Target Shopping Hacks That Are Saving People Big

Target doesn’t like to see customers go home empty-handed. So keep this top tip in mind: if you have your heart set on a sale item that’s out of stock, try asking for a “rain check.” Then, when that product comes back into the store, you may still be able to purchase it at its discounted price — even if the sale is over. Nifty, right? There are exclusions, of course, and Target will also offer substitutions.

Target’s best sales for kids’ playthings apparently take place in mid-January and late July. These times of the year are said to be when the stores clear out all their old merchandise from the children’s sections. So, while you may have to wait longer to get you or your little one that must-have gadget, you’ll hopefully get it cheaper!

There’s just one problem with online shopping: what if you need to send an item back? It can be a real hassle. But Target will actually let you return your unwanted shopping for free in any store — as long as the item is unopened and within the 90-day return period. You can even start the process online or in the app to speed things along.

While Target offers products at lower prices all over its stores, certain spots are more likely to deliver bargains. If you’re after the very best deals, don’t just jump right into the middle of the shop; look carefully. The display shelves located at the ends of the aisles — known as endcaps — are where you’re likely to find some of the best discounts.

Deals are great and everything, but they’re nothing compared to free stuff. And Target’s known to give away gift cards for buying certain items or even to hand out material goods. So, it always pays to check the Target website before you go shopping, as it reveals all the gift card offers that you can expect to find in-store. Be warned, though: the promotions change pretty fast.

Don’t throw away your old phones! The Target trade-in program is powered by CExchange, and you can swap your unwanted phones for Target gift cards — or cash in the form of a PayPal payment. The amount that Target will give you varies on the make, model, and condition of your phone, but you are still essentially getting something for nothing. Plus, you free up space in your house.

If you’re someone who’s pretty good at couponing, you really need to get to Target. There are so many dollar-saving options available in store, in fact, that you can even pile different deals on top of one another — and bag items for much lower prices! For example, you could combine a regular sale deduction, a Target REDCard discount, a Target coupon, and a manufacturer coupon.

Apparently, each Target store follows the same schedule for marking down items. Ready for it? On Mondays, you’ll find bargains in child and baby clothing, books, stationery, electronics, and accessories. Tuesdays have price slashes on womenswear, food, and pet items. Wednesdays are the days for diapers, gardening, furniture, beauty products, and menswear. Then, Thursdays see discounted footwear, sports apparel, décor, travel items, lingerie, housewares, and toys. And finally, Fridays are the time to bag steals in jewelry, makeup, car products, and hardware. Did you get all that?

Target’s REDCard allows keen shoppers to get 5 percent off their items. But unfortunately, the associated risks of the credit card version are pretty high – the rates are 25.9 percent APR. But you could get a REDCard debit card instead. You can use your debit card to shop at any Target store, you’ll get a welcome gift and free two-day shipping, and you can make cash withdrawals at the checkout.

Black Friday is, of course, the day when everyone goes out to try and bag a bargain. And Target, it seems, should be the store you check out first. “When considering stores for your Black Friday shopping, Target should absolutely be on your list,” DealNews wrote in 2022. They offer good discounts on Thanksgiving day, too.

If you search sites such as PromotionCode, you may just find a few hidden bargains at Target. “Target runs an online offer of $5 off $50 purchases almost year-round with relatively few limitations that is not available in store or publicized in their mailers,” PromotionCode founder, Mike Catania, revealed to CheatSheet in 2017.

Target Circle is the store's rewards program, and it allows you to save and use digital coupons on your smartphone. Other benefits include earning 1 percent on purchases to spend later, a 5 percent discount on your birthday, and access to loads of personalized offers. You can use it online, too.

If you’re hunting for a Target bargain and are not sure where to look, a sure-fire option is apparently one that many people may not think of. “Check out the clearance sections in our hardware area,” suggested a former Target employee on Reddit in 2015. “It’s not actually a very popular section, and so you can get a ton of stuff for 75 percent off: decent tools, nice flashlights, two-way radios... It’s quite the steal!”

Did you know that Target has a price match guarantee? And if you don’t believe us, then take it from Target’s corporate website, which says, “We’ll match the price if you buy a qualifying item at Target then find the identical item for less at Target.com, select online competitors, or in Target’s or competitor’s local print ad.”

If you like Target’s own app, why not try some others to go with it? Shopkick is a good option when it comes to maximizing your deals, for instance. The app gives you rewards simply for going inside a Target and for scanning items. And eventually, you can trade the points that you collect for gift cards. Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, Dosh, Rakuten, and Checkout 51 are other possible cash-back options, too.

