that part at Target but it’s their system and now that I know that- I want to help those working there and who knows I may just win $1,500 which would make the time completely worth it!

There you have it. These savings will help you to save $100’s a month at Target.

If you are a Target brand shopper know that Up and Up items are on Circle for almost every item. It is usually always 5% but when you stack that with a Target Redcard you end up saving 10% and you didn’t even have to clip a coupon. It cost ya nothing!

TARGET CLEARANCE

Clearance and I go way back. We fell in love years ago. Target is awesome with how much clearance you can find. They offer discounts up to 90% off original price!

You can use circle offers and coupons on these clearance items. It truly is an amazing way to save. Many clearance items are found on the back endcaps of the aisle.

Related: 11 Ways to Save More On Target Clearance

TARGET COUPON MATCHUPS

I left this one for last because you may have gotten through all the tips above and thought- who has time to figure out the best deal at Target?! You don’t have to do any math calculating or looking through the ads.

There are two blogs I like for target deals Totallytarget.com and Allthingstarget.com. They each have a different feel but offer weekly coupon deals so check those out and start savings! Coupon Matchups are sale prices paired with all of the ways to save above!

See you can do this! 

PLUS I want to add in how awesome the Target Redcard Debit card is( they do have a credit card one). You save 5% off your total every time you shop there and use it. On all sale items and when you use your coupons! WHOO HOO! Sign up for yours here.

What tips do you have for saving more at Target?