Target

This post will detail how I save money at Target. Target's coupon policies can be somewhat confusing, and they accept multiple types of coupons. For more info, visit Target's coupon policy.

Target's deals start on Sunday! You can usually find the ad by Wednesday or Thursday of the prior week, by Googling "Target ad week of 6/1" (or whatever week it is).

Target has always been one of my favorite stores! I highly prefer Target over Walmart. Target accepts different types of coupons in addition to the typical manufacturer coupons you can find in your Sunday paper or online.

Here are the types of coupons Target will accept:

• Manufacturer Coupons. Such as those from your Sunday paper inserts, or printables from coupons.com. You may use ONE coupon per item. Example: You have a coupon for $1 off 2 Pepsi products. You also have a coupon for 50 cents off 1 Pepsi product. You cannot purchase 2 Pepsi products and use both of those, because one applies to the 2 products, and one applies to a third. You can, however, purchase 3 Pepsi products and use both coupons
• Target Mobile Coupons. Target also offers mobile coupons. You'll see these advertised online or in their ads. Text COUPONS to 827438 to get started. You can use these in addition to your manufacturer or other coupons.
• Target Cartwheel App. This is one of my faves! Download this app to your smartphone and you can save even more. You can choose your offers and they all vary, from anything to 5% off Market Pantry pasta, to 10% off Dial for men soap. You choose which offers you'd like to use, and then scan your phone at checkout. The Cartwheel app takes the total off of your total purchase before coupons.
• Target Printable Coupons. Target offers printable coupons on their website. Just like the other printables, you can only print 2 of each. Keep in mind that these are NOT the same as manufacturer coupons. These coupons are specific to Target and can only be used there. If you also have a manufacturer's coupon for the same product, you CAN use both coupons -- double the savings!!
• You can use Target coupons on clearance items.

Target's Infamous Gift Card Deals

Target will often offer certain deals such as "Buy 3 Dove shampoo, get a $5 gift card." These are great deals, especially if you shop at Target often. I am in there once a week since there is one so close to where I live.

Generally, there are coupons to go along with these deals. My favorite place to find deals is Totally Target. There, you can find ways to match your manufacturer coupons with Target coupons and the $5 gift card deals. 

Some people consider their savings differently. I consider my savings to be when I purchase the item. So, if a $5 gift card is given for a $20 item, I consider myself to have saved $5 on that item. Others say it was $20, and keep acquiring gift cards. Eventually they may have $100 in gift cards, and they can get $100 worth of "free" stuff. To me, it's free if you consider yourself having paid full price for the items that originally triggered the gift card!

How do these gift cards work? When you purchase the items advertised, the register will automatically trigger a $5 gift card. You sometimes have to watch these carefully. You can pick up a different version of a shampoo and it won't trigger your gift card. This is done as your items are scanned.

Can I use my gift card on the same transaction? No. You can use them on the next transaction. Some people like to split their purchase up into 2-3 small transactions so that they can "roll" their gift cards.

What is "rolling" gift cards? Rolling gift cards is when you get a $5 gift card for one purchase, then use it on the next one, get one, then use it, etc. Otherwise, you'd be accumulating $5 gift cards for awhile! Some people prefer to do it that way, and then make one big purchase, but I like to roll mine. It's less out of pocket.

Example of Rolling Gift Cards:

Deal: Buy 3 Men's Dial body wash, get a $5 gift card. I purchased 3 Men's Dial body wash a few weeks ago for $2.99 each. My total was $8.97. I had (3) $1/1 printables from Dial's Facebook page, and I got a $5 gift card. I also had a 10% off Dial Men's Body Wash on my Cartwheel app.

Here's how the deal worked:

Buy 3 Men's Dial body wash = $8.97

- 10% Cartwheel: ($8.97 x 10% = $.89) = $8.07

- (3) $1/1 coupons = $5.07

= $5.07 Out Of Pocket.

Considering I got a $5 gift card back, although I paid $5.07 OOP, my actual total was .07 for 3 body washes!

Pretend that I did the same thing, minutes later or that evening, or the next day.

I would use my $5 gift card I just got to pay my total of $5.07. I would also get a $5 gift card since it's the same deal. Now, I spent my $5 gift card, plus 7 cents, but I also got a $5 gift card back to leave with. This way - you're not spending more out of pocket than necessary, and you're rolling your gift cards!

Target Clearance shouldn't trigger a gift card, but sometimes it will. Generally, it is up to the manager of the store on what coupons he/she will accept. I try to always have an ad with me. Sometimes the $5 gift card won't trigger and the associate will tell you that you can't have it, but if you show them the ad, chances are they will fix it.

Be careful when picking up items and hoping that they're included in the deal. For example, not all Dove shampoo and conditioner may be included, sometimes it's just a certain line. You can scan the item at the price checker and if it comes up "special purchase," that means it should trigger the $5 gift card!

As always, if you have any questions - please let me know!