Many stores reward you for bringing your own bag instead of using theirs, and Target is one of them. If you reuse and recycle, Target will take five cents off your purchase. And while this may not sound like much, it sure can add up. Plus, single-use bags may one day become illegal altogether across America; they already are in some places.

Don’t give up on Target as the place for your coffee needs. If you make coffee with a Keurig device, then you can find a great selection of K-Cups at Target, often at a lower price than competitors. And if you want to save even more, find some reusable K-Cup pods. You can fill them yourself and then throw them in the dishwasher.

If you want to save on holiday-themed decorations, don't buy them before the big day. Instead, wait until the day or week afterward the holiday and stock up for future celebrations. Usually, Target will sell holiday-related decorations and treats at half price the day after Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine’s. And within a week, that could leap to a 90-percent discount. Winning!

If you’ve got to buy some toys before a birthday or Christmas, you don't always have to pay top dollar. Check the Target Weekly Ads & Catalogs first. They have plenty of discounts and coupons on its kid-centric selections, and you can find further discounts on the Target app to make your little one’s playthings even cheaper. You can receive the weekly ads via email, too.

Go to Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn for design inspiration — but go to Target for the lower price tags. Target certainly has you covered in the linens and departments with its line called Threshold. The bedding supposedly has a luxe feel and mimics the simple, rustic style of your favorite expensive brands. It's exclusive to Target, too.

You can save big without sacrificing quality when you opt for Target-brand beauty products. Its Up & Up products are positioned next to the brand-name inspirations. So the Apricot Blemish Scrub, priced at $2.19, is a great alternative to the St. Ives Apricot Blemish Control Scrub, which costs $4.99. And people say it works just as well — as do many of the other dupes.

Don’t expect a pair of shoes from Target to last forever. But it’s not a big deal when it comes to buying children’s shoes — because they’ll grow out of their footwear every few months anyway. And Target’s selection of cheap and cheerful kids’ footwear comes in modern styles and colors. So your little one will look trendy until next month... when they’ll have inevitably got too big for their boots.

Sparkling water fans usually have a favorite brand. You can probably find yours at Target, where there’s a wide selection and hard-to-find flavors, such as LaCroix’s passionfruit. But you might want to try the in-house varieties, such as the eternally popular Ginger Peach flavor. It’s cheaper than name brands, and its fans find it even more delicious.

You’ve may have been told to avoid most of Target’s clothes and furniture. But the store’s designer collaborations are definitely worth checking out. The collabs in 2022 included capsule offerings from Sergio Hudson, La Ligne, and Kika Vargas. You can snap up some high-quality pieces for a bargain — and did we mention they’re enviably on-trend, too?

Target has its own line of cleaning products — hand soaps, all-purpose cleaners, dish soaps — that they sell under a label called Smartly. Not only do they cost less than Method-brand alternatives, but they smell great and they work just as well, according to testers. The Smartly all-purpose cleaner, for instance, is a sure bargain.

You can never have enough spices in your pantry. Make sure you stock up on your next Target run, as its selection is much cheaper than what you’ll find at other food stores. Customers laud the flavor of its Market Pantry-labeled spices, and most of them cost just over a dollar per bottle.

If you have your heart set on a trendy swimsuit for next summer, then head to Target. The selection is often replete with of-the-moment designs. Plus, there’s something for everybody and everybody. Its swimwear range includes the Target brands Kona Sol, Shade & Shore, and Xhilaration. They feature maternity suits, plus-size options, high-waisted bottoms, one-shoulder tops, one-pieces, and more.

Target has made great strides to ensure its food selection can compete with the ranges in other grocery stores. So it’s expanded its offerings to include organic options for the health-conscious customer. The "Good & Gather" in-house brand launched in September 2019 and includes organic and artificial flavor-free food — at a lower cost than brand-name competitors.

In 2013 Consumer Reports’ taste testers gave the stamp of approval to Target’s Market Pantry condiments. Its ketchup was a "virtual dead-ringer" and was "remarkably similar" to Heinz ketchup, according to the testers. They also claimed Market Pantry mayo was a "near-twin" for Hellman's mayonnaise. And, as you might expect, the in-store brand comes at a fraction of the cost of the brand-name products.

You can’t help yourself but stop at Target’s Bullseye Playground, its bargain section named after the store’s doggie mascot. We’re here to tell you that you shouldn’t stop yourself — shop away. The area’s a gold mine for cheap-but-cute supplies for school, holiday decorating, and children’s party gift bags… the possibilities are endless. It has been a Target staple since 2015 and is also available online.

People say that Target’s Market Pantry baking supplies are well worth adding to your pantry — for one specific reason. They claimed that most of these products are actually the exact same as the name-brand options. Apparently, these products just get packaged and sold as the in-store brand — at a much lower price